Southern Tasmanians will be a step closer to finding a job or training opportunity, with news that the highly successful Australian Government Jobs and Skills Expo is coming to Hobart’s Derwent Entertainment Centre on Friday, 1 March 2013.

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Bill Shorten, Member for Franklin Julie Collins and Senator Carol Brown today announced details of the Jobs and Skills Expos being delivered by the Australian Government that will provide local job seekers with hundreds of jobs and training opportunities

“I’m delighted to say we now have an Expo locked-in for Hobart,” Mr Shorten said.

“Job seekers will experience a ‘jobs and skills marketplace’ connecting them with employers, private recruitment agencies, Jobs Services Australia providers and registered training organisations and hundreds of employment and training opportunities.

“More than 800 job seekers have been connected with job and training opportunities at the Expos held in Launceston, Burnie and Devonport in recent times, now we’re bringing an Expo to Hobart.”

Minister Shorten said the Expos bring together employers, employment services providers and training organisations with job seekers on one day – creating a one-stop-shop for jobs and training.'

“The Australian Government has delivered 69 Jobs and Skills Expos and we know that they work because we’ve now seen more than 24,800 Australians find employment at them and many thousands more sign up for training opportunities,” Mr Shorten said.

“Parts of Tasmania have been doing it tough on the employment front as well as due to the recent bushfires with people losing their houses, and in some instances, having lost their income. That’s why the Government is lending a helping hand by providing support through income assistance and now with the Jobs and Skills Expo.”

Ms Collins encouraged local job seekers to come along and meet employers, training organisations and industry representatives.

“This is a great chance for local people and businesses to come together and discuss job opportunities,” Ms Collins said.

“While Australia has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the developed world, finding a job can be daunting for some, but this Expo is a practical way of making the search for a job a bit easier,”

Senator Carol Brown said that finding opportunities for employment was a key issue for many people living in the Denison electorate.

“The Denison Jobs Roundtable has been an outstanding success and I am pleased that it has mapped out a path forward to help drive growth and create jobs in Southern Tasmania.

“The Jobs Expo is the next stage in delivering jobs for the local community and helping to equip people with the necessary skills to gain employment,” Senator Carol Brown said.

The Expo will be held at the Derwent Entertainment Centre, Brooker Highway, Glenorchy, from 10am to 3pm on Friday, 1 March 2013.

For further information about the Australian Government Jobs and Skills Expo or for those interested in exhibiting or advertising a job vacancy or training course at the expos should call 13 11 58 or visit the website at www.humanservices.gov.au/expos.

Mr Shorten’s Media Contacts: Sam Casey 0421 679 660

Ms Collin’s Media Contacts: Joe Scavo 0409 679 924

Senator Brown’s Media Contacts: Brenton West 0439 816 238