Getting job seekers ready for work in remote communities

The Australian Government is continuing to support Indigenous people in remote communities to get training and find work, providing $47 million for Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) across the country.

Fifty-eight CDEP providers will share in the funding to deliver training and mentoring, as well as funding local community projects that provide work experience for Indigenous job seekers and benefit the wider community.

The Minister for Families and Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, today announced the additional funding on a visit to the CDEP project, Bamaga Farm, in Cape York.

“A job provides much more than just a pay packet. It gives people purpose and pride. It also provides stability in people’s lives. That’s why I want to see people getting the support they need to get training and work experience to get a job,” Ms Macklin said.

“This investment will continue the good work of CDEP providers across Australia.

As part of the $47 million, the Australian Government is delivering $618,000 to the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council for CDEP activities, including Bamaga Farm.

In the Northern Peninsula Area, about 180 people are currently training or doing work experience on a number of CDEP projects, including at Bamaga Farm.

“Already local job seekers are learning and training at Bamaga Farm. The farm is just getting started and when it is fully operational it will provide fresh fruit and vegies for the local communities of the North Peninsula Area as well as training opportunities in agriculture and farm management,” Ms Macklin said.

In addition to the $47 million across Australia, here in the Northern Peninsula Area the Government recently provided $300,000 to help establish a building training hub where local job seekers can participate in construction work generated by projects under the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing in Queensland.

With 270 houses scheduled for completion over the next eight years, local indigenous people will have the opportunity to work as trade assistants completing training in general construction, work safety and carpentry, giving them the skills for a career in the building industry.

Across Australia Indigenous job seekers living in remote communities have access to a range of training opportunities through CDEP in areas such as horticulture, youth training, hospitality, mining, building and construction, conservation and land management and mechanics.

By giving job seekers marketable skills required for jobs in their region, these projects help people get ready to take up employment when it becomes available.

The full list of CDEP providers is available at: http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/our-responsibilities/indigenous-australians/programs-services/communities-regions/community-development-employment-projects-cdep-program