WISE Employment has joined forces with food charity A Gesture to provide training opportunities for long term unemployed and food for the disadvantaged in Western Melbourne.

The new warehouse in Laverton was launched on Monday 18 April by Wyndham Mayor Cr John Menegazzo and is the second venture for ‘A Gesture’, after launching the Campbellfield warehouse in October 2010.

‘A Gesture’ is a holistic educational training program that offers work experience and life skills for unemployed individuals, whilst sourcing quality surplus food that would otherwise go to waste and re-distributing it to people in need in the Western suburbs of Melbourne.

Sandra Ainsworth is the Marketing Manager at WISE Employment and says that the program has been a great success in Campbellfield and is excited to offer the same opportunity to job seekers in the West.

“Not only does this project offer a great service to the community, it also provides our job seekers with invaluable skills training, as well as hands on work experience within the warehouse logistics industry," said Sandra.

“We have already had 64 job seekers complete the program in Campbellfield and to date 50% have secured employment within the industry.”

“The program in Laverton will offer a Certificate II in Warehousing, licensed fork lift, Level II Fist Aid and nutrition and health education to 20 job seekers every six weeks.”

Kevin Hall, Director of ‘A Gesture’ says that the innovative six week educational program in warehousing has been designed to support the food program and deliver valuable work life experience and skills for the long term unemployed.

“Our vision is to work closely in collaboration with communities, local government and food charities to support food initiatives and create pathways for job seekers to re-enter the workforce,” said Kevin.

“The job seekers sort food provided by food donors, which is then re-distributed to charity food agencies in the local area.”