Ardeer is the state’s worst suburb for long-term unemployment.
A new report commissioned by Jesuit Social Services reveals chronic levels of unemployment in the southern areas of Brimbank.
Dropping off the edge reveals that Ardeer is also in the state’s top 20 for general unemployment (second), people seeking rent assistance (10th), criminal convictions (17th) and psychiatric (18th) and prison admissions (20th).
The report reveals areas “where existing social services … are failing to make a real difference”. They include Ardeer, Braybrook,
St Albans and Albion and are among the state’s most disadvantaged suburbs.
Braybrook is in the top 10 for long-term unemployment (sixth) and unemployment (ninth), while St Albans ranks 11th and 17th and Sunshine and Albion 10th and 14th, respectively.
“A new approach targeted at reducing the most severe, deep-seated disadvantage is needed,” the report states.
Jobless rates were high in Brimbank, according to the federal government’s
Small Area Labour Markets report for the March quarter, with Ardeer and Albion (12 per cent), Sunshine (12.9), Braybrook (13.3), Sunshine West (13.8), St Albans North (14.5), St Albans South (14.7) and Sunshine North (14.6) suffering from double-digit unemployment.
These figure have come to light as Brimbank council runs a series of unemployment workshops for young asylum seekers and a program called Stepping Stones, for mentoring refugees and migrant women.
Council community wellbeing acting director Kath Brackett said recent policy changes by the federal government to allow asylum seekers to work could affect jobless rates.
City strategy director Stuart Menzies said Sunshine becoming an employment cluster was expected to create thousands of new jobs. Maribyrnong mayor Nam Quach said his council’s Revitalising Braybrook project had included funding of $9 million towards the $12.5 million Braybrook Community Hub as well as a range of “soft” measures such as leadership training.
Cr Quach said the council was tackling health and housing issues but needed better support from other levels of government.
“I don’t think it’s fair to see this as a federal issue or a state issue or a local government issue. We need to recognise this is a vulnerable community and we all have a duty of care. I would like to see more support.”
