Employment opportunities for First Australians have been boosted in Aurukun through the Coalition Government’s Tailored Assistance Employment Grants programme.
Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion, and the Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch MP, have announced that APN Cape York will receive $259,600 for Woyan Min (The Good Path) Aurukun Youth Project.
The project aims to re-engage 20 young people from the community and to graduate them into work. Groups would rotate through work areas including construction, maintenance, gardening and online literacy and qualification training.
“These targeted grants support community-led initiatives that connect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to real jobs, and is part of the Coalition’s Government commitment to get more Australians into work,” Minister Scullion said.
“These grants will support the Government’s efforts on the Closing the Gap target of halving the gap in employment outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, and our commitment to jobs and economic growth.”
Mr Entsch said the grant had been specifically tailored to the needs of APN Cape York to enable the organisation to get more local Indigenous jobseekers into employment.
“APN Cape York will work closely with the community and other service providers to offer an activity-based ‘on country’ programme, with a focus on yarning with elders/mentors, fencing, community service and certificate training to get participants work ready,” he said.
“Participants will then be able to graduate into employment or the Western Cape Training Project.
“We know that providing training and employment for youth in Aurukun is a priority because a recent survey showed there are 68 individuals in the 17-19-year-old age bracket in Aurukun who aren’t in education or work.
“APN Cape York has a strong track record working with Aurukun youth and good relationships with relevant stakeholders in the community. I’m also pleased that the grant payments will be outcome-focused to ensure that the Government is getting results for its investment.”
The Tailored Assistance Employment Grants are part of the Coalition Government’s Indigenous Advancement Strategy and complement other Government programmes, including jobactive.
