Consultation on the Future of Indigenous Employment Programs

Media release - Minister Wyatt

Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP, has today released a discussion paper on the 2021-22 Budget commitment to develop a new local Indigenous Skills, Engagement and Employment Program (ISEP).

The discussion paper invites all Australians to share their views on how Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS) funding can best be directed to increase employment outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the new program.

Following the release of the discussion paper, the National Indigenous Australian Agency will be hosting a series of roundtables and focus groups with a range of stakeholders to gain feedback on the discussion paper and the proposed ISEP.

“With a number of mainstream employment services undergoing significant changes, the Morrison Government is also looking at services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and scoping a model that prioritises flexible, local solutions,” Minister Wyatt said.

“The Morrison Government is ensuