Dartmoor mill workers will receive up to $214,000 worth of training after Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney today announced a package of Brumby Government assistance.
Representing Regional and Rural Development Minister Jacinta Allan, Ms Tierney said training through the Skill Up program would help equip the retrenched workers to secure high demand occupations after the local mill closed last month.
“This new grant will enable the 128 affected workers to complete extra training in areas identified by South West TAFE as having high skills shortages,” Ms Tierney said.
“These extra skills will give workers wider employment options in the region.”
Ms Tierney said the workers would be trained to fill local vacancies in construction, front end loader/back hoe/skid steer/excavating, fork lift, dogging and rigging.
In addition, some workers would be able to undertake multiple training courses to better equip them to gain employment.
The investment in retraining is a joint initiative between the Brumby Government, Glenelg Shire and South West TAFE to urgently assist the Dartmoor township after the retrenchments in late September.
“This initiative aims to help Dartmoor residents and their families remain in the area,” Ms Tierney said.
“The training will provide an opportunity for workers previously employed at the mill to be retrained, gain local employment and continue to live in the township.”
The $214,000 package is through the Skill Up Program and Regional Development Victoria’s Living Regions Living Suburbs Program.
