Indigenous Employment Program

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68 Indigenous jobs in mining and construction at Myuma and Dugalunji

Tuesday 3 January 2012 Joint Media Release
The Hon Julie Collins MP

Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development

Senator The Hon Jan Mclucas

Senator for Queensland

Sixty-eight Indigenous Australians from North Queensland will have the opportunity to develop their skills and be placed into jobs in the mining or civil construction industries with the support of the Gillard Government’s Indigenous Employment Program.

The Myuma-Dugalunji Program 2011-12 commenced in September with participants from remote Gulf and Cape Communities and regional towns in North Queensland.

Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development, Julie Collins and Senator for Queensland, Jan McLucas said it was part of a more than $1.25 million investment from the Gillard Government.

“Like previous participants in this program, these latest recruits will complete a 13-week residential program at Dugalunji Camp, east of Camooweal,” Ms Collins said.

“There they will receive pre-employment training, life skills training and experience operating and maintaining heavy equipment to help get them ready for work.

“Once they have completed the program, there are a range of experiences and employment opportunities on offer for the participants with local mining and construction companies.

“Myuma has strong links with many of the mining companies in the region to maximise the employment outcomes for the participants.

“I congratulate Myuma Pty Ltd and the Dugalunji Aboriginal Corporation on this innovative program.”

Job seekers will come from locations across Queensland, including Aurukun, Mt Isa, Dajarra, Cairns, Mt Garnett, Ravenshoe, Townsville, Ingham, Yarrabah, Charters Towers and Palm Island.

Senator McLucas said the Gillard Government’s Indigenous Employment Program would have flow-on benefits.

“It important that Indigenous Australians in our more remote areas, like the Cape and Gulf, have access training and employment opportunities,” Senator McLucas said.

“The mining and civil construction industries are demanding skilled workers and this project is equipping local Indigenous people with the skills, confidence and knowledge to be part of these growing fields.

“Creating pathways to real jobs is a fundamental part of closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.”

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

“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,” Ms Collins said.

“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


Boost for Indigenous jobseekers North-West Tasmania

Wednesday 4 January 2012 Joint Media Release
The Hon Julie Collins MP

Minister for Community Services, Indigenous Employment and Economic Development
Minister for the Status of Women

The Hon Sid Sidebottom MP

Up to 60 Indigenous jobseekers on the north-west Tasmanian coast will benefit from training and connections to jobs by the Circular Head Aboriginal Corporation (CHAC), through the Gillard Government’s Indigenous Employment Program.

Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development, Julie Collins, and the Member for Braddon, Sid Sidebottom, said the jobseekers would be training and receiving employment support in the areas of aquaculture, hospitality, farming, mining, horticulture, childcare and customer service.

“The CHAC has been responsible for training in this region for many years,” Ms Collins said.

“This follows a previous project with CHAC supported by the Indigenous Employment Program which had a 100 per cent success rate of participants gaining employment.

“Part of the program’s success is the way it is tailored to the individual needs of participants.

“Some participants are given pre-employment training, employment support and mentoring, while others are also provided with mentoring support once they commence employment.”

Mr Sidebottom said it was fantastic Indigenous employment programs were being offered on the north-west coast of Tasmania.

“It is critical local Indigenous jobseekers have the support and training they need to take up employment,” Mr Sidebottom said.

“The project will run until June 2013, at various locations on the north-west coast.”

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

“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,” Ms Collins said.

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