Jobwise Outreach and Wise Workforce Services (JOWWS) for 2007/2008 have begun with recent Jobwise Workshops hosted by IPC Employment held in Ashfield and Parramatta.
JOWWS, part of the broader Mature Age Employment Workplace Strategy (MAEWS), is an initiative seeking to improve the labour force participation of mature age Australians as a key strategy for managing the impact of Australia's ageing workforce.
A key component of MAEWS is Jobwise Workshops. Available to employers and mature age people aged 45 and over, participants can learn more about current employment opportunities, the nature of the contemporary labour market and the latest job search techniques.
Participants are also given information about employment services and those eligible have the opportunity to contact their chosen employment services provider.
MC for the workshops, former Balmain Tigers stalwart and NSW State of Origin coach Wayne 'Junior’ Pearce, stressed the value of mature age job seekers, referring to them as an untapped resource that employers will need to consider as they operate in an increasingly competitive market for labour.
To date over 100 participants have attended the workshops, including:
- mature-age job seekers
- local Job Network members
- Centrelink
- local employers
- recruitment agencies and
- local TAFEs.
Many of the workshop participants will also be attending Jobwise Self Help Groups. These groups will allow mature-age job seekers to exchange experiences, provide mutual support, develop their job search techniques and improve career choices. They will be particularly valuable those who are not eligible for Job Network services.
Another component of JOWWS is Wise Workforce, which aims to help employers meet labour demands by implementing age-positive workplace practices to enhance their recruitment and retention of a multi-generational workforce including mature age people. Consequently, this year's workshops have been accompanied by an employer breakfast in an effort to match up employers with mature age jobseekers.
Further information about JOWWS, including a list of other Jobwise workshops across the country, can be found on the Jobwise Workshops page.