Who is MatchWorks ?
MatchWorks is an enterprise of Karingal, a Geelong based, not-for-profit, disability organisation working to improve the lives and options of people with a disability and those who are disadvantaged. Karingal has been providing services for over 50 years and has developed into a diverse organisation with over 900 staff and 100 volunteers. Karingal provides residential respite, home-based and day programs for people with disabilities and employment services including supported employment and job network.
MatchWorks commenced in 1998 as the result of a successful tender to deliver Job Network services following the closure of the Commonwealth Employment Services (CES). MatchWorks offers employment services to job seekers and employers, including Job Placement, Job Search Training and tailored assistance to reach individual employment goals.
In 1998, MatchWorks had eight staff and provided services to around 1500 job seekers. By 2003 there were 45 staff operating from seven sites and providing services to over 3500 job seekers annually. In March 2003, MatchWorks was successfully awarded a series of new three-year contracts. Under these contracts, MatchWorks trebled in size with new sites opening in Werribee, Footscray, Broadmeadows and Brunswick.
In 2006 MatchWorks was awarded further contracts and now also has sites at Moonee Ponds and Airport West. Additionally, in 2006 MatchWorks was awarded contracts to deliver Work for the Dole and Community Work from the following sites - Bacchus Marsh, Sunshine, St Albans, Footscray, Werribee, Geelong, East Geelong, Corio and Torquay.
MatchWorks now has over 180 staff and provides a range of employment and related services to over 10,000 job seekers annually across 13 sites in Geelong and western Melbourne. These services include Job Network, Personal Support Programme and Work for the Dole. Specialist employment assistance is also provided to job seekers with disabilities.