New Indigenous All Star partnership keeps focus on schooling and jobs

The Gillard Government will continue its partnership with the National Rugby League to promote Indigenous employment and education through the NRL All Stars match and theLearn. Earn. Legend!Program.

Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development and Minister for Sport Mark Arbib and NRL CEO David Gallop today launched the 2012 NRL All Stars match and the Close the Gap round.

Senator Arbib said the Government’s partnership with the NRL over the past two years had contributed to some outstanding education and job outcomes for Indigenous Australians.

“One of the best ways to ensure young Indigenous Australians make a successful transition from school to work is to put them on a pathway to a job while they are still at school,” Senator Arbib said.

“Through Learn. Earn. Legend! and the Indigenous Employment Program the Gillard Government is working with the NRL and Indigenous people to spread the message that they should stay at school, get a job and aim to be a legend in their community.

“One of the reasons the partnership has succeed is because of the hard work of Scott Prince and Preston Campbell do to spread the message and be outstanding ambassadors.

“I’m delighted to announce today that Preston will join Scott as an official ambassador forLearn. Earn. Legend!in 2012.”

Senator Arbib said as well as All Stars Games the NRL’s clubs had done some outstanding work with their local Indigenous students.

“In Queensland alone, the Australian Government has provided the Gold Coast Titans, Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys with more than $4.2 million to run mentoring and employment programs for Indigenous students,” Senator Arbib said.

“Since June 2010, 561 students have started on these programs. So far, 146 of them have moved into further education or a job.”

Senator Arbib said this year’s five regional Indigenous Youth Summits in Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, Brisbane and the Gold Coast were a great success and Youth Summits would continue into 2012.

“The summits follow the success of the All Stars Indigenous Youth Summit held on the Gold Coast during All Stars Week in February and have involved more than 120 future Indigenous leaders over the year,” Senator Arbib said.

“All of these activities are wonderful opportunities for young Indigenous Australians to meet their role models and learn from their stories of dedication and determination.”

Senator Arbib said Federal Treasury estimated that 500,000 jobs would be created during 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 also committed almost $650 million to the Indigenous Employment Program,” Senator Arbib said.

“This is part of the Australian Government’s target to create more than 100,000 jobs for Indigenous Australians by 2018.”