Job seekers in the Gawler and Northern Adelaide Region who wish to work in the disability sector have had their opportunities boosted today through the opening of the Disability Workforce Hub.
The Hub, located in the Elizabeth Shopping Centre, will help connect job seekers with local employers, training providers and employment agencies to fill local job opportunities in the disability sector.
Local Member of Parliament, Mr Tony Piccolo has welcomed the opening of the new Hub as local organisations in the disability sector, seek appropriately trained people to help them meet the increased demand for disability services as the National Disability Insurance Scheme is rolled out in the Gawler, Barossa and Northern Adelaide Regions.
The Hub will provide: advice to ensure people gain the appropriate skills for the new jobs in the disability sector, advice on career opportunities in the sector, placement opportunities for university students studying in the allied health fields, support to disability services providers with workforce and capability planning.
The Disability Workforce Hub is a partnership between Northern Futures, the State Government, National Disability Services, the peak organisation for disability service providers, and the Universities of South Australia and Flinders.
Mr Piccolo said the Hub will not only enable job seekers to find meaningful work in the disability sector but also ensure that service providers can meet the challenge of the NDIS rollout.
“The Hub will go a long way in ensuring the roll out is as smooth as possible by helping provide the workforce required and ensuring organisations are ready to deliver the services required by people living with a disability,” said Mr Piccolo.
“Families and carers have waited a long time for this important reform in the disability sector and we need to do all we can, to ensure a smooth rollout.”
“With a forecast that the number of full time equivalent jobs in the sector in Northern Adelaide could reach 3,500 we need to give local jobseekers the best opportunity to win them.“
The increase in investment in the disability sector will help those people affected by the pending closure of Holdens as it will create new job opportunities,” he said.
Mr Piccolo urged local job seekers to visit or contact the Hub which is co-located with Northern Futures, in Elizabeth on 1800 619 933 to explore the many and varied career opportunities that will exist in the disability sector.