The Victorian Government is supporting a Geelong-based company Care Essentials as they create 100 new jobs with the expansion of their medical manufacturing capability.
The expansion of the company’s medical manufacturing capability is backed by funding from the Victorian Government’s Regional Jobs Fund, which will drive the state’s competitiveness in producing Australian-made medical equipment.
“This project will boost Geelong’s economy, create highly skilled jobs and showcase world-class medical manufacturing products at a critical time during the pandemic,” Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas said.
“Care Essentials is a pioneer in the medical manufacturing space in Geelong – its innovation has been recognised throughout the world. This is a regional jobs success story and I am pleased to see that the company is choosing to base its operations locally.”
Care Essentials, a locally owned and operated, has a history of entrepreneurship and innovation. It has exported medical equipment and products to more than 60 countries such as the US, the UK, Germany, Italy, Japan and Canada.
The company bolstered its production of face masks at the height of the pandemic last year, supplying three million high-quality single-use masks for the community and healthcare workers across the state.
The expansion is said to create 100 new full-time jobs over three years across engineering, maintenance, finance and payroll.
This will result in $6.7 million of additional wages and salaries circulating in the Geelong economy each year.
The project ensures that manufacturing jobs will stay in Geelong as the Victorian Government’s investment gives Care Essentials the confidence it needs to keep its operations local.
“Geelong is home to some of Victoria’s best manufacturers and we’ll do all we can to support them. I’m pleased to see the entrepreneurship of Care Essentials and look forward to seeing what it achieves next,” Member for Lara John Eren said.
The Regional Jobs Fund is part of the Government’s flagship Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund, which helps businesses create jobs in regional Victoria, supports community projects and backs councils to build the infrastructure that locals and visitors need.
A new round of the Regional Jobs Fund opened earlier this year and is available to companies seeking to grow their operations.
Source: Premier of Victoria Media Release