Retraining and Reskilling

In South Australia large manufacturing companies are planning redundancies and this will see many current employees with a range of skills become unemployed. This can add to the daily pressures of maintaining your wellbeing due to the loss of family income.

When changes in our employment occur they can big to feelings of uncertainty and anxiety and it is important to remember that you have been employed, and you are now re-employable!

A key part of recovering from loss of employment is to understand that you can find assistance and be supported to find ongoing productive and satisfying employment. As an individual we know that we feel good about ourselves, our family and our wellbeing when we are employed in a meaningful and satisfying role.

If you have been retrenched form your job because your employer went into liquidation or bankruptcy and believe that you are owed wages or other entitlements, the Fair Entitlements Guarantee may be able to help you.

Where are future jobs?

In our changing market, it is important to consider what jobs/industries are set to boom. This way, you can retrain in the right industry.

The Government of South Australia [i] has outlined these sectors as experiencing stronger jobs growth than others.

Health care and social assistance

Examples of jobs include: generalist medical practitioner, medical imaging professionals, ambulance officers and paramedics, aged and disabled carers, registered and enrolled nurses, physiotherapists, psychologists, child carers

Education and training

Examples of jobs include: teachers, tutors, lecturers

Professional, scientific and technical services

Examples of jobs include: accoutants, engineers, ICT services, advertising and marketing consultants

Transport, postal and warehousing

Examples of jobs include: warehouse and logistic workers, transport drivers, mechanics, air and marine transport professionals

Advanced manufacturing (including defence)

Examples of jobs include:electrical and electronics engineers, motor mechanics, telecommunications, electronics and electrical distribution trades workers, electrical engineering drafts persons and technicians, electricians and, software and applications programmers.

For more information about this, visit the Work Ready website

Relocating for a job

Sometimes it may be necessary to move to a new place to find employment in the sector that you want. Whilst this is an exciting opportunity to gain new employment and experience new things, it can also be daunting (and expensive).

If this is the case, the government can help with you relocation costs. The Relocation Assistance to Take Up a Job programme is an Australian Government programme which helps job seekers to relocate for work. Visit the Department of Employment website for more information regarding your eligibility to receive this payment and further information.

Employment Services Assistance

Employment agencies will be able to offer some guidance and advice about your employment journey. This may include information like:

• Skills Assessment
• Opportunities for retraining or reskilling
• Opportunities for up-skilling

MIGAS Apprenticeships and Training

MIGAS is a not-for-profit entity specializing in finding jobs for and providing apprenticeship and training in the electrical, HVAC, engineering, mining and manufacturing sectors

Thinking about traditional and non-traditional careers

There are often stereotypes around the types of employment that men and women engage in. For example, women are nurses and men are engineers. But this stereotypical way of diving the job market is changing and there are benefits of working in a sector that is non-traditional.

A non-traditional career is when you work in a field or pursue a degree program in which the total population is comprised of 25% or less of one gender.

Why choose the non-traditional career path?

• Interesting and rewarding Higher wages and better benefits
• Opportunities for more advancement and job satisfaction
• Alternative path to economic independence

Examples of non-traditional fields for Women

• Criminal Justice
• Radio Broadcasting
• Computer Technology
• Culinary Arts
• Electrical Technology
• Engineering
• Construction Technology

Examples of non-traditional fields for Men

• Early Childhood Education
• Nursing
• Community Services
• Paralegal / Personal Assistant Services
• Dental Hygiene

You might like to consider how your current skills, knowledge and experience could be utilised in another sector, which may include the Community Services Sectors. There is an increased demand for Social Services, Aged Care and Mental Health workforce

[i] Government of South Australia 2016, Growth Industries, Work Ready, accessed on 01/04/2016,< http://www.skills.sa.gov.au/careers-jobs/skills-ne…>.

Links

• Diamond House – Clubhouse – Diamond House is a community mental health programme that supports individuals who have the lived experience of mental illness. Through participation in Diamond House, people are given opportunities to explore friendships, rebuild links with family, participate in Work-Ordered Day, educational activities and employment options.
• Self-employment—New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) – Job seekers who are interested in running a new small business may be eligible to participate in the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS), delivered as part of jobactive. NEIS is a programme delivered by a network of 21 providers who provide individualised help for job seekers to become self-employed business owners
• WorkReady – Skills and Employment – This website provides information about the training system and the government subsidised training available from institutions such as TAFE, universities, and apprenticeships in South Australia.