Fistful Of Dollars For Workers To Wing It West

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday October 28, 2006

Nick O'Malley Workplace Reporter

SEAN WHITEHILL woke at his grandparents' Coffs Harbour home yesterday, fixed his nan's blinds, then flew to Perth to start a new life in the west's building boom.

He is one of a group of 14 young men from NSW who left for the West Australian capital yesterday, funded by a Federal Government pilot relocation program to redress skills shortages.

Mr Whitehill can't believe his luck. "It's an apprenticeship in one year [rather than four] and it's 600 bucks a week. Normally an apprentice gets 240, 250 a week," he said. The 14 men will be trained as plasterers.

He heard about the offer three weeks ago and only learned on Tuesday that he had won a place.

Another successful applicant, Luke Hagan, 23, is succinct when asked what made him decide to take up the offer: "My parents."

Still, he's looking forward to it. "There's no real work at Coffs and I've been looking to get away somewhere for awhile."

In view of rising unemployment in parts of the east and the dire labour shortage in the west, the Government developed the relocation program in partnership with three private job agencies. It gives up to $5000 to each of the successful applicants to help cover the cost of relocation.

Bernadette Smith said her grandson, Mr Whitehill, had struggled to secure ongoing work in Coffs Harbour. "We'll miss him, but he's promised he'll come back and visit his nan."

The Government hopes to make the program a key part of its jobs strategy if it proves successful.

Adele Horin - Page 37

© 2006 Sydney Morning Herald

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