WSM Welcome Australian Delegation from NESA

ROCKVILLE, MD – On Friday, March 22, 2024, WorkSource Montgomery, Inc. (WSM) and the Montgomery County Workforce Development Board welcomed nineteen workforce development, business, and community leaders from Australia. The Australian group, representing the National Employment Services Association of Australia (NESA), recently completed an international tour of workforce development programs, completing the trip in the Washington, DC area with WSM.

A roundtable discussion, followed by networking, and a tour of the Wheaton American Job Center and the WorkSource Montgomery Mobile Job Center took place throughout the day. County Council Member Marilyn Balcombe, who serves as the Workforce Development Lead on the Council's Economic Development Committee, was in attendance for the roundtable discussion.  Council Member Balcombe said, “This exchange of ideas and experiences was great to be a part of. With historically low unemployment, we need to double down on making sure we provide education and training to allow everyone to participate in the workforce. I’m proud to represent a County that’s working to do just that.”

Additionally, Councilmember At-Large Laurie-Anne Sayles, who also serves on the Council’s Economic Development Committee, was present at the meeting. She said, “I had the pleasure of meeting with the National Employment Services Association of Australia to exchange best practices on better-coordinating services across workforce development, housing, education, and social services. Our goal is to strengthen the talent pipeline and improve access to opportunities for our workforce. I want to thank the WorkSource Montgomery team for organizing this discussion and helping us take a global approach to workforce development.”

Omar Lazo, Chair of Montgomery County’s Workforce Development Board and Owner of Los Chorros in Wheaton said, "It's exciting to host the Australian Workforce Development Delegation. Learning from each other and understanding how to serve our different populations has been extremely insightful. I expect that we will continue to learn from one another and that this is the beginning of a great international partnership."

NESA is a member organization that supports more than 500,000 Australians facing barriers to sustainable employment through assistance programs, vocational education and training, and wrap-around social and health services. This is the first time WSM has hosted an international group. The nonprofit organization and the Montgomery County Workforce Development Board have emerged as leaders both at the state and national levels for workforce best practices.

About WorkSource Montgomery (WSM)

WSM is the fiduciary agent for Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding in Montgomery County. The organization operates the American Job Centers in Wheaton and Germantown and provides employment services to Montgomery County residents who are unemployed or underemployed.

Programs and initiatives offered by WSM are supported in part by the Employment and Training Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor as part of an award totaling $10,488,310. WSM engages employers in various industries throughout the county to ensure that their workforce needs are being met. For more information about WorkSource Montgomery and current recruitment opportunities, events, and workshops, visit our website at worksourcemontgomery.com.