For the second round of Job Network from July 2000 Worktrainers and Ganbina signed a Memorandum of Understanding. This saw the establishment of the Working Partners Employment (WPE) Consortium. Worktrainers is the delivery arm of the consortium and Ganbina is a policy partner giving advice, information, and entrée to Indigenous communities within the Goulburn Valley. This fitted in with Ganbina’s aims to be a lobbying and policy body whilst also being a service delivery agency when necessary.

From the commencement of Employment Services Contract 2, Worktrainers and Ganbina have worked together to ensure that services delivered by the delivery arm, Worktrainers, were relevant to the local Indigenous community of the Goulburn Valley. This was perhaps the first relationship of its type between a Job Network provider and an Aboriginal employment service under the Job Network tender arrangements.

History of the Relationship

Shortly after its formation in 1996 Ganbina approached Worktrainers, seeking their support to back their bid to be an Indigenous specialist employment provider under the up coming Job Network system. Whilst Worktrainers supported Ganbina’s bid the bid itself was not successful. Worktrainers however were successful in winning generalist Job Network business in the Goulburn Valley area. In addition to the Working Partners Employment Consortium activities, Worktrainers assists Ganbina by providing contracted HR, payroll and vehicle leasing services for Ganbina service delivery projects such as Ladders to Success and Jobs 4 U 2.

About Our Partner

Worktrainers
Worktrainers Ltd is a community business with an excellent track record in providing recruitment services for all types of businesses in Northern Victoria. Over the past ten years Worktrainers has undertaken significant change that has involved accelerated growth through the Job Network rounds of 1, 2, 3 and 4.

• Vision: Worktrainers will be recognised as a dynamic leader in the provision of innovative, integrated employment services that add value to the community.
• Mission: Worktrainers will continue to develop viable projects and a commercial culture that allow us to place job seekers into sustained employment at the earliest opportunity.

Job Network

The privatisation of the Federal Government employment service was seen by both Worktrainers and Ganbina as a means of providing greater opportunity for local Indigenous job seekers. Real outcomes for indigenous job seekers under the Intensive Assistance elements could be achieved where the provider/s were genuine in their service.

Job Network in the Goulburn Valley

Ganbina contributed to the development of Worktrainers’ tender for the third round of Job Network. Worktrainers established relationship with Ganbina was a strong demonstration to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) of our commitment to Indigenous employment. Worktrainers is servicing Indigenous employment at well above the National average and at a much higher level than this – the relationship with Ganbina is a key function of this, and this element lifts the overall star rating placed on Worktrainers Job Network contract by DEWR.

Market Share

Ganbina and Worktrainers have developed a series of initiatives that will assist Indigenous job seekers into mainstream employment. The main instigator of devising and developing those programs has been Ganbina.

Integrated Service Model for Job Network

Worktrainers and Ganbina both believe firmly that their model of shared management of employment programs would translate to other areas of Australia. Under this model the knowledge, experience, and resources of a mainstream service provider are harnessed to provide the often-unseen infrastructure that underlies good service delivery.

As Indigenous people sit at the table as equals with the mainstream provider and decide on methods of service delivery, cultural sensitivity, appropriateness of content, and community aspirations, the employment program has a much greater chance of success.