The Turnbull Government today announces funding for an Employment Facilitator for the Mandurah region in Western Australia to provide intensive support to local residents to help find employment or training opportunities.

Minister for Employment, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash and Federal Member for Canning, Andrew Hastie MP said the Employment Facilitator for Mandurah will be critical in helping those affected by the transitioning West Australian economy.

“The people of Mandurah are incredibly resilient, but we recognise that the community requires extra assistance to negotiate the transition period,” Minister Cash said.

“The Coalition believes the best form of welfare is a job however we also recognise that the Peel region requires additional, targeted assistance - we are ensuring this on-the-ground support is delivered.”

Mandurah has continued to show a high degree of labour market disadvantage, with an unemployment rate that has increased from 9.7 per cent in April 2016 to 10.3 per cent in April 2017, well above the national rate of 5.7 per cent.

The role of the Employment Facilitator will be to work with local jobactive providers, employers and training services to ensure workers have the skills they need to re-enter the workforce and provide them with opportunities for retraining and further education.

Federal Member for Canning, Mr Andrew Hastie MP, said he looked forward to the appointment and hoped that local workers would take advantage of the Facilitator’s local knowledge and experience.

“An Employment Facilitator will be a very valuable and accessible on-the ground resource for the people of Mandurah,” Mr Hastie said.

“The Government’s immediate priority is to ensure local workers affected by Western Australia’s transitioning economy receive fast, comprehensive support to get back into the workforce as quickly as possible."

An Employment Facilitator will be appointed from 1 August 2017 for three years, with a tender process now underway to find a suitable appointee.

The Employment Facilitator will join other Department of Employment programs in the region, including six jobactive providers, a Work for the Dole coordinator, and a Transition to Work provider.