New employment, trainee and procurement plan

An Indigenous training and employment program is being established at Ayers Rock Resort at Yulara to attract employees locally and from across Australia thanks to a partnership between the Australian Government and Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC).

The ILC has committed to raising Indigenous employment at the resort to 50 per cent by 2018, providing over 300 jobs for Indigenous Australians. Minister for Tourism Martin Ferguson, Minister for Indigenous Affairs Jenny Macklin and Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development Mark Arbib said the partnership would create new employment opportunities for Indigenous Australians in Australia's tourism and hospitality industry.

"The innovative plan has stemmed from the ILC purchasing Ayers Rock Resort, which provides great opportunities to employ Indigenous Australians and support Indigenous businesses," Ms Macklin said. Senator Arbib said the Australian Government, through the Indigenous Employment Program, providing up to $4.9 million toward the training and employment of the first 200 Indigenous job seekers and trainees over the next two years.

"As part of the program 100 Indigenous Australians will undertake a 12 month traineeship at the ILC's newly established National Indigenous Training Academy at Yulara," Ms Macklin said. "The traineeship program will recruit trainees locally and from across Australia by offering competitive wages, help with relocation, the cost of living, retention bonuses and a guaranteed job at the end, either at the resort or in the hospitality and tourism industry.

Minister Arbib added that "In addition to the traineeship program the funding partnership with DEEWR will support employment of 100 Indigenous Australians to fill positions at the resort.

"Funding will also support the employment of an Indigenous Engagement Team of experienced staff who will support the employment, mentoring and retention of Indigenous employees and trainees at the resort.

This includes a cross cultural training program for all resort employees. Mr Ferguson said the ILC would commit a further $4.35 million to the training and employment of Indigenous Australians at the resort and broader tourism and hospitality industry, including a further 150 traineeships by July 2014 and a variety of start-up and operating costs.

"Beyond the jobs and traineeships this project will create, over the next two to three years this model will set up a long-term approach to create and support Indigenous jobs into the future," Mr Ferguson said. "Once established, this employment approach will be shared and adopted across other industries.

"It will give trainees and workers opportunities to launch careers in the industry across Australia and internationally, for example, within major hotel networks such as Accor."

Senator Arbib said this project provides great support to the Australian Government's Indigenous Economic Development Strategy.

"In addition to providing employment and training opportunities the ILC will also develop an Indigenous Procurement Strategy for the Ayers Rock Resort, which will strengthen business opportunities for Indigenous suppliers," Senator Arbib said. "The Australian Government's target is to create more than 100,000 Indigenous jobs by 2018." Join our mailing list