The Victorian Government is rolling out a $39M Social Services Jobs Guarantee program designed to ease workforce pressures for social service providers, including disability organisations. Under the scheme, students who graduate from the Diploma of Community Services between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2024 will be assured a 12-month or longer part- or full-time job in social services. 

Employers participating in the program will need to meet the criteria, including: 

• Being a social services employer with an organisational presence in Victoria 
• Having sufficient business structures and capabilities to employ Jobs Guarantee participants 
• Providing evidence of a suitable employment offer (that is, a full- or part-time job with a minimum 19 hours per week for at least 12 months). 

Through the scheme, community service employers, including disability support providers, will find suitably qualified graduates without job advertisement and other recruitment costs. Employers will also benefit from a free support program for employees hired through the initiative, reducing significant onboarding costs. 

If you are considering the program, complete the quick Employer Expression of Interest Form (EOI). Smaller employers can enter consortia arrangements if they can’t participate in the program alone. This can be indicated on the EOI form. NDS can help you find other members interested in forming a consortium.  Please submit an enquiry at the bottom of this page to register your interest.  

To assist employers to participate, the Victorian Government is providing up to $20,000 per student to cover training, supervision, onboarding and other costs.  

To be considered for funding, employers must complete a grant application with the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, outlining their business case for funding and how the funding will be used to employ graduates.  

For more information about the Jobs Guarantee program, you can email info@jobs.vic.gov.au or attend the online Information Forum for Community Sector HR and Hiring Managers, run by the Victorian Council of Social Services, on Thursday 15 December 2022, from 2:30pm to 3:30pm AEDT.