Indigenous jobseekers continue to share the dream at Mungalla

Ten Indigenous jobseekers are continuing work setting up a viable tourism operation on Mungalla Stud near Ingham as part of a Queensland Government funded skilling project.

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the $153,060 Skilling Queenslanders for Work project is being run for the second time by the Mungalla Aboriginal Corporation who represent the Nywaigi people – the station’s traditional owners.

“The vision for the site is that it will eventually become a sustainable tourism business - supporting the community and increasing cultural sharing,” Mr Mickel said.

“The property has extensive wetlands and is of considered historical significance to both the Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in the Ingham area.

“In the first project, 12 Indigenous participants were employed to fence, develop walking tracks, construct a bird watching platform, clean up burial sites and eradicate weeds.

“Participants on this project are receiving paid work and training to be tour guides and hospitality workers.

“The first tours coincided with the 125th anniversary of the stud in November,“ Mr Mickel said.

Mungalla Aboriginal Corporation Treasurer Jacob Cassady said participants will also continue to maintain the grounds and upgrade facilities at the old homestead to enable the housing and display of the Captive Lives exhibition.

“The exhibition tells the horrific story of North Queensland’s Indigenous people who were removed from their homes and put on show as savage cannibals in Barnum & Baileys circus which was seen by millions of people around the world.” Mr Cassady said.

“The exhibition has travelled around the country and been seen by 300,000 people nationwide and we are very pleased that it will take pride of place at Mungalla.

“All participants will undertake nationally recognised training through Barrier Reef TAFE to further boost their chances of finding work when the project ends.”

During 2007/08 the Queensland Government will invest $80 million in the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative to give an estimated 17,000 long-term unemployed and underemployed people job related assistance and skills training to maximise labour force participation and increase Queensland's prosperity.

Twelve months after receiving employment and training assistance 67 per cent of participants are in employment.

The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative is part of the State Government’s $1 billion Queensland Skills Plan which aims to provide individuals and industry with the skills and workforce for the 21st Century.

More information on the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative visit www.employment.qld.gov.au or call 1300 369 925.

Contact: Mungalla Aboriginal Corporation for Business Treasurer Jacob Cassady on 4777 8718 or mungalla@bigpond.com

Ministerial contacts: Chris Brown on 3237 1944 or Shannon Mackay on 3237 1125

January 23, 2007