The Green Hills Connectivity Centre ended this week following the final stage opening of the $414 million shopping centre last Thursday.

The Connectivity Centre was an initiative of Multiplex and Stockland that brought together employment services, employers, job seekers and community groups in response to high youth unemployment in  Maitland. 

Over the course of the Stockland redevelopment, which spanned two years, The Connectivity Centre placed more than 180 people in construction and retail jobs, exceeding its initial target of 100. 

That figure included 10 local Multiplex trainees who all completed their traineeships and have since been offered full time work. 

Managing Director of Multiplex NSW David Ghannoum said he was thrilled with what had been achieved at the Connectivity Centre as a collective group.

“The aim of the Connectivity Centre was to have a genuine and long term impact in the community – both in terms of jobs and community connections more broadly,” Mr Ghannoum said.

“We are hugely thankful to the community for their support, in particular to the organisations involved including yourtown, Maitland City Council, NSW Department of Premier & Cabinet, Department of Social Services and the Department of Jobs & Small Business for their tremendous support.”

Matt Newcomb from Mai-Wel Labourforce Solutions, a disability employment service involved with the Connectivity Centre, added that what had started as a concept and an empty building had ended in a fine example of collaboration.

“It put a group of intelligent and well-intentioned professionals together in a room and gave us the chance to forget our star ratings for a while, and to combine our talents and do something exceptional,” he said.

Stockland Group Executive and CEO of Commercial Property John Schroder said the centre was not just about finding and filling jobs for now, but providing the skills for later.