Meet Jane Robinson, the woman working to keep us working

Meet the woman charged with turning around the Illawarra's unemployment blues.Jane Robinson, former economic development manager at Shellharbour City Council, starts her new role as the region's employment co-ordinator this week.She is in Canberra undertaking a two-day training course for the role.Ms Robinson last night told the Mercury she would return to the region tomorrow and begin work, after 51/2 years at Shellharbour council.Her arrival, 11 weeks after the position was announced, comes as unemployment in Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama spiked at 9.6 per cent last week.The Illawarra is one of two regions in the state and seven across the nation to be assigned an employment co-ordinator.Federal Government advertisements for the positions said the jobs came with a "six-figure package" and required an "immediate start".Cunningham MP Sharon Bird said Ms Robinson would play a vital role in identifying employment and training opportunities."Ms Robinson will also develop apprenticeship opportunities and promote work skills and training in the region," Ms Bird said.Throsby MP Jennie George said Ms Robinson played key roles in developing programs at Shellharbour council, such as economic gardening and the Beacon Foundation No Dole Student Support Project.When asked by the Mercury in April how she would help boost jobs in the region, Ms Robinson suggested encouraging small business innovation."Many people go into business with skills in their field of expertise, but may need help to realise the potential of their business," she said.