History and highlights
1994
In a climate of recession and high unemployment, the objective of the (then) Labor government was to boost jobs growth, increase skills in the workforce and ensure the long-term unemployed were not left behind during the economic recovery. The government focus was on building a competitive Australia which had far-ranging economic and social impacts on Australia's regions, generating changes to industry, productivity, investment, inter-governmental relations, employment, etc.
Increasingly, government policy emphasised that national objectives would be better achieved were it to adopt a community self-help approach that enlisted local skills, knowledge and networks. This trend was in line with the move to make the Commonwealth's government agencies more centralised and shift away from direct service delivery.
To provide local level advice to the Commonwealth Government and generate support for labour market programs, the national network of Area Consultative Committees (ACCs) was established by the Keating Government under the Employment Services Act as part of the Working Nation policy (May 1994). ACCs, comprising local business and community leaders, were created with the assistance of the Commonwealth Employment Service (CES) and supported the government's Office of Labour Market Adjustment employment initiatives.
1995
The ACT-Southern Tablelands ACC was incorporated on 8 December 1995, forging networks and partnerships that would generate support for job drive campaigns, youth and entry level training and new employment opportunities.
1996
A change of government meant new government priorities and policies; for example, within two years the 50-year-old CES was replaced by outsourced job services and the regional component of the former government's Working Nation package, including funding for the Regional Economic Development Organisations (REDOs) and the Regional Development Program, were closed.
However, government continued to support the ACC network, establishing them as Regional and Community Employment Councils that would help to strengthen links to business and foster jobs growth in regional areas. Becoming known as Employment Councils, they helped the government to produce a more better education and training system, a more effective welfare system, and overall, a more buoyant economy.
1998
The organisation changed its name to the Capital Region Employment Council (CREC), with a new Charter agreed making CREC a regional network for employment, education, training and youth affairs.
