Analysis of Health Priorities - Employment
Priority Area 1: Supporting Economic Growth
Corio Norlane continues to be significantly impacted by the effects of globalisation. The Geelong economy is heavily reliant on manufacturing and evidence indicates that further job losses in the next few years will be incurred. The region has 11.2% of direct jobs at risk in the following industries: auto parts, basic metal and plastic products, chemicals, textiles, clothing and footwear, food processing, machinery and equipment, and miscellaneous manufacturing (Northern Futures 2007). More recently, the Global Financial Crisis is expected to contribute to the significant number of employees that will lose their manufacturing-based jobs in the next 3 years many of whom live in the Corio Norlane community.
One of Corio Norlane’s competitive advantages is its access to major transport infrastructure including the Princes Highway, air and sea ports, national rail connections and industrial precincts. However, there are critical shortfalls in the infrastructure that limits the future economic growth and development of Corio Norlane, and the rest of Geelong. Maintaining a strong local economy, largely driven by the community’s spending power, is central to providing employment and key services within the Corio Norlane community.
Priority Area 2: Linking Labour Supply and Demand
The capacity for business growth is increasingly constrained by a shortage of appropriately skilled workers and an ageing workforce. ABS Census data (2001) reported that there are 14,152 people of working age living in Corio Norlane. In particular, Corio Norlane Neighbourhood Renewal Survey data (2007) shows that 17% of the labour workforce recorded as unemployed with a total of 58% who were workless at that time (Deakin University 2007).
Research indicates that workless communities face significant barriers to employment. In order to connect workless people to employment opportunities, a complicated set of inter-related issues and processes that keep them out of work must be understood with policies and actions tailored accordingly. A major component of addressing worklessness is the need to improve the health of the community to ensure that they can remain productive members of the workforce. High levels of social and economic disadvantage are commonly linked to poorer health outcomes and are typically reflected in higher incidence rates of chronic disease, mental illness and disability.
Strengthening connections between residents, educational facilities, employment support services and employers is essential to bridge the divide between those who are seeking workers and those seeking employment. Improving public transport links between the potential workforce living in Corio Norlane and employers is crucial to the success of any strategy aimed at reducing worklessness.
Priority Area 3: Strengthening Education and Training
While there is no quick fix for breaking the cycle of entrenched disadvantage, full-time employment is considered by some to be the closest thing to a silver bullet that actually exists. A number of the identified barriers to accomplishing this goal relate to low levels of educational attainment, qualifications and/or skill development.
Data from Corio Norlane Neighbourhood Renewal Community Survey (2005) shows that only 4% of participants had completed a university degree compared to 14% Victoria wide. Significant social, economic and physical barriers exist for students seeking access to post compulsory education and training. The main barriers identified by residents included low educational attainment, cost and lack of childcare and public transport. In addition, there is perceived to be poor access to information about career, training and employment pathways. This combined with low expectations for future success by both students and parents can prevent students reaching their full potential (Deakin University 2005).
The Geelong & Colac Regional Skills Report (2008) indicates skill shortage areas in the Geelong Region include both professionals (Tertiary Engineering - civil, electrical, mechanical, structural and chemical, Accountants, Registered Nurses – Theatre, Aged Care and Midwives and Allied Health Professionals) and trades (Trade Engineering trades- boiler makers, steel fabricators, fitters and turners, welders, panel beaters, Vehicle Trades – diesel and general mechanics, Electrical/Electronics Trades, Building and Construction Trades – plumbers, roofing plumbers, bricklayers, tilers, plasterers and painters and Chefs).
Low literacy levels throughout the entire community are seen as having a significant detrimental impact on the community’s health, educational and employment outcomes. The student performance data for literacy and numeracy collected at key milestones including Prep and Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 indicate that for all nine government schools in Corio Norlane the School Average falls below State Average scores. This underperformance is particularly noticeable in the Prep Reading Scores that show children are performing on average approximately 20% below the State Average.
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