Linkforce is the foundation partner of JUNA, an organisation that exists to advocate for heavy industry resourcing. JUNA seeks to identify and forecast future workforce needs and address the gaps in order to expand the existing workforce to meet market demands. 

Primarily JUNA focuses on;

• Growing the number of people living and working locally across remote regions, 

• Assisting the heavy industry workforce to navigate changes in technology, productivity requirements and demographical shifts, and 

• Supporting people seeking to transition into heavy industry.  

This is achieved through different development programs that create pathways for education and employment. 

Two of these programs, which are currently operational and demonstrating significant positive industry impact, are the Link2Opportunity program and the Footprint Apprenticeship program. 

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The Footprint Apprenticeship program is a trade recognition program developed in partnership with South Metropolitan TAFE. It provides candidates, who have proven mechanical aptitude and a minimum of 2 years site experience, the opportunity to undertake a fast-track apprenticeship program.

This program creates a pathway for local and regionally based members of the workforce to upskill, leveraging their existing knowledge and experience to gain qualifications that will advance their careers as well as addressing trade shortages across the sector.

As the foundation partner of JUNA, Linkforce strongly supports this program and is committed to providing full time employment for 50 apprentices annually commencing 2019, with the view to increase this to 100 apprentices annually by 2022.

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Link2Opportunity is a pre-employment program designed to provide a safe, structured and supportive environment for unemployed jobseekers to become equipped with both the technical and soft skills required to secure employment within heavy industry. In the first 12 months the program has seen 71 people successfully graduate and obtain offers of employment.