Media Release by Senator the Hon Nigel Scullion

Boost to training for Indigenous women

Joint Media Release with:

  • The Hon Joe Hockey MP, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations

Indigenous women in Tasmania will receive new training and skills to help prepare them to enter the workforce.

The Minister for Community Services, Senator Nigel Scullion and the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon Joe Hockey MP have welcomed the Shared Responsibility Agreement signed today between the Australian Government and the Women’s Karadi Aboriginal Corporation.

‘The Return to Work program will ensure that Indigenous women who have never been employed or are re-entering the workforce will gain the required skills and confidence to undertake paid employment,’ Senator Scullion said.

‘The Australian Government has invested $64,000 to purchase ten laptop computers and provide pre-employment training for the women.

‘Karadi is a long established women’s organisation with strong links to the broader community. It will nominate women to attend the course, provide a venue for the training and provide ongoing support for the women in their transition to the workforce.

‘The women will commit to attend weekly sessions that will focus on building their confidence. The women will then need to make a commitment to attend training and work experience to help improve their job-readiness,’ Senator Scullion said.

‘As Minister for Jobs, my job is all about getting more Australians into work and keeping them in work. Australia’s unemployment rate is at a 33 year low but at the same time too many Indigenous Australians are missing out on this prosperity. Indigenous unemployment is still too high. Having a job is one of the most important ways for people to participate in our society,’ Minister Hockey said.

‘My hope for all Indigenous Australians is economic independence, for themselves and for their families. My goal for Australian employers is for them to have everything they need to grow their businesses.

‘I look forward to hearing about the progress of this agreement and I commend all parties who have worked together to improve the employment prospects of Indigenous women in Tasmania.’