Coronavirus: You’re hired: helping others pays off for Emma

Demand for help and services from vulnerable Victorians has led to voluntary jobs for other displaced workers.

Melburnian Emma, 31, has been volunteering for Foodbank after recently losing her job and has now been employed as a supervisor. Picture: Aaron Francis

Becoming one of the hundreds of thousands to lose their jobs amid the coronavirus pandemic was a “devastating” experience for Melbourne woman Emma, 31.

But her determination to “keep busy” and “stay positive” by volunteering at charity Foodbank has paid off, after a grant from the Victorian government allowed the organisation to hire 60 new staff members to meet unprecedented demand for its services from vulnerable Victorians.

Emma is among almost 1300 people who had been looking for work as a result of the coronavirus shutdown who have been hired by the Andrews government, with more than 2500 expected to be found jobs through the $500m “Working for Victoria” scheme by the end of next week.

Some have been deployed in roles connected to the quarantine program for return travellers, including transport operation, security and cleaning, while others are working in call centres, including as part of coronavirus contact-tracing efforts.

For Emma, her new role as a warehouse supervisor, overseeing volunteers and staff packing emergency relief hampers is an ideal way to use the skills she had developed as an inventory controller at a furniture wholesale company.

“It’s a great relief to have that income and be able to support my family financially,” Emma said.

“It’s also great to be in this organisation that is supporting so many other families that don’t have employment, and that are relying on these relief hampers while they’re in quarantine.”

Foodbank CEO Dave McNamara said demand for his organisation’s services was “through the roof”.

“Searches from people looking for emergency food have doubled,” Mr McNamara said.

“The Working for Victoria fund for us is the perfect marriage between being able to provide employment to people who’ve just lost it.

“And now those people are looking to help other vulnerable Victorians with food relief.

“It’s a sweet outcome.” Foodbank feeds Victoria’s hungry through several avenues, including providing food to 470 charities, catering for the state’s school breakfast program at 750 state primary and secondary schools, and putting together care packages for people in mandatory self-isolation who do not have access to the funds, friends or family to provide for themselves.

Jobseekers and other businesses wishing to take on staff can get more information on how to connect at www.vic.gov.au/workingforvictoria.