Hosted by Dandenong Library, this pop-up employment hub has been a new connection point for jobseekers in their journey to sustainable employment. Developed by the ‘Central Employment Hub’ Priority Action Group (PAG), this project created a friendly space for jobseekers to find support services that could help them to become job-ready or find a job.
The PAG has been meeting monthly since September 2022 to build trust, relationships, connection, and support ‘the match’ between jobseekers and employers. Comprised of a coalition of passionate, connected community members the PAG is creating a “no wrong door” approach linking key actors to achieve improved employment outcomes for our community.
The pilot ran over two weeks, staffed by two bicultural workers hired by the PAG from Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre (SMRC). Over the course of the two weeks community members were referred to language classes, training organisations, job readiness assistance programs and a variety of other support services throughout the City of Greater Dandenong.
Some successes from the pilot:
- Two young, recently arrived migrants who were both looking for work, were referred to Busy At Work, who were then able to assist them with resume writing and with referrals to job vacancies. The two young jobseekers became employees within a week.
- A small family, where the mother was looking to study and the son wanted to begin work, were referred to relevant service providers. The mother - who was originally very doubtful of work for her son in a new environment, was confident with the organisation they were referred to, because of the connection she had formed with the bicultural worker at the hub.