"The Australian Government's  Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) funded the Mature Age Employment and Workplace Strategy. The Mature Age Employment and Workplace Strategy was announced in the 2004-05 Budget. It provided $12.1 million over four years for assistance that was in addition to services already available to mature age job seekers through Transition to Work and Job Network.

DEWR contracted with the GACC to offer a regional pilot project through the Strategy. The overall objective of the 'Gippsland Old Gold' project was to increase the awareness of employers, and particularly small businesses, regarding demographic change, and to encourage them to consider ways of attracting and/or retaining mature age job seekers and workers. The GACC was the host agency for the Business Learning Network. The GACC was responsible for overseeing the development of a local Action Plan to assist business to address the ageing workforce which will result in an employers' network continuing to operate beyond the end of the contract.

A new information and discussion network was formed. The GACC appointed Jim McCarthy, a labour market consultant, with extensive national and local experience in mature age worker programs to develop its ‘Gippsland Old Gold’ network.

Additional information about the Strategy can be found at http://www.jobwise.gov.au "

Helpful Link

http://businessworkageing.org