Release type: Media Release

Date:

Minister meets Remote Employment Services Panel

Ministers:

Senator the Hon Mark Arbib
Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development
Minister for Sport
Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness

Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development Mark Arbib today met with the Remote Participation and Employment Services Engagement Panel which is looking at the future of remote participation and employment services.

The Government’s review of Remote Employment Services is designed to ensure job service providers are best meeting the needs of Indigenous and other remote job seekers.

The Panel is providing expert advice on effective engagement of remote communities and on the development of simpler, more integrated services, which will be in place from 1 July 2013.

Minister Arbib announced that Shirley McPherson would chair the Panel and briefed the members on the purpose and importance of the review. They discussed how it could best support community consultations and the design of new remote participation and employment services arrangements.

“I would like to personally thank Shirley and the Panel members for their commitment to improving remote participation and employment services for people in remote Australia,” Senator Arbib said.

The Panel includes prominent Australians with knowledge of remote Indigenous Communities, expertise and experience in remote employment and servicing issues; and a high profile in remote communities.

The members are

  • Ms Shirley McPherson (Chair) – Indigenous Land Corporation
  • Ms Pat Brahim – General Manager, Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation
  • Mr John Berto – Chief Executive Officer, Thamarrurr Development Corporation
  • Mr Nolan Hunter – Acting Chief Executive Officer, Kimberley Land Council
  • Ms Sally Sinclair – Chief Executive Officer, National Employment Services Association;
  • Ms Suzannah Kuzio – Chief Executive Officer, Community Enterprises Australia Ltd, and
  • Ms Melanie Stutsel – Director, Health, Safety, Environment and Community Policy, Minerals Council of Australia.

The Government will be shortly releasing a discussion paper and a DVD in a variety of Indigenous languages about remote services, as well as inviting people to make written submissions to the panel.

“We look forward to receiving people’s views on how participation and employment services can be improved to better suit the needs of people living in remote communities,” Senator Arbib said

Consultation forums with people in remote communities, service providers, employers and other stakeholders would take place during August and September 2011.

Further details about the consultations and how to contribute to the review of remote participation and employment services are available at www.deewr.gov.au/rsr

Any questions on the review can be sent to: