Government appoints Remote Employment Services Panel

The Australian Government today announced the members of the Remote Participation and Employment Services Engagement Panel and details for the consultation forums on the future of remote participation and employment services.

The review of Remote Employment Services is designed to ensure job service providers are best meeting the needs of Indigenous and other remote job seekers.

Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development Mark Arbib, Minister for Indigenous Affairs Jenny Macklin and Minister for Employment Participation Kate Ellis said the Gillard Government was committed to improving remote job services and establishing the Panel was an important step.

Senator Arbib said members of the Panel were prominent Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians who had knowledge of and high profiles in remote communities.

“The Panel will meet for the first time on 26 July. Between all the members they have extensive expertise and experience in remote participation and employment servicing,” Senator Arbib said.

“They will assist in driving the consultation process and developing new remote participation and employment services arrangements, which will be in place from 1 July 2013.

“The Government believes that new Remote Participation and Employment Services arrangements should be simpler, more integrated and more flexible.”

The members of the remote participation and employment services engagement panel are:

• Ms Pat Brahim – General Manager, Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation;
• Mr John Berto – Chief Executive Officer, Thamarrurr Development Corporation;
• Mr Nolan Hunter – Acting Chief Executive Officer, Kimberley Land Council;
• Ms Shirley McPherson – Chair, Indigenous Land Corporation;
• Ms Sally Sinclair – Chief Executive Officer, National Employment Services Association;
• Ms Suzannah Kuzio – Chief Executive Officer, Community Enterprises Australia Ltd; and
• Ms Melanie Stutsel – Director, Health, Safety, Environment and Community Policy, Minerals Council of Australia.

Ms Macklin said the Panel would provide expert advice on effective engagement of remote communities and on the development of simpler, more integrated services.

“The Government will be shortly releasing a discussion paper and a DVD in a variety of Indigenous languages about remote services, as well as inviting people to make written submissions to the panel,” Ms Macklin said.

“We look forward to receiving people’s views on how participation and employment services can be improved to better suit the needs of people living in remote communities.”

Ms Ellis said consultation forums with people in remote communities, service providers, employers and other stakeholders would take place during August and September 2011.

“The forums will be used to guide and inform the design of the next remote participation and employment services arrangements,” Ms Ellis said.

“Interpreters will be available and I encourage people from remote Australia to attend the forums and contribute their ideas about the future of employment participation in remote Australia.”

The schedule for the consultation forums is attached.

Further details about the consultations and how to contribute to the review of remote participation and employment services, will be available shortly at: www.deewr.gov.au

Any questions on the review can be sent to: remoteservices@deewr.gov.au.

• Note: The final schedule may be subject to change.