Three Settlement Services International (SSI) staff have been named among nine new employment facilitators helping job seekers find work as part of the federal government’s $62.8 million Local Jobs Program.

As employment facilitators in three regions – Sydney South West, Wivenhoe and Gold Coast – they will work with employers, employment services providers and training providers to match jobseekers with appropriate employment and training opportunities.

They will also chair local jobs and skills taskforces, addressing community needs and identifying projects that can be funded by the federal government through the Local Recovery Fund.

Settlement Services International is a community organisation and social business that works with people who have experienced vulnerability, including refugees, people seeking asylum and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.

SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis said SSI had long recognised the importance of local knowledge and collaboration when tailoring solutions specific to vulnerable people in local communities.

She said she was very pleased that SSI staff would be acting as an on-the-ground presence, working with local job seekers to connect them with training, job opportunities and other support.

Besides working with employers and providing support to retrenched workers and job seekers, the employment facilitators will ensure better use of existing strategies and will be valuable sources of information on labour market developments in their regions.

“The Morrison Government wants as many job seekers as possible to upskill and reskill, using solutions developed by their local community,” said Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator Michaelia Cash.

“Our employment facilitators will provide a local presence to support employers and job seekers to connect to local employment and training opportunities. They’ll drive innovative ideas to address their region’s unique challenges by bringing together local businesses, training providers and job seekers.” she said.

The Local Jobs Program will run until June 30, 2022.