YARRABAH RESIDENTS HELP SOLVE BANANA INDUSTRY SKILLS SHORTAGE

About 30 Yarrabah residents are now working in the banana industry as a direct result of a joint initiative between the Queensland and Federal Governments, the banana industry and the Yarrabah community to address the long-term labour shortage in the banana industry.

 

Premier Peter Beattie said the 30 Yarrabah residents had found work on banana farms in the Tully and Innisfail areas, 5 others are completing training programs while another 12 Yarrabah people will start training today (Monday 23 July) to also prepare them for jobs in the industry.

 

“The Yarrabah training initiative was just one of the ideas to emerge from a Banana Summit that was held in January to help deal with chronic labour supply problems being faced by the industry,” Mr Beattie said.

 

“It makes good sense. The Yarrabah community is crying out for sustainable job opportunities and the banana industry is crying out for workers.

 

“The combined efforts of the State and Federal governments, the banana industry and the Yarrabah community has resulted in a range of funding programs being packaged to help create a job-ready workforce of Indigenous people for the state’s important banana industry.

 

 “As a result of the summit, funding of $120,000 was provided to the Australian Banana Growers’ Council from the Cyclone Larry Employment Assistance Package to employ a Labour Coordinator for a year to help develop a range of strategies under the Workforce Project”, Mr Beattie said.

 

“Several strategies are being addressed through the Workforce Project to address the longer term labour supply for the industry.

 

“One of these is the linking of the Yarrabah residents into training and jobs to create a future employment pathway.

 

“Yarrabah residents are linked into accredited training through the Banana Industry Training Pathways project, which is jointly funded by the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations and the Australian Agricultural College,” Mr Beattie said.

 

“This course provides a five week Work Ready Program covering employment in the banana industry, with another twelve Yarrabah residents starting the Banana Industry Training Pathways course today.

 

Acting Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations Desley Boyle said the majority of training was being delivered on local farms.

 

“This gives employers a chance to see workers on-the-job and also enables participants to get a feel for the work ethic required in a commercial environment,” Ms Boyle said.

 

“The last component of the course involves a two week vocational placement on those farms in need of workers.

 

“To date, 65 Yarrabah residents have participated in the program and approximately 30 are currently working on farms in Tully and Innisfail”, she said.

 

“This is an excellent result given the barriers faced by Yarrabah residents including long-term unemployment, geographical dislocation and a lack of accommodation”.

 

Many of the workers are ferried by bus from Yarrabah to farms daily.

 

Ms Boyle said a Working Party meets regularly to monitor progress on the project. 

 

The Department of Employment and Industrial Relations, the Australian Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, the Australian Agricultural College at Mareeba, Yarrabah Community Council and banana growers are working together in an endeavour to create a sustainable employment avenue for Yarrabah residents in the industry.

 

Media Contacts: Premier’s office 3224 4500

Minister’s office: Chris Brown on 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion on 3224 6784

July 23, 2007