Job seekers who are 45 or over will have potentially hundreds of “mature age friendly” job vacancies to choose from at a free expo next month at Strathpine, just north of Brisbane.
The Wise Workforce Jobs & Training Expo 2007, an initiative of community group the Moreton Bay Coast & Country Area Consultative Committee (ACC), had a hugely successful debut last year, attracting more than 700 mature-aged job seekers from the Pine Rivers, North Brisbane, Caboolture and Redcliffe regions, and nearly 300 job vacancies from employers happy to recruit older staff.
ACC Executive Officer Estella Rodighiero said this year’s expo, to be held at the Strathpine Community Centre on July 12, is expected to be even bigger and better than last year’s, with many businesses in the region discovering the benefits of giving older job seekers a go.
“Australian employers have been using the ‘vampire’ approach to recruitment – that means constantly craving the fresh blood of younger workers – for too long. With an ageing population, it’s simply not sustainable. Businesses need to broaden their recruitment strategies if they want to survive, and older workers can offer real advantages, including reliability, loyalty, experience, a strong work ethic and low absenteeism rates,” she said.
The expo, which last year won the 2006 National Award for Economic Development Excellence – AusIndustry Innovation Award for best project, will also feature:
- info on training options
- programs, resources and support for the mature-aged
- workshops on topics relevant to job seeking
- health and lifestyle info and activities
- prizes and giveaways
- entertainment and inspiration
- free buses to transport job seekers from Redcliffe and Caboolture.
The event is being supported by Pine Rivers Shire Council and Brisbane North Institute of TAFE, with state and federal government departments, employment service providers, registered training organisations and community groups also providing trade stands or lending a hand with workshops.
Job seekers wanting more information or businesses wanting to register job vacancies should go to the ACC website at www.moretonbayacc.gov.au 
or call (07) 5428 2411.
Wise Workforce Jobs & Training Expo
Thursday 12 July 2007
9.30am to 3.30pm
Strathpine Community Centre
Mecklem Street, Strathpine
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