Queensland congratulates GenerationOne

Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs and Minister assisting the Premier, Glen Elmes, has today congratulated GenerationOne on its third anniversary in linking training to real employment for Indigenous Australians.

Mr Elmes commended Generation One for linking training to employment in much the same way the Queensland Government does.

“It was clear when I met with GenerationOne’s Chief Executive Officer Warren Mundine only a few weeks ago that we have similar approaches,” Mr Elmes said.

“We both aim to deal with the underlying reality that many Indigenous people are trapped in a repetitive cycle of training without real job prospects and being caught in welfare subsistence.

“Unless there are real prospects of genuine jobs for trainees to take up, training is wasted.

“There is only one way for training to be useful for individuals, for industries and for the community and that is to connect it to specific skills for jobs that need to be filled.

“This requires real effort by young people and their families as well as training providers and employing companies.

“The record of GenerationOne and companies such as the Myuma Group in Queensland, is a 70 per cent or higher rate of trainees continuing in employment after six months.

“The Newman Government recognises it has a role to play in promoting real opportunities and in facilitating and encouraging communication between individuals and organisations.

“I am currently finalising a comprehensive economic participation strategy for Indigenous Queenslanders and this will involve working with organisations like GenerationOne.

“An aspect of the strategy will be memoranda of understanding with peak industry organisations and individual companies in agriculture, mining, construction and tourism. 

“The Queensland Government is committed to sharing the responsibility with Indigenous Australians to achieve economic opportunities through education, training and real employment.”

[ENDS] 20 March 2013

Media Contact: Lynette Keep 3237 1944