Thirty Indigenous people are being provided with training and employment opportunities through a new cattle industry employment project in Cape York.
The Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion, and the Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch, said $300,000 has been provided under the Community Development Fund (CDF) to APN Cape York to establish a six month prevocational and mentoring programme for up to 30 Wik people interested in becoming a stock worker linked to the APN Cattle Enterprise.
Minister Scullion said a key priority for the Government was to ensure that as many Indigenous people as possible are working in real jobs.
“The CDF provides funding to organisations to deliver projects that support social and economic development and participation in remote communities such as Cape York,” Minister Scullion said.
“The CDF assists service providers, employers and community organisations to create new jobs and deliver rewarding community activities.”
Mr Entsch said the funding will be of major benefit to Cape York Indigenous people, as it will allow job seekers to participate in the APN on-ground cattle programme.
“The project will be a feeder programme to the Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC) traineeships at Merapah Station,” Mr Entsch said.
“APN Cape York and ILC will support Wik trainees attending Merapah through senior mentors recruited from Wik stock men, with the ILC providing trainers/supervisors.
“The project has commenced and 30 Indigenous participants have started in the project,” Mr Entsch said.
