The Queensland government has praised the country’s GenerationOne scheme – a strategy that has been instrumental in boosting Indigenous employment levels in the state.
Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs Glen Elmes said the nationwide employment program, which celebrated its third anniversary yesterday (March 20), supports Queensland’s own job initiatives.
“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,” Mr Elmes remarked.
“Unless there are real prospects of genuine jobs for trainees to take up, training is wasted.”
The minister went on to say that meaningful training programs need to be introduced to up-skill individuals in specific areas that are experiencing a labour shortage.
Training providers and companies should collaborate with young people and their families to deliver these employment solutions, Mr Elmes added.
The state government is currently working on a comprehensive economic participation strategy that will focus on employment for Indigenous Queenslanders -a scheme that involves working with organisations like GenerationOne.
Mr Elmes said the initiative will focus on the agriculture, construction, mining and tourism sectors.
