Published Tuesday, 01 July, 2008 at 03:24 PM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Jobs and training strengthened in Indigenous communities
A Queensland Government initiative designed to provide greater employment and training opportunities for Indigenous people is to be extended and strengthened from today.
The Indigenous Employment Policy for Queensland Government Building and Civil Construction Projects will be focussed on developing community and economic capability in Queensland’s remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the revised policy will allow greater flexibility for Indigenous communities to benefit from employment and training opportunities created in their area.
“The policy applies to all Queensland Government-funded civil construction projects and any building project worth more than $250,000 in all Indigenous Local Government Authorities and the townships of Laura, Coen and Weipa,” Mr Mickel said.
“It provides for 20 per cent of the labour hours on relevant projects to come from local Indigenous people as a minimum benchmark. It also requires half of the Indigenous labour hours be used for accredited training.
“The revised IEP 20% Policy encourages and supports better partnerships between all levels of government, industry and Indigenous communities,” Mr Mickel said.
“Consultations with local communities and councils will identify what skills and training are needed and what long-term employment opportunities they will lead to. It will also help Indigenous business enterprises find work supporting or supplying these projects.
“Lifting community capacity and supporting economic development will help these communities plan for the future and improve their way of life.
“These building projects will also create long-term employment for local Indigenous people to operate and maintain the facilities that are built.”
All Queensland Government agencies are required to report building and civil construction projects to the Department of Public Works and the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations at the planning stage.
Employment and Indigenous Initiatives Executive Director Bernie Carlon said this information can be used to schedule or develop project ‘clusters’ so Indigenous people can gain employment on a series of projects.
“The Department of Employment and Industrial Relations’ Indigenous Employment and Training Managers, who are based throughout Queensland, can also assist with the planning process,” Mr Carlon said.
“Setting up a system that offers regular, year-round employment and training opportunities in the construction industry will be a very attractive option for people in these communities.
“The skills, job opportunities and other work that this revised policy encourages and develops will also improve the social and economic development of these communities.”
For more information on the Indigenous Employment Policy for the Queensland Government Building and Civil Construction Projects (IEP 20%) visit www.employment.qld.gov.au
Ministerial contacts: John Smith on 3237 1945 or Nathan Moir on 3235 4060
June 1, 2008
The Indigenous Employment Policy for Queensland Government Building and Civil Construction Projects will be focussed on developing community and economic capability in Queensland’s remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the revised policy will allow greater flexibility for Indigenous communities to benefit from employment and training opportunities created in their area.
“The policy applies to all Queensland Government-funded civil construction projects and any building project worth more than $250,000 in all Indigenous Local Government Authorities and the townships of Laura, Coen and Weipa,” Mr Mickel said.
“It provides for 20 per cent of the labour hours on relevant projects to come from local Indigenous people as a minimum benchmark. It also requires half of the Indigenous labour hours be used for accredited training.
“The revised IEP 20% Policy encourages and supports better partnerships between all levels of government, industry and Indigenous communities,” Mr Mickel said.
“Consultations with local communities and councils will identify what skills and training are needed and what long-term employment opportunities they will lead to. It will also help Indigenous business enterprises find work supporting or supplying these projects.
“Lifting community capacity and supporting economic development will help these communities plan for the future and improve their way of life.
“These building projects will also create long-term employment for local Indigenous people to operate and maintain the facilities that are built.”
All Queensland Government agencies are required to report building and civil construction projects to the Department of Public Works and the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations at the planning stage.
Employment and Indigenous Initiatives Executive Director Bernie Carlon said this information can be used to schedule or develop project ‘clusters’ so Indigenous people can gain employment on a series of projects.
“The Department of Employment and Industrial Relations’ Indigenous Employment and Training Managers, who are based throughout Queensland, can also assist with the planning process,” Mr Carlon said.
“Setting up a system that offers regular, year-round employment and training opportunities in the construction industry will be a very attractive option for people in these communities.
“The skills, job opportunities and other work that this revised policy encourages and develops will also improve the social and economic development of these communities.”
For more information on the Indigenous Employment Policy for the Queensland Government Building and Civil Construction Projects (IEP 20%) visit www.employment.qld.gov.au
Ministerial contacts: John Smith on 3237 1945 or Nathan Moir on 3235 4060
June 1, 2008