A new program is working to increase employment opportunities for disadvantaged cohorts while improving social and economic outcomes for Ballarat.
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Highlands Local Learning and Employment Network launched the state government funded program to the Ballarat business community on Tuesday afternoon.
Latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data reveals Ballarat's unemployment rate of 7.1 per cent in 2016 was higher than the regional Victorian average of 6 per cent.
It is an increase from the recorded unemployment rate of 5.8 per cent in Ballarat in 2011.
Highlands LLEN executive officer Jannine Bennett said the organisation had employed statistician to develop a profile of disadvantaged cohorts in Ballarat.
She said from previous experience it was understood young people, young parents, the homeless and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples often struggled to gain full-time employment.
"I know lots of young people end up in part-time work rather than full-time positions," she said.
"I think we do need to focus on finding or placing young people in the positions that are available but also build the economy so more positions are created for young people - that is those entry level positions that used to be so plentiful years ago."
A Brotherhood of St Laurence report released earlier this month revealed the average unemployment rate for 15 to 24-year-olds in Ballarat was 10.1 per cent in the 12 months to December 2018.
This is about addressing disadvantage and making it everyone's business.
- Jannine Bennett, Highlands LLEN
In 2017, the rate was 6.6 per cent, the second lowest in Australia.
The Victorian average is 11.4 per cent, and Bendigo, which has a rate of 18.3 per cent, has the highest in Victoria.
Ms Bennett said the GROW program focused on building the local economy to create job opportunities as a long-term solution, rather than the traditional approach of establishing organisations to work with disadvantaged cohorts.
"Building our local economy and working with businesses to focus on employing people from disadvantaged cohorts is important because as a community we want the whole of community to prosper, not just certain pockets," she said.
"This is about addressing disadvantage and making it everyone's business."
READ MORE: Why it's so important to GROW jobs
Business, political and local government leaders attended the launch of the program on Tuesday afternoon.
GROW program leader Highlands LLEN will work with businesses to encourage and assist them to buy local and increase their local procurement for long-term job creation.
"We know if we just increase our local procurement by a little bit that means more jobs," Ms Bennett said.
"We are not asking for big changes. It might be a goal that we work towards a five per cent shift.
"This is not something that will change overnight. We are looking more at a longer term strategy."
When positions or employment opportunities become available, GROW will work with local employment firms to source people from disadvantaged cohorts to fill those positions.
The program understands the health sector, manufacturing and retail could be opportunity sectors but will target a broad range of businesses.
GROW Ballarat has secured $750,000 state government funding for a three year program.
The state government also funds GROW programs in Gippsland, Shepparton, Bendigo and Geelong.
Rochelle Kirkham
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
