Campaign Works – more locals hired – Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader

BAWI has started work as an apprentice mechanic with Mitsubishi Motors as a result of Sarina Russo Job Access' $1 million worth of local jobs campaign. Sarina Russo Job Access Lilydale manager, Robert Pears, says the campaign engages the business community and encourages them to give a local a job.

 

"Sarina Russo Job Access is in the third week of our campaign and so far $622,700 worth of salaries have been added to the local community," he said.

 

Paul from Mitsubishi Motors in Knox believes the community benefits when local businesses employ local jobseekers. "I rely on local customers to support my business so it makes perfect sense for me to hire local people. As an employer, I'm always prepared to give someone a go as long as they show the right attitude to work," Paul said. "You can always teach someone skills, but a jobseeker s most valuable asset is having the right attitude. Bawi had the right attitude."

 

Bawi believes there is a lot to be said for the power of employment. "It makes one feel important and needed and I'm thankful for the advice and support Sarina Russo Job Access gave me to become job-ready," he said. "I also appreciate the opportunity Paul has given me. I love a challenge and I'm determined to prove that I'm the best apprentice mechanic I can be."

 

Robert says in the past 12 months redundancies in the area increased and businesses did shed jobs. "I encourage local employers needing staff to contact Sarina Russo Job Access at Lilydale as we have many experienced and skilled locals on the books who are ready to work straightaway," he said. "Sarina Russo Job Access adds the annual salaries of all candidates placed into work in March 2010 to calculate the success of our local jobs campaign."

 

- Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader, 23^rd April 2010