By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
THE HUMBLE community barbecue has often been used as a fundraiser but now it’s part of a solution for local long-term unemployed.
A series of barbies planned for Geelong’s northern suburbs will bring long-term unemployed people and frontline services together.
A project funded through Rosewall Neighbourhood Centre Workforce Development Centre and Geelong region LLEN is behind the initiative.
Project officer Peter McDonald said long-term unemployed people often had no idea where to turn.
“There’s a whole range of community organisations that the long-term unemployed tend to go to but people in those organisations don’t necessarily know what to do with them once they’ve been there,” he said.
The barbecues aimed to bring all parties together to help pass on vital community information.
“We’re asking community organisations to come along and meet people who are unemployed, and we are also providing some training for frontline staff,” Mr McDonald said.
“Instead of saying, ‘Sorry, we don’t know anything’, with a bit of guidance frontline staff can make some phone calls or pass on some careers information.
“We want to make sure that when people come into community places there are people there with some knowledge to refer them on and give them a basic idea of what to do next.”
Corio Lions Club will conduct the free barbecues from 11am to 1pm Wednesday at Rosewall Neighbourhood Centre, 9 June at Cloverdale Community Centre and 11 June at Corio library.
