Developing Indigenous business in North Queensland

Indigenous-owned Congress Community Development and Education Unit Ltd (CCDEU) and Milbi Constructions in Townsville are working with KPMG to develop a Workforce Development Plan with support from the Gillard Government’s Indigenous Employment Program.

The Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development, Julie Collins, and the Senator for Queensland, Jan McLucas, said the Workforce Development Plan will set out the company’s workforce recruitment, training and development strategies.

“Congress Community Development and Education Unit and its subsidiary Milbi Constructions are significant employers of Indigenous Australians in Northern Queensland,” Ms Collins said.

“The project will assist them to develop a plan for recruitment, training and staff development, with an investment of almost $100,000 from the Indigenous Employment Program.

“It means they will be able to maximise job opportunities as CCDEU looks to expand its educational services and the operations of Milbi Constructions.”

CCDEU provides primary and secondary schooling, aged care services and rehabilitation services for Indigenous Australians in northern Queensland.

Milbi Constructions specialises in local and remote residential and commercial construction projects and supports Indigenous traineeships.

Senator McLucas said the plan would prove essential as these businesses grow.

“As CCDEU continues to expand its operations, a clear plan on how it will meet its future workforce needs will be an important tool,” Senator McLucas said.

“This project entails a workforce development plan to guide the organisation’s staffing strategies for current and projected business needs as it develops into the future.

“Working with world renowned firm KPMG, CCDEU will ensure they have access to first rate advice.”

Ms Collins said Indigenous employment was an issue the Government is addressing in the long term.

“It is critical that Indigenous Australians have the support and training they needed to take up employment opportunities,” Ms Collins said.

“Over the next four years the Gillard Government has invested almost $650 million to the Indigenous Employment Program and $50 million to the Indigenous Youth Careers Pathway Program.

“This is part of our target to create more than 100,000 jobs for Indigenous Australians by 2018.”

For more information about the Indigenous Employment Program, visit www.deewr.gov.au/iep.