For Kiama, summer is considered the season of harvest for businesses with the booming tourism trade - it is also a chance for the Kiama teenagers to get a summer job and support the busy season.

Cathryn Lyall, President of Kiama Business Network (KBN) told The Bugle that while businesses make their own decisions about their employment, the network is exploring skills-based programs.

“We are looking at more programs and ways to upskill young people, especially from Year 9 and 10 onwards, with the kind of basic skills that are needed during school holidays or university holidays,” Lyall said.

“That’s when businesses are looking to hire part-time and casual workers to supplement over those really busy periods.”

Lyall said there is also the possibility of using the Seaside Markets, a KBN initiative, as a potential training ground for Kiama’s teenagers as it can be a long stretch for store owners.

“We’re looking at pulling together a cohort of interested young people who would come and help out at the markets in a range of roles, whether it be bump in and bump out, health and safety, sales and customer service, managing payments,” Lyall said.

“There’s a whole raft of entry-level roles that could be very useful for young people to gain experience, including supporting the logistics around running and event like that.”

For Kiama business owner Elizabeth Burnett, it is important to employ locals.

“I actively employ locals and I’ve never been sort of disappointed or unable to get people to work,” Burnett said.

The owner of Burnetts on Barney Garden Centre and café, and a Director of the KBN, she has some sage advice for Kiama’s young jobseekers.

“Don’t wait to see if there’s an ad out there, go and knock on the doors of your local business and ask people that you know if there’s work around,” Burnett said.

“Stand out and be the one who knocks on the door.”

KBN also supports Kiama locals by sponsoring the business studies award at Kiama High School for Year 12 students.

“The person who wins the [business] studies prize at the Kiama High School not only gets a cash prize, but we also offer mentoring to that winner through board members and businesses in the town through introductions,” Lyall said.

“The mentoring process with the winner is giving us great insight into the issues impacting young people.

“It is also informing some of the things we’re looking to do with youth and young people as far as jobs, job certainty, employment and career opportunities in our LGA.”

With businesses just getting back on their feet after COVID and the anticipation of a $200,000 commitment from the NSW Government during the Kiama by-election for a Night-Time economy strategy and trial of Special Entertainment Precinct in the Kiama CBD, Lyall said there is still much to do.

“People are hanging on and trading their way out of it and some have got some really strong ‘green shoots’ while some have got some ‘modest green shoots’ [of business growth],” Lyall said.

“You know, we have got to support our local businesses, we’ve got to buy local as a community.

“But we have also got to encourage people outside to come and buy local, because that [support] is what is going to get everyone over these pretty significant challenges going forward.”

Employers across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven are being encouraged to take part in two upcoming Jobs Drives designed to connect local businesses with job-ready candidates who are ready to work now.

The Dapto Jobs Drive will take place next Wednesday (5 November) at the Ribbonwood Centre, Dapto, followed by the Nowra Jobs Drive on Thursday, 13 November at the Nowra School of Arts. 

Both events will run from 10am to 2pm and are free for employers to attend.

Run by the Illawarra South Coast Local Jobs Program, the Jobs Drives bring together local employers and candidates giving businesses the opportunity to meet and interview potential staff on the day.

“These events make hiring simple,” said Andrew Wales, Local Jobs Coordinator for the Illawarra South Coast.

“Employers can meet multiple job-ready candidates face-to-face, conduct quick interviews, and in many cases, fill vacancies on the spot.”

Employers from across retail, hospitality, care and support, trades, warehousing, administration, and cleaning sectors are particularly encouraged to attend.

Each event will feature Workforce Australia personnel managing the flow of candidates, ensuring employers can focus on conversations and hiring decisions.

Registrations can be completed online:

• Dapto Jobs Drive

• Nowra Jobs Drive