New pre-employment program helps Indigenous job seekers

The Minister for Employment Participation, Brendan O’Connor, today welcomed graduates of a new computer-based pre-employment training program for long-term unemployed Indigenous Australians.

The Budda-Jitja program— which means ‘Brother, Sister’— is an innovative Indigenous-designed training program to help Indigenous job seekers in rural and remote Australia develop work skills and move into paid employment.

The interactive electronic training program was developed by an Indigenous team at employment service provider, Jobfind Centre Australia and uses animated Indigenous characters and language.

The program includes training modules such asManaging your Money,Health, Nutrition and PresentationandNegotiation Skills.

Presenting certificates at a graduation ceremony in Maroubra, Sydney, Mr O’Connor said the program had already been successful in helping Indigenous job seekers in finding employment.

"Since its introduction in early June, Budda-Jitja has had 600 job seekers register for the training course, with many gaining employment upon completion," Mr O’Connor said.

"By using computer-based programs Indigenous people in remote communities are able to access this program without broadband facilities.

"Eight laptop computers are connected to a local server and transported across Australia while an Indigenous mentor provides additional support for job seekers."

Mr O’Connor said the Australian Government had committed to halving the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous employment outcomes over the next decade.

The Government is also working with Australia’s major corporations as part of the Australian Employment Covenant proposal to provide 50,000 jobs for Indigenous Australians.