Close the gap in training and employment

3rd Annual Indigenous Career Development and Mentoring Forum 2009
LOCATION: Rydges World Square
ORGANISED BY: Liquid Learning 17 November, 2009 Liquid Learning is delighted to announce that it will host the 3rd Annual Indigenous Career Development & Mentoring Forum in November 2009 - the premier meeting place for Indigenous employment managers in Australia. This event will provide practical value through case studies from leading expert and practitioners. This unique interactive format also sets the scene for debate and networking. Explore:

Aboriginal jobs in environment & conservation

Indigenous ranger jobs help conserve the Cape - media release 24 August 2009
PORTFOLIO: Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
URL: http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/garrett/2009/mr20090824a.html
The Working on Country projects will be delivered in partnership with Indigenous communities from 2009 through to mid 2013 with a total investment of $46 million. 'Working on Country and Indigenous Protected Areas are perfect examples of how innovative, culturally-aware, sustainable conservation can provide jobs for Indigenous people' Mr Garrett said.

Alice Springs town camps
PORTFOLIO: Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
http://www.jennymacklin.fahcsia.gov.au/internet/jennymacklin.nsf/content/jm_m__alice_camps_24august2009.htm
SNIPPET: Alice Springs town camps. In a major breakthrough in July, 16 Alice Springs town camp housing associations and the Tangentyere Council agreed to a 40 year sub-lease agreement with the Australian Government, opening the way for major investment to transform the Alice Springs town camps. An additional notice of the possible acquisition delivered to all premises, including tin sheds and other places where people live, including outdoor mattresses, in all camps Advertisements in the Alice Springs media Convening a further meeting for residents to discuss the notice, as well as taking all possible steps to distribute the notice and inform residents of compulsory acquisition and The opportunity for further submissions and comments to be provided by email, phone, or in person through a Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) officer.

Factors affecting crime rates in Indigenous communities in NSW
Ruth McCausland, Alison Vivian Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning10 August, 2009 There are notable differences in the Local Court data on crime rates between different Aboriginal communities in NSW.

Northern Territory student attendance 2005 to 2007
Bruce Dunn School for Social and Policy Research 17 August, 2009 This document reports on the student attendance rate for NT DEET schools during 2005 to 2007. It compares the student attendance rate and the average weekly enrolment for all NT DEET students.

A mental health first aid training program for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Len G. Kanowski, Anthony F. Jorm, Laura M. Hart International Journal of Mental Health Systems17 August, 2009 This paper describes the adaptation of the Mental Health First Aid program to create an Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander course and presents an initial evaluation of its uptake and acceptability.

'From little things, big things grow'
11 August, 2009 Interview with Dick Estens, Chairman of the Aboriginal Employment Strategy.

Trainees to boost Indigenous representation in ACT Public Service
http://www.chiefminister.act.gov.au/media.php?v=8181
The ACT Government's 2009 Indigenous Traineeship Program has commenced with 38 people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent undertaking a job ready course.
The Chief Minister and Minister for Indigenous Affairs Jon Stanhope said within two weeks 15 of the trainees will be offered positions within the ACT Government available under the 2009 Program. He said this week's course forms an important part of the application assessment process.

Our Indigenous Australia programs
http://www.nab.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/nab/nab/home/about_us/4/2/7/4?campaignID=VBH&WT.seg_1=VBH&WT.ac=VBH

NAB believes in helping build strong, sustainable and more inclusive communities. The aim of this action plan is to lift our focus on and involvement with Indigenous Australians. We aim to do this in a way that builds on what a financial services organisation can bring to address areas of disadvantage. These are:
1. Improved access to financial products and services;
2. Deliver valuable, long-lasting employment opportunities;
3. Build a greater organisational understanding of Indigenous Australians, their culture and aspirations.

Australian Government Media Releases

Indigenous rangers protect red centre lands

Another investment in Indigenous jobs and Kimberley cattle industry - The Hon Tony Burke MP - Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
http://www.maff.gov.au/media/media_releases/2009/june/another_investment_in_indigenous_jobs_and_kimberley_cattle_industry
Indigenous workers will play an important part in the growth of the Kimberley cattle industry into the expanding South East Asian market, the Rudd Government said today. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke officially opened the new Roebuck Export Depot, 30km east of Broome. The live export industry supports more than 10,000 jobs in rural and regional Australia, including more than 1,000 jobs in northern Western Australia.

Nyangumarta Native Title Determination http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/www/ministers/robertmc.nsf/Page/MediaReleases_2009_SecondQuarter_11June2009-NyangumartaNativeTitleDetermination
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today welcomed the Federal Court's recognition of the Nyangumarta people's native title rights in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The Government has also introduced the Native Title Amendment Bill 2009 to encourage broader, quicker and more flexible negotiated outcomes for native title claims. A fact sheet outlining the Nyangumarta native title determination is attached.

New 40-bed hostel for Alice Springs
Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/internet/jennymacklin.nsf/content/bed_hostel_alice_springs_11june09.htm
New 40-bed hostel for Alice Springs. with , Minister for Indigenous Health - Member for Lingiari. This facility enables Indigenous people to access health services closer to home and is an important step in tackling Indigenous disadvantage.

Australian Government Media Release

Indigenous job seekers set to STEP with R.M. Williams
The Rudd Government is providing $110,000 for the project which will see participants undertake 12 weeks pre-employment training and work experience followed by 26 weeks employment at RM William's Adelaide site.Mr O'Connor said the project will give participants the opportunity to develop valuable skills in the manufacturing sector."RM Williams is an iconic Australian brand and major employer in South Australia," Mr O'Connor said."This project will provide a gateway to the workforce for Indigenous Australians who often face barriers to employment.

