Real Innovation Fund Grant Opportunity - Workforce Australia - Local Jobs - Illawarra South Coast

 

Real Innovation Fund Grant Opportunity Grants are now open for the REAL Innovation Fund, an initiative that will support the delivery of small-scale, community-led, innovative projects that build pathways to stable and culturally safe employment opportunities for First Nations people who have had contact with the justice system. Projects can be designed to support both First Nations people currently in the justice system and those previously engaged in the justice system in the last 2 years. Initiatives will aim to address attitudinal and other systemic barriers that impact opportunities for individuals to transition into employment. The projects can build on pre-existing programs/initiatives or test new approaches.  Eligible organisations are invited to apply for funding under the REAL Innovation Fund, with the competitive grants process remaining open until 2 March 2026.   Funding will be allocated through a two-stage application process:   Stage One – Expression of Interest (EOI) Applicants are required to submit an EOI outlining the key elements of their proposed project. The EOI serves as a concise pitch that enables the department to assess alignment with the objectives and intent of the REAL Innovation Fund. Stage Two – Full Grant Application Organisations shortlisted through Stage One will be invited to submit a full grant application. This stage provides the opportunity to expand on the proposal presented in the EOI and supply the detailed information required for final assessment. Applications will only be accepted from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Orgs and joint consortia that are led by First Nations organisations. Interested organisations are invited to apply for the funding via GrantConnect by 9.00pm (AEDT) on Monday 2 March 2026.   For further information For more information, please visit the DEWR website, or contact REALInnovationFund@dewr.gov.au.

Deadline extended for completion of Transport surveys - Workforce Australia

 

Deadline extended for completion of transport surveys The Local Jobs Programs in the Illawarra South Coast, Capital Region and Murray Riverina have joined together to form a new organisation - the Work Transit Alliance - to work collaboratively to address transport barriers to employment across southern NSW. As a first step, the Alliance has engaged Sparrowly Group to undertake foundational research to understand and build an evidence base for the transport-related barriers and opportunities in the region.  Our key focus areas are the Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla and Bega Valley. The research is progressing well; however, we need your help.   Can you please share the below surveys and accompanying message within your organisation and across your networks (including newsletters and social media) to allow employers, employees and jobseekers to provide feedback on their personal experiences on employment related transport?   *** The closing date for completion of the survey is now Monday, 17 November 2025 *** Message: Are you an employee, jobseeker or employer?   The WorkTransit Alliance, a formal alliance of Workforce Australia Local Jobs Program regions of Murray Riverina, Capital and Illawarra South Coast is seeking to better understand and remove transport-related barriers to employment. The Alliance has engaged Sparrowly Group to undertake foundational research to understand and build an evidence base for the transport-related barriers and opportunities in the region.  Our key focus areas are the Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla and Bega Valley. Sparrowly have developed a short survey to help capture transport-related data and insights, which we'd like you to complete.   The feedback you provide is invaluable and will help the Alliance advocate for better transport access to jobs across the Illawarra South Coast region.   Your feedback is invaluable. To participate select the relevant short five (5) minute survey below: Employee survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WTA-employee-survey Employer survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WTA-employer-survey  Job seeker survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WTA-job-seeker-survey   All surveys now close Monday 17 November 2025   Thanks for your support. If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Bobbin from the Illawarra South Coast Local Jobs Program team. Regards Andrew Wales Illawarra South Coast Job Coordinator   For more information about the Illawarra South Coast Local Jobs Program, visit www.localjobshub.com.au

Illawarra/South Coast local Jobs and Skills Taskforce & Working Groups - Workforce Australia

 

