TAC operations commence in Geelong

17 Oct 2007

Media Release - 17 October 2007

The TAC has opened its Transition Office in Kilgour Street with 65 employees, including new recruits from the Barwon region, working in Geelong from this week.

Visiting the office today, the Minister responsible for the TAC, Tim Holding, said the opening of the transition office was a big step in the TAC’s relocation to Geelong.

“It means that some of the TAC’s current employees who want to work in Geelong sooner, now have that option available to them. It also opens up new job opportunities in the region,” Mr Holding said.

“The office will also facilitate recruitment activity and staff training and will support the TAC’s transition to Geelong up until the relocation in January 2009.”

Mr Holding said the TAC was fast becoming part of the Geelong community, with more than 40 employees already buying property in the region, more than 15 months ahead of the relocation.

The TAC’s relocation to Geelong was announced in December 2005, as part of the Victorian Government’s pledge to build regional economies and improve service delivery. It is expected to generate more than 850 jobs and $59 million per annum in economic benefit for the Geelong region.

The TAC’s Chief Operating Officer for Geelong, Andrew Boag, said the first week of operations was going smoothly.

“The Geelong office is now fully operational and set up so that we are continuing to work with our Melbourne-based colleagues while serving our clients,” Mr Boag said.

“The team consists of people in a range of roles from recruitment and training to claims management and we look forward to growing our Geelong-based team over the coming months.”

Mr Boag said the TAC Information Centre in Yarra Street would close by the end of the year but that the same information services would be available from the TAC’s Kilgour Street office.

Earlier today, Mr Holding and TAC employees participated in Geelong’s Ride to Work Day, making their way from Johnstone Park to the new TAC Kilgour Street office.

“Ride to Work Day is a great way to avoid the frustration of peak hour traffic and a healthy way to clear your mind and kick start the day,” Mr Holding said.

“It is also a great community activity that brings people together and it was fantastic to be involved.”