News Detail

67 disadvantaged workers employed as insulators with Try Insulation around Latrobe Valley and South East Melbourne face redundancy at noon if a funding proposal is not approved by the Minister for Employment Participation, Senator Mark Arbib by 10am Wednesday February 24. The workers, many of whom have a history of long-term unemployment and other disadvantage, are employed by charity Try Youth and Community Services, a 127-year-old charity which invested to create this social enterprise.

Demand has plummeted to zero since the Home Insulation Program was scrapped. TRY now stands to lose $1.2 million dollars unless the government throws them a lifeline in the form of fast funding for a new social housing construction project in Moe that can keep its workforce employed.

“We have 67 people hoping Senator Mark Arbib can find $1.25m to create work in an area where jobs aren’t easy to find,” says CEO of Try Youth and Community Services, Damien Mowlam.

Mr Mowlam has given Senator Arbib’s department till 10 am to respond to its funding proposal. So far TRY is yet to hear back from Minister Garret, Senator Arbib or other prominent members of government they contacted including Lindsay Tanner or Bill Shorten.

“We need good news by 10am or we’ll be delivering bad news by noon,” he added.

50 of the workers are employed casually as insulators, 17 as management and support staff. Many of the insulators work over 30 hours a week. The workers – all fully qualified – had successfully installed insulation to 450 homes in the Latrobe Valley and South East Melbourne regions with another 200 booked before the Home Insulation Program was abruptly ended by Minister Peter Garrett. They had a 100% audit pass rate and had no reports of poor work.

The workers are drawn from the economically depressed area of Latrobe Valley and south east Melbourne. Many of whom have experienced long term unemployment before entering the insulation business. The aim was to progress the business into construction work.

Try Youth and Community Services stands to lose $650,000 worth of insulation in store, $350,000 in leased vehicles, up to $120,000 in redundancy payouts and $100,000 in property lease pay-outs. Plus loss of earnings