Dozens of people left jobless by the COVID-19 pandemic are to be recruited to work in bushfire recovery efforts as part of a plan to help Victorians affected by two very different types of emergencies.
The Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR) said more than 80 jobs in bushfire recovery in Gippsland and the north-east would be advertised over the next three weeks.
The Department said the roles were part of almost 200 land-care positions offered under the Working for Victoria Fund.
“The initiative will support vital bushfire recovery projects such as track repairs, dangerous tree removal and repairs to damaged infrastructure in national parks and state forests so that they are ready for Victorians to enjoy when it is safe to do so,” the Department said.
“The workers will be employed across the state by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), Parks Victoria and the Wimmera Catchment Management Authority,” it said.
“DELWP has worked with agencies including Parks Victoria and catchment management authorities to identify jobs that can begin immediately with relatively little training.”
DJPR said more than 4,300 people had already been employed through the Working for Victoria Fund which matched people who’d lost their jobs due to the economic impacts of COVID-19 with employers who needed staff.
