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January 2023
Latest News
"There are lots of people here today - employee, employer, some people from government departments and some from the community..."
- Dorice Jane, 'Targeted Training' Priority Action Group member
GameChange would be nothing without you.
Community informs and guides this project, your stories, what our priorities are and the plan to improve our employment system. We're launching this video on social media in the next few weeks and we hope to get more people involved for now and the future.
Subscribe to follow our Council channels (links below) and be the first to share GameChange news with friends and colleagues.
Changing Perspectives
Lydia Ropiha is a member of the GameChange initiative - co-chairing the Targeted Training Priority Action Group and known for her support to help shift the jobs and skills system in Dandenong and Doveton.
Lydia's recent work has included the award-winning Changing Perceptions in Employment program, which reviewed employers’ recruitment practices, highlighted ways to think differently from an employer’s viewpoint and then looked at the potential impacts on jobseeker perceptions of available opportunities.
GameChange Principles
Collaboration - Walking the Talk with Chobani
Local manufacturer Chobani has recently created the Social Impact Manager role, to ensure "social impact is always on the agenda". We asked Chobani General Manager,Tim Browne, to tell us a little bit more about Chobani's story and the job's creation.
Trust and Relationships - Nigel Carter's Bird's-eye View
Nigel Carter is excited. Having worked in the employment sector for over 25 years, he has seen all the ups and downs and believes that now is an incredible time for community, employers, community support organisations and employment services to collaborate. We interviewed Nigel to find out about the projects he's working on at the moment.
Collaboration
Australian federal, state, and local governments have all recently published plans recognising that for positive changes in the employment sector to have real impact, communication and collaboration with all stakeholders must be essential - a principle also underpinning GameChange.
The focus on the jobs and skills system has been an imperative for the City of Greater Dandenong for many years and it's heartening to see that federal, state, and local entities have all formalised an approach to addressing the jobs system.
"Through the GameChange program we can reimagine collaboration between our organisations for training and employment to better achieve the fantastic outcomes possible for our community."
- Kathy Racunica, 'Communication & Collaboration' Priority Action Group member
Early Wins
Wallara Mamas - where community and logistics meet
Wallara’s Warren Kemp and Darrell Hewton of Workforce Australia are both active GameChange participants, meeting in July at the GameChange Roundtable Collective Forum. Darrell then spearheaded a connection between Wallara and Selba Gondoza-Luka, of community group - Afri-Auscare. They saw that by working together, there could be some terrific opportunities for community members.
Spotlight On
Flexible work models - Jayco
It can be hard finding the headspace and physical time to change the way you do things. One local employer did exactly that, by undertaking a different employment process than normal, leading to spectacular results.
Read more in The Age about Jayco and the changes they've instigated for working carers.
Employment Resources
Restart your professional career
CareerSeekers is a non-profit organisation supporting Australia’s humanitarian entrants into professional careers.
ASRC employment program
This program from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) focuses on successful job outcomes by connecting jobseekers and employers.
Sick pay for casual workers
If you're a casual, self-employed or contract worker, you may be eligible for sick pay.
Work Local Greater Dandenong
Jobseekers
Free access to search for local jobs, upload resume and apply online for a role.
Employers
Free access to advertise a job and target local workers.
Search for jobs and register for Work Local Greater Dandenong
"Only about 8% of jobs go through the formal system…how do you break into those (informal) network systems?"
-Peter Harrison, 'Investing in Those that Need it the Most' Priority Action Group member
Supporting Community
How do we change the employment system?
Community and our research have shown us that the local employment system isn't working as well as it could be. What can we do? Change is hard - as all complex changes are.
The inverted triangle 'systems change' diagram, developed by Collective Change Lab, is a guiding snapshot for the GameChange initiative, showing the stages of systems change and helping to guide our employment strategy.
To view the Systems Change inverted triangle and read more, visit the Collective Change Lab website.
Your Opportunity to Make a Difference
Priority Action Groups - have your say
Groups meet monthly to work on one of the project's five priorities. Nominate yourself, a friend or colleague, by contacting the GameChange team.
Email: gamechange@cgd.vic.gov.au
Jobseeker Reference Group
Meet monthly to workshop ideas, provide advice to the GameChange initiative, and contribute to changing the local employment system. Nominate yourself by contacting the GameChange team.
Email: gamechange@cgd.vic.gov.au
Share your story
Share examples of where you've noticed positive change or impact, no matter how small, via our online tool. This will help us to build momentum, review our progress, learn and improve.
“Ability Works has engaged in the City of Dandenong’s GameChange program...and aspires to provide long term employment to anyone in the community experiencing significant barriers to employment."
-Sue Boyce, 'Flexible Workplace Models' Priority Action Group member
Contact the GameChange Support Team
Would you like to get in touch with the team or provide some general feedback on the jobs, skills and employment system or perhaps write an article for the newsletter?
Email the team: gamechange@cgd.vic.gov.au
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We acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of this land, the Bunurong People, and pay respect to their Elders past, present and emerging. We recognise and respect their continuing connections to climate, Culture and Country.
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