Today, Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast the Hon Ryan Park MP, joined with the region’s peak business organisation Business Illawarra and local business KJ Scaffolding in Wollongong to announce the extension of funding for the highly successful IllawarraYES program.
IllawarraYES (Youth Employment Strategy) has been supporting young people into real jobs since 2016 by connecting them with the right skills and qualifications needed to secure jobs within key industries across the region.
Delivered by IllawarraYES coordinator Daniel Bennett on behalf of Business Illawarra, the program is funded by the NSW Government and delivered in collaboration with businesses and Registered Training Organisations across a diverse range of industry sectors.
“Here today we are seeing young First Nations people from the area getting the skills they need to have a great career in the construction sector – with the potential for a real job at the end with local Aboriginal-owned business, KJ Scaffolding.”
“IllawarraYES has delivered excellent outcomes for young clients and businesses alike. The Program supported 385 young people with training and work experience over the last funding period and delivered or supported over 40 programs during that time.”
“We are proud to partner with the NSW Government and local industry to deliver this terrific program that connects local young people with training and a real job at the end – and we look forward to delivering the IllawarraYES program for another two years,” said Adam Zarth, Executive Director of Business Illawarra.
“As a regional business chamber, we’re uniquely positioned to leverage our wider membership across the Illawarra and the Shoalhaven, and this has seen young job seekers find work in building and construction, disability support, early childhood education, transport and logistics, aged care and manufacturing.”
Brett Rodwell of KJ Scaffolding said that IllawarraYES was helping attract and train local young people to fill key roles at a time of severe workforce shortages in the construction sector.
“We’re proud to offer opportunities to local young people for a rewarding career with us in construction, and we appreciate the support from the IllawarraYES program and Daniel Bennett,” said Mr Rodwell.