GEOFABRICS & RECRUITMENT SELECT STRENGTHENS LOCAL WORKFORCE IN ALBURY

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE PARTNERSHIP

Our Impact Over the Last 12 Months:

• Over $400,000 invested through labour hire and recruitment services
• Funding equivalent to one Geared4Careers Program Officer
• Support for approximately 50 local students per year in Albury

Since 2017, Geofabrics has partnered with Recruitment Select, a social enterprise, to strengthen its local workforce while creating meaningful employment pathways for regional youth. This collaboration combines Geofabrics’ operational needs from a commercial partner with Recruitment Select’s social purpose, directly supporting their Geared4Careers program which helps young people gain skills, confidence, and independence to enter the workforce.

THE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE MODEL

Recruitment Select is a commercially competitive labour hire and recruitment business with a social purpose. Its operational surplus funds the Geared4Careers program, providing direct practical, employment-focused support for local youth. This includes mentoring, industry exposure, job application guidance, and ongoing skills development. The program operates independently of government or philanthropic funding, focusing entirely on the needs of the local community.

Geared4Careers currently supports 1,915 participants, including 363 students across five schools in the Albury– Wodonga region. Onsite Program Officers work with participants aged 14 and over, providing direct, practical support to prepare them for the workforce.

THE BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY NEED

Geofabrics’ Albury manufacturing facility relies on a skilled, local workforce to maintain smooth production and meet critical project deadlines across infrastructure, civil construction, and other key sectors. Recruiting and retaining skilled staff in a regional location presents ongoing challenges, particularly in a specialised manufacturing environment with complex project requirements.

By working with Recruitment Select, Geofabrics addresses these workforce challenges while also contributing to the local community. The partnership ensures a capable, reliable workforce on site while supporting youth development in Albury, delivering both operational and social impact.

Sean Smith Albury Site & Manufacturing Manager, Geofabrics comments: "Recruitment Select understands the operational demands of our Albury manufacturing site. Their responsiveness and reliability make a real difference in maintaining a reliable workforce and supporting day-to-day operations".

PARTNERSHIP IN ACTION

Recruitment Select sources job-ready candidates aligned with Geofabrics’ operational needs. Candidates receive onboarding, mentoring, and skills development to succeed in a specialised manufacturing environment.

In the 12 months leading up to November 2025, Geofabrics’ total spend with Recruitment Select exceeded $400,000, equivalent to funding one full-time Geared4Careers Program Officer, supporting approximately 50 local students per year.

Recruitment Select is proud of our long-term partnership with Geofabrics on a commercial level. It is a relationship built on mutual trust and delivering a high standard of service in the labour hire and recruitment space. The added benefit for Geofabrics is the knowledge that they are supporting one of Australia’s most mature, effective, and successful social enterprises, and are having a direct, positive impact on the lives and outcomes of youth in the Albury–Wodonga border region.

Max Allen, General Manager, Recruitment Select

ABOUT RECRUITMENT SELECT

Recruitment Select is a social enterprise dedicated to supporting and strengthening regional communities. They provide tailor-made recruitment solutions, working closely with businesses to deliver the right candidates for temporary, fixed-term, or permanent roles. With a strong local presence and community focus, Recruitment Select reinvests surplus into programs such as Geared4Careers, helping people access meaningful employment.