Frankston local Hailie is now employed full-time at Council after completing a traineeship through the Work Ready Program. Picture: Hailee (left) and Cr Green (right)
FRANKSTON — A Council-led initiative is quietly reshaping the employment landscape for jobseekers in Frankston, with more than 100 residents gaining a foothold into the workforce through the city’s growing Work Ready Program.
From teenagers leaving school to adults seeking a fresh start, the program has supported a wide mix of participants with paid and unpaid placements, hands-on experience and nationally recognised training — opening doors that might otherwise have remained shut.
In the last financial year alone, 45 individuals completed placements across Frankston City Council departments and partner organisations — in fields as diverse as horticulture, IT, aged care, and the performing arts. These opportunities, tailored to individual aspirations and needs, are helping locals overcome the structural and personal hurdles that often stand between them and employment.
Frankston City Mayor Kris Bolam said the program is delivering real results for the community.
“This is about helping people take that vital first step into a career,” Cr Bolam said.
“We’re giving young people and jobseekers the tools they need to succeed — and building a stronger, more inclusive local workforce in the process.”
One of those to benefit is Hailie, a Frankston local who used her placement to complete a Certificate III in Business. Today, she’s employed full-time in Council’s People and Culture team, where she supports recruitment processes, training logistics and day-to-day operations.
“The Work Ready Program was pivotal to my transition into a professional work environment,” Hailie said.
“It gave me the tools and understanding of how to navigate this new world. Because of the skills and experience I gained, I was able to secure a permanent full-time role at Frankston City Council in People & Culture — a goal made achievable by the Work Ready Program.”
The program, funded with a $250,000 investment in 2023–24, also piloted a new disability inclusion initiative called WorkLink. Developed in partnership with local provider MiLife, the pre-internship program supported four young people with disability to undertake structured placements inside Council — part of a broader push to dismantle barriers in the local job market.
The Work Ready Program is now considered one of the largest of its kind run by any Victorian council.
Residents interested in applying or learning more can contact Work Ready Officer Sharelle Le Huray on (03) 9768 1435 or email sharelle.lehuray@frankston.vic.gov.au. Further details are available on Council’s website.
