By Jessica Micallef
Almost 100 new temporary staff will be employed at Macedon Ranges council in coming weeks, as part of the state government’s Working for Victoria program.
The 92 additional short-term staff will be employed in remote workforce roles across the Macedon Ranges such as community support, providing food services, catering for vulnerable people, planting and environment works at Hanging Rock and beautification works in parks and gardens.
The council’s chief executive Margot Stork said she 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,” she said.
“We’ve identified a range of short-term roles above and beyond our normal program of work to help 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 their opportunity to access additional assistance in the form of trained and experienced staff to help us best support our community at this challenging time.”
The $500 million Working for Victoria program is part of the state government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program matches people who have lost their jobs due to the economic impacts of the virus with local councils.
Macedon Ranges council is one of 28 councils across the state participating in the new program.
The council has encouraged it’s casual staff members to register for the Working for VIctoria initiative.
Many of the council’s casual staff members normally work in centres and facilities across the municipality which have been closed since the onset of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Hume council has submitted a proposal to the state government to employ 160 people through the program.
Under Hume’s proposal, priority would be given to locals and council employees in need of work.
People employed with Hume council under the program would complete tasks including collecting rubbish on streets, cleaning and replacing signs, painting house numbers on kerbs and bins and digitising more than 800 council books featuring agendas and minutes from council meetings.
For more information on the Working for Victoria initiative and tor register, visit: vic.gov.au/workingforvictoria
