On January 17, 1989, a new training and employment support service was founded in Bairnsdale.
With an initial budget of $105,000 and four staff, Bairnsdale Training for Employment (trading as Skillshare) started its first training program for people seeking to join the workforce.
It went on to become Workways Australia and has since helped tens of thousands of jobseekers and young people reach their employment goals.
In 1989, Bairnsdale was a region impacted by remarkably high rates of unemployment, particularly among young people, and limited external investment in jobs growth.
The establishment of the early incarnation of Workways was the beginning of a community driven success story that played a role in helping grow the East Gippsland economy.
Founder Pam Elliott, who was chief executive officer of Workways for 18 years, knew the success of Workways would depend on its commitment and involvement in the local community.
To this day, Workways remains a not-for-profit organisation that contributes to many local community initiatives including Committee for Gippsland and East Gippsland Marketing.
Present day Workways chief executive officer, Bryan McCormick is proud to be a part of the long history of Workways in East Gippsland.
“When the organisation was first founded 30 years ago, it was a small training provider that primarily serviced the Bairnsdale township,” he said.
“With careful planning and the support of the local community, we’re now a national organisation with 72 sites along the east coast from the Melbourne suburbs, up to Cairns in Far North Queensland.
“Despite our growth, our heart and soul very much remains in East Gippsland where we continue to house our head office.”
Some of the early training courses offered by Workways in 1989 are an interesting look back at history with MS Dos Word Processing courses, and grooming and deportment classes for women.
Workways chief executive, Pam Elliott, also made history in 1997 when she became the first female member of the Rotary Club of Bairnsdale, with the Rotary president remarking that “today’s world is a rapidly changing place and we have to move with the times”.
In 1999 the Workways expansion began to take shape as it expanded from six sites in Gippsland, to 17 sites across New South Wales and Victoria. This was due to Workways’ successful tendering to offer employment services under the then Commonwealth Government’s Job Network scheme.
This growth continued further in 2003 with an expansion to 24 offices and 162 staff.
“While the size and breadth of Workways services has changed since its inception, the driving purpose of the organisation remains the same; and that is to work to improve the lives and the communities in which we work by supporting and enabling people to reach their potential, and participate in the workforce,” Mr McCormick said.
“I think what has been key to our success is the support of the local community, particularly in the early years, and our ability to adapt. We’ve seen many changes in State and Federal governments, and we have been agile enough to adapt quickly to the changing needs in employment services.
“The recent reforms in Disability Employment have been a great opportunity for us to review and renew our offering but we always remain true to our individualised approach that focuses on the ability of our of client, not their disability.”
Workways will celebrate its birthday milestone with the wider community later in the year.
“East Gippsland has been very good to our organisation, and we look forward to working with the community for many more years to come,” Mr McCormick said.
IMAGE: Construction commenced in 1999 on the current Workways head office at 280 Main Street, Bairnsdale.
