Workskil enters WA

Adelaide-based Workskil Australia is set to open 14 offices in Western Australia following a reallocation of providers under the federal government's jobactive program.

Following an 18-month review, the federal government’s jobactive program has awarded new contracts to Workskil, Advanced Personnel Management (APM) and Status Employment Services.

The changes have led to several existing providers having to cut operations, though none has exited the WA market entirely.

Workskil chief executive Nicole Dwyer said Workskil was looking forward to expanding into WA.

“Workskil Australia has a strong track record of helping many thousands of clients, often from difficult backgrounds, find meaningful employment in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales,” she said.

“We also have well-established indigenous and youth employment divisions whose expertise and experience we will look to draw upon as we grow in WA.”

Workskil is a not-for-profit organisation that assists more than 20,000 clients nationwide.

It’s currently seeking to hire about 100 staff in WA where it plans to help over 12,000 local job seekers.

Ms Dwyer said that, as of March 26, Workskil would be available across five offices in Perth's northern suburbs.

APM, Atwork Australia, Communicare, MAX Employment, and The Salvation Army Employment Plus have previously operated in the northern suburbs, and some of which will experience a reduction in offices, according to research by Business News.

Workskil would take up seven offices in Perth’s southern suburbs, Ms Dwyer said.

Status Employment Services will also enter at least one southern suburb for the first time, while The Salvation Army Employment Plus will have all six of its offices cut from Perth’s southern suburbs, according to information from the Department of Jobs and Small Business’s website.

APM and Workskil will replace the two existing providers in Geraldton, Skill Hire WA and The Salvation Army Employment Plus.