Employment Plus bus making jobs more accessible
The Salvation Army’s Employment Plus has officially launched a new mobile bus program that it has been trialling for the past month in a regional area of southern New South Wales.
A recent survey undertaken by Employment Plus found that nearly half of its job seekers who struggle to get to their appointments may be impacted by poor public transport in their area or not having a car, a driver’s licence, or finances for fuel.
So, The Salvation Army’s employment service set out to remove those barriers to employment by trialling a new face-to-face service taking Employment Plus directly to job seekers.
A modified bus, equipped with two interview stations and everything needed for job-seeking, began to visit job seekers in Berridale, Bibbenluke, Bombala, Boorowa, Cooma, Harden and Jindabyne.
“Finding work can be a difficult and emotional task, and we want to take some of the stress and headache out of getting support so that job seekers can really focus on finding work – rather than finding us,” said Employment Plus National Director Dr Graeme White.
“We know it’s even harder for regional job seekers who have that bit further to travel to make appointments.”
Nearly 500 appointments took place in the bus during the pilot program. This week, the new service was officially launched by the Federal Minister for Regional Development and Territories and local member for Eden-Monaro, Kristy McBain, outside Parliament House in Canberra.
“I’ve been so impressed by the positive work from this new mobile bus program’s pilot, including in my own electorate of Eden-Monaro, and I’m excited to see this support for regional job seekers continue – directly connecting them with crucial, face-to-face employment opportunities that could transform their future.”
It’s anticipated that similar Employment Plus bus services will be launched in regional areas across other states of Australia in the coming years.
