THE Local Jobs Program and COTA SA’s Yorke Peninsula Advisory Group are working together to explore employment opportunities for older people.
Yorke Peninsula has a significantly higher proportion of older people compared with the average age profile of South Australia, with about 47 per cent of the population aged over 55 compared with 28 per cent in South Australia.
Mature aged job seekers make up more than 35 per cent of the registered job seekers in the employment region.
“Older people bring a wealth of lived experience, knowledge and skills that would be highly valuable to local businesses,” region employment facilitator Lisa Brock said.
“We’ve seen employers adapt and be more flexible to ensure they can attract workers and believe there is an opportunity to explore this further and see how we can harness the skills and experience of older people, while maintaining flexibility and life balance.”
COTA SA is an older people’s movement and the peak body that represents the rights, interests and futures of South Australians aged 50-plus.
The YP group was formed in 2021 and chairperson Vivienne Lambert said the collaboration will provide information about what is available in the area.
“Older people on the peninsula may not think they want to work because they don’t know the opportunities that exist for a few hours or one day a week, yet they have the skills and experience which employers value,” she said.
“Our collaboration with the Local Jobs Program will provide information on what may be available and how
to get back into paid work as well as link with
employers looking for older workers for the skills and flexibility they bring.
“Lots of people happily do volunteer work and this isn’t intended to take people away from that.
“But employers are looking for and valuing the skills that older people bring from their former working life, so this will open up the opportunities to bring them together.”
The initial focus of the campaign will be to engage with local residents and community groups to provide access to information and support.