125 Indigenous students to work in the Australian Art Industry
Up to 125 Indigenous people across Australia will be given the opportunity to work in the Performing Arts Industry in Queensland.
Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development Mark Arbib said the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts (ACPA) Student Transition Project would give participants the skills needed for a career in the performing arts industry.
“The students will complete a Certificate III in Performing Arts with the opportunity to further their studies and complete a Certificate IV and an Associate Diploma and Diploma in Performing Arts,” Senator Arbib said.
“All of the participants will receive training as individual artists from highly respected performing arts organisations such as the Bangarra Dance Company and the Queensland Ballet.
“ACPA students and dancers are in high demand at events around the country. Thanks to their additional training, the participants will open up multiple work experience and job opportunities including in management, production, and creative design.”
Senator Arbib said the Gillard Government had committed more than $750 000 to the ACPA project to create Indigenous job opportunities in Australia’s performing arts industry.
“Mentors will be employed to help reinforce the values of healthy living and good working habits, and will support the students throughout their training,” Senator Arbib said.
“This program is not just training for training’s sake – it encourages Indigenous Australians with an artistic interest into jobs in the industry across Australia.”
Senator Arbib said Federal Treasury has estimated that 500 000 jobs would be created over the next two years and it was critical that Indigenous Australians had the support and training they needed to take up employment opportunities.
“Indigenous employment is not a short-term issue. Over the next four years the Australian Government has committed almost $650 million to the Indigenous Employment Program and $50 million to the Indigenous Youth Careers Pathway Program,” Senator Arbib said.
“This is part of the Australian Government’s goal to help Indigenous students find a job or move into further study and create more than 100 000 jobs for Indigenous Australians by 2018.”