The Local Jobs Program runs to 30 June 2027 in 51 employment regions throughout Australia, including the Illawarra South Coast. It brings together expertise, resources and access to funding at the local level to focus on reskilling, upskilling and employment pathways for people in each region.  We’re refreshing the Illawarra South Coast Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce and Working Groups—how to stay involved The Illawarra South Coast Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce at its meeting in Kiama on 21 August 2025. The Illawarra South Coast Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce met in Kiama on 21 August 2025 to review the role of the Taskforce and Working Groups, and agree on changes as part of a wider Local Jobs Program refresh. At that meeting the Taskforce committed to a new model that will enable it to focus on what matters most: practical collaboration that delivers strong employment outcomes for our region.   What’s changing Meeting frequency: Taskforce meetings will now be held every two months. Working Group meetings will be held in the intervening month. A schedule of meeting dates will be sent separately.   Closed meetings: Taskforce meetings will now be open to Taskforce members, permanent observers, and invited guests only. This is to ensure the Taskforce is able to focus its attention at meetings on the analysis of and response to the region's important labour market challenges and opportunities. Presentations from stakeholders normally made at Taskforce meetings will be transferred to meetings of the Working Groups.   Taskforce meeting format: The format of each Taskforce meeting will be simplified to include a brief labour market overview from the Job Coordinator, sector/cohort updates from Working Group Chairs, and then a deep dive-discussion around priority labour market issues needing an LJP response or action.   Action flow: Decisions and tasks from the Taskforce meetings will be delegated to Working Groups or external partners as needed.   Working Groups: The LJP Working Groups will continue to be the primary forum for information sharing and the design of collaborative projects. Each Working Group will be Chaired by a Taskforce member. All regional stakeholders will continue to have the opportunity to engage and collaborate via the Working Groups.   Annual Employment Summit: We’ll convene an Employment Summit for the Illawarra South Coast in May 2026 (date TBC). This will bring together all the region's stakeholders - Taskforce members, Working Group participants, employers, employment service providers, community organisations, training organisations and government agencies - in the one location for a day of presentations, analysis, collaboration and planning.   How you can engage Join a Working Group: Join and contribute to a Working Group. Working Groups meet online every 2-3 months for 60-90 minutes. We'll let you know details of Working Group meetings and dial-in details ahead of time. A schedule of meeting dates will be sent separately.   Collaborate with Working Group members and the Local Jobs Program Team: We're stronger as a region if we all work together to identify and solve the region's employment challenges. Please attend Working Group meetings regularly and share your insights, ideas, projects  etc, so we can look for opportunities to support each other's work.   What to expect next Two-monthly updates: After each Taskforce meeting, we’ll share a concise summary of Working Group activities and Taskforce outcomes with all stakeholders.   More visibility: Expect stronger social media updates highlighting priorities, trials, wins, and next steps.   A schedule of meeting dates: We'll message you over the next 1-2 weeks with a schedule of dates for all Working Group meetings for 2025 - 2026. If you have any questions, please reply to this email and we’ll get back to you. Regards Andrew Wales Job Coordinator — Illawarra South Coast Local Jobs Program on behalf of the Illawarra South Coast Local Jobs and SkillsTaskforce - The Illawarra South Coast Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce - TOP ROW (L-R): Matthew Clarke, Corin Hodgson, Coralie McCarthy, Bianca Perry, Nicky Sloan BOTTOM ROW (L-R): Leanne Smith, Rhonnie South, Selena Stevens, Andrew Wales, John Watkin

Workforce Australia - Illawarra South Coast Skills Taskforce

 

The Local Jobs Program runs to 30 June 2027 in 51 employment regions throughout Australia, including the Illawarra South Coast. It brings together expertise, resources and access to funding at the local level to focus on reskilling, upskilling and employment pathways for people in each region.  New Illawarra South Coast Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce We’ve recently worked through a review of Illawarra South Coast Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce membership as part of a wider process of adjustment to the Illawarra South Coast Local Jobs Program, and we’re pleased to introduce the 2025-2026 Taskforce members:   Matthew Clarke (Yilabara) – representing Indigenous jobseekers and employment service providers. Corin Hodgson (APM) – representing Workforce Australia/employment service providers and the Shoalhaven. Coralie McCarthy (Business Illawarra) – representing the business sector/employers and the Illawarra. Bianca Perry (i3Net) – representing the manufacturing, defence and clean energy sector. Nicky Sloan (Community Industry Group) – representing the care sector and the Illawarra. Leanne Smith (NSW DPIRD) – representing economic development agencies and the NSW Government, as well as the Illawarra-Shoalhaven. Rhonnie South (Eurobodalla Shire Council) – representing the youth cohort and the Eurobodalla. Selena Stevens (RDAIS) – representing RDAIS, employers and the Illawarra-Shoalhaven. Andrew Wales (Local Jobs Program) – Chair, and also representing the Work Transit Alliance and Wingecarribee. John Watkin (Bega Chamber of Commerce and Industry) – representing the hospitality and small Business sector, the migrant cohort and the Bega Valley.   This refreshed Taskforce will play a key leadership role in setting priorities, guiding projects, and ensuring our work continues to align with the employment and skills needs of the region.   Why the refresh? As the labour market evolves, so too must our strategies. This new Taskforce brings together sector leaders and key influencers to provide focused input, strengthen collaboration, and help drive initiatives that deliver real employment outcomes across the Illawarra South Coast region.   Next steps for the Taskforce: The next Taskforce meeting will be a one-off in-person strategy session on Thursday, 21 August in Kiama, for Taskforce members only. This meeting will focus on reviewing and resetting priorities and programs for the next 1–2 years.   Following this, the next wider Taskforce meeting, open to all stakeholders, will be held in November. We’ll share full details of the updated Taskforce meeting schedule in a separate message.   We look forward to continuing to build strong partnerships and to deliver initiatives that connect jobseekers to opportunities and address workforce needs across our region.   If you have any questions or would like further information, please don’t hesitate to contact us. TOP ROW (L-R): Matthew Clarke, Corin Hodgson, Coralie McCarthy, Bianca Perry, Nicky Sloan BOTTOM ROW (L-R): Leanne Smith, Rhonnie South, Selena Stevens, Andrew Wales, John Watkin