Women are being disproportionately affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Australian Bureau of Statistics Labour Force data¹ shows more than 10,000 regional Victorian women lost or left their jobs from March to July this year.

Regional women in female-dominated industries such as retail, tourism, food services and hospitality have been particularly affected. Women have also been shouldering additional caring responsibilities.

Working for Victoria’s online jobs platform is a Victorian Government initiative that helps people find work and employers find workers. The Working for Victoria initiative has created more than 2,800 jobs across regional communities since launching in April.

Public relations university graduate Annabel (pictured) found herself out of work after moving to be with her family near Mansfield due to uncertainties around the unfolding coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. After a relative told her about the Youth Employment Program, which is part of Working for Victoria, she landed a full-time administration role at nearby Mount Buller.

“Being able to secure my position close to home in regional Victoria has been a bit of a shining beacon in what has been a really challenging year,” said Annabel.

The $500 million Working for Victoria Fund is also supporting regional Victoria through the
$50-million Agriculture Workforce Plan, which offers financial support and advice to businesses to adapt to changed conditions and assist with new workers’ relocation, induction and training.

Since launching in April, the Working for Victoria initiative has created more than 10,000 jobs. For more information or to register for Working for Victoria go to: coronavirus.vic.gov.au/find-work-or-employees-fast-working-victoria.

¹Source ABS 6291.0.55.001

Pictured above: University graduate Annabel, employed in Mount Buller through the Youth Employment Program. Photograph courtesy of Working for Victoria