60 Indigenous Australians trained for jobs

Sixty Indigenous Australians in Caboolture-Sunshine Coast, Ipswich-Logan and Townsville-Thuringowa will have job opportunities in administration, horticulture, construction or retail with the support of the Gillard Government.

Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development Mark Arbib and Member for Blair Shayne Neumann today welcomed the ‘Closing Gaps’ project that would support 60 Indigenous Australians into work and training.

“The participants will undertake job preparation, pre-vocational studies and on-the-job industry specific training such as recognised certificates, licences and tickets,” Senator Arbib said.

“This project allows participants to work directly with local employers and industries to determine relevant job options in their region and the skills they need to secure long-term jobs.

“By providing culturally appropriate mentoring and individual job plans the project will set participants up for work.”

Mr Neumann said the Gillard Government had committed more than $590,000 for the ‘Closing Gaps’ project from the Indigenous Employment Program to provide jobs to Indigenous Australians.

“This is great news for Indigenous job seekers, employers, industries and communities that have being doing it tough in disadvantaged labour markets,” Mr Neumann said.

“The project is a joint initiative between the Australian Government and MAX Employment. With collaboration between government, business and industry, we are building and strengthening job and training opportunities in Queensland for Indigenous Australians.

“The areas chosen for the project are priority employment areas where the government is putting in extra resources to help people secure jobs.”

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.”