Council backs state’s Working for Victoria initiative

Published on 13 May 2020

Over the coming weeks Macedon Ranges Shire Council will welcome 92 new temporary staff who will be with the organisation for up to six months as part of the Victorian Government’s Working for Victoria initiative.

The additional short-term staff will form a mainly remote workforce performing roles such as community support, providing food services and catering for vulnerable people, planting and environment works at Hanging Rock and beautification works in parks and gardens.

The $500 million Working for Victoria program is part of the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and includes matching people who have lost their jobs due to the economic impacts of coronavirus with local councils. The councils provide these people with meaningful roles that add value to the work that the permanent workforces perform every day.

Macedon Ranges is one of an initial 28 councils across Victoria participating in the new initiative.

Chief Executive Officer, Margot Stork said Council was looking forward to welcoming the new staff on board and providing them with meaningful work.

“These temporary new workers are our fellow Victorians, who are out of work due to the pandemic and through no fault of their own.

“We’ve identified a range of new short-term roles above and beyond our normal program of work to help us with pandemic-related work such as assisting vulnerable members of the community.

“As the level of government which is closest to the community, we are well placed to know what residents and businesses need to get back on their feet.

“We thank the Victorian Government for this opportunity to access additional assistance in the form of trained and experienced staff to help us best support our community at this challenging time.”

Council has encouraged its casual staff to register for the Working for Victoria initiative. Many of these staff normally work in centres and facilities which have been closed since the onset of the pandemic.

For more information and to register, visit Working for Victoria