Australian Government Media Releases

More GPs for FNQ Indigenous Communities

Government and AFL support Indigenous jobs

APO Research

How young Indigenous people are faring
Dusseldorp Skills Forum
30 April 2009This report uses ABS Census data to examine and comment on changes in the education and labour force participation of young Indigenous people (15 to 19 year-olds, 20 to 24 year-olds and 25 to 29 year-olds).

Keeping up
Dusseldorp Skills Forum
30 April 2009This report contains several good practice examples of programs that are working to improve the transitions from education, training and work participation of Indigenous young people, aged 15- 29

Working in disadvantaged communities:
Elizabeth HarrisAustralia and New Zealand Health Policy
29 April 2009Residents of socioeconomically disadvantaged locations are more likely to have poor health than residents of socioeconomically advantaged locations and this has been comprehensively mapped in Australian cities.

Is 'Close the Gap' a useful approach?
Kerryn PholiAustralian Review of Public Affairs
29 April 2009There is widespread enthusiasm for the Australian government's commitment to 'Close the Gap' in Indigenous disadvantage, health status and life expectancy. Yet despite the rhetoric, the pursuit of statistical equality for Indigenous Australians is not a novel or particularly promising approach.

Revisiting Indigenous education
Helen Hughesdsf
23 April 2009This paper argues that there is no ‘gap’ between the literacy and numeracy of Indigenous and non-Indigenous students.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health labour force statistics and data quality assessment
Australian Institute of Health and Welfaredsf
23 April 2009Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health labour force statistics and data quality assessment provides comprehensive data on the Indigenous health labour force.

Australian Government News Releases

$28m Torres Strait Major Infrastructure Program
By Australian Labor Party
Jenny Macklin - Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Jim Turnour - Media Statement with Desley Boyle, Minister for Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships - 14-04-2009

Construction begins on new accommodation for Indigenous mums
By Australian Labor Party
Jenny Macklin - Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Jim Turnour - Media Statement - 14-04-2009

319 community aged care jobs in the NT
By Australian Labor Party
Justine Elliot - Minister for Ageing Jenny Macklin - Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Warren Snowdon - Minister for Defence Science and Personnel Trish Crossin - Media Statement - 14-04-2009

Working on Country<>Eligible organisations can now apply for funding to employ Indigenous landand sea rangers. Applications close 1 May 2009.

Next steps for Indigenous jobs reforms

The Minister for Employment Participation, Brendan O'Connor, today announced the next step in reforms to employment services for Indigenous Australians.
Mr O'Connor said reforms to the Indigenous Employment Program (IEP) will begin on 1 July 2009 and build on recent reforms of universal employment services.

The reforms are key to making progress on the Government's aim of halving the employment gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a decade. This will require an extra 100,000 Indigenous Australians to find and keep work.

The Government has consulted widely with Indigenous Australians and their communities, Indigenous and non-Indigenous business and with service providers.

Indigenous Australians readied for defence

By Australian Labor Party

Jenny Macklin - Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Brendan O'Connor - Minister for Employment Participation Warren Snowdon - Minister for Defence Science and Personnel - Media Statement - 02-03-2009


Warren SnowdonThe Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon. Warren Snowdon MP, the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, the Hon. Jenny Macklin MP and the Minister for Employment Participation, the Hon. Brendan O'Connor MP, today announced the start of the Defence Indigenous Pre Recruitment Course (IPRC) in Newcastle, NSW.

Mr Snowdon said the Defence Indigenous Pre-Recruitment Course is one of the early initiatives to be rolled out from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Indigenous Employment Strategy.

Indigenous participation in regional labour markets, 2001-06

Nic Biddle, John Taylor and Mandy Yap / Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research
This paper examines the extent to which Indigenous Australians have shared in the large expansion of the Australian workforce that is revealed by a comparison of 2001 and 2006 census results. Posted 24-11-2008

Indigenous mentoring and training expanded

The Minister for Employment Participation, Brendan O’Connor, today announced Australian Government funding to expand a mentoring and training program for Indigenous employees at Roper Gulf Shire Council.

Since March the ‘Mentoring for Retention’ project has provided support for 52 Shire Indigenous employees.

Indigenous Employment Project Achieves Results

The Minister for Employment Participation, Brendan O’Connor, today congratulated 34 graduates of an Indigenous training and employment program in Melbourne.

The program was delivered by the Replay Group and was funded under the Australian Government’s Structured Training and Employment Projects (STEP).

New agreement to deliver jobs in the Tanami region

PORTFOLIO: Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
SNIPPET: New agreement to deliver jobs in the Tanami region. A new agreement to create more Indigenous job opportunities in Central Australia's Tanami region Indigenous communities was signed today in Yuendumu. Work is underway a local work team from Kalkarindji has completed a major fencing project in the Tanami and there are now 85 local Indigenous people from across the region working with Newmont Asia-Pacific at the Granites mine in the Tanami.

Regional and remote Indigenous communities: first report 2008

Senate Select Committee on Regional and Remote Indigenous Communities
The select committee was established in March this year to report twice yearly on issues including the impact of state and territory government policies on the wellbeing of regional and remote Indigenous communities. This report outlines the issues that have been raised with it so far and provides some direction for the focus of future reports. Posted 03-10-2008