$250,000 investment to create jobs in the Indigenous construction sector

Media Release - The Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP, Minister for Indigenous Australians

The Morrison Government is backing the Indigenous construction sector with a job-creating investment of $250,000 to Kangaroo Transport and Haulage.

Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP, said the funding will generate Indigenous jobs and allow Kangaroo Transport and Haulage to compete in the higher end of the construction industry.

“We know that Indigenous businesses are more likely to employ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and so any investment in an Indigenous business has positive flow on effects for Indigenous communities,” Minister Wyatt said.

“Kangaroo Transport and Haulage is committed to growing the potential of its business and creating job opportunities for local Indigenous job seekers. This grant will allow them to take on, train and upskill five new employees, with the forecast for their growth showing potentially up to 50 new jobs in the Greater Sydney region.

“It also expands their offering, meaning other companies seeking to bring Indigenous businesses into their supply chain will have more options to do so.

“With the national unemployment rate for Indigenous Australians still 27 percentage points behind the non-Indigenous rate, this grant will provide some much needed employment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and provide access to the multi-billion dollar construction sector.”

Kangaroo Transport and Haulage will be supported by Eather Group, which seeks to support new businesses and connect them with industry partners.

Managing Director, Peter Eather, said “We look forward to supporting Kangaroo Transport and Haulage build its capacity for a sustainable and successful future and to help other Indigenous entrepreneurs create even more jobs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our region.”

The grant is part of the Indigenous Local Employment Fund which supports one-off, short-term funding proposals that assist Indigenous job seekers into employment. Any Indigenous business or organisation interested in applying for a similar grant can search for “Indigenous Local Employment Fund” on Grant Connect.