Centrelink Jobs expo next week

THE Centrelink Jobs expo will roll into Lismore next week, possibly furthering the town's strong employment figures.

Promoting the Centrelink Jobs Expo at the Goonellabah Sports and Aquatic Centre were Australian Government local employment co-ordinator Terry Watson, and Lismore Centrelink acting manager Sue McNamara. The expo will be held at the centre on March 19. . Picture: David Nielsen

THE Centrelink Jobs expo will roll into Lismore next week, possibly furthering the town’s strong employment figures.

Despite the state unemployment figure rising slightly, Lismore has recorded a fall in unemployment from 6.6 pc for the September 2008 quarter to 6.3 pc for the September 2009 quarter.

The expo is part of the Keep Australia Working initiative which focuses on 20 top priority areas hardest hit by the financial crisis.

A Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations report lists Lismore and 19 other regions as priority areas due to its location, industry composition, demographic profile and economic performance, despite its stable unemployment rate.

“The Government is very committed to doing something about helping the region as one of the top 20 priority areas,” said acting Lismore Centrelink manager Sue McNamara.

“The area has a low level of education attainment and this leads to a lack of skills in trade and so on.

“We are encouraging everyone to come along, experienced, non-experienced, with or without skills because there will be plenty of opportunities,” she said.

The Goonellabah Sports and Aquatic Centre is hosting the free event where more than 60 employers will showcase their job and training opportunities to more than 2000 eager job-seekers.

There are a range of employers attending the expo from the Australian Defence Force, NSW Fire Brigades and Woolworths to NSW Premier and Cabinet and plenty of recruitment agencies.

Attendees will have access not only to local opportunities but nationwide employment as well.

Keep Australia Working Job Expos media officer Paul Creedon has been following each and every job expo around the country and has seen the impressive results firsthand.

“At each expo I have seen the looks of enthusiasm on people’s faces and seen their sense of enthusiasm,” Mr Creedon said.

“Because of the range of employers and their locations it gives job seekers the opportunity regardless of their skills.

“This is not only a job expo but it is about community and is a place for people to network.”

The expo will run between 10am and 3pm on March 19 and job-seekers are encouraged to bring a one-page CV.

Originally published as Centrelink Jobs expo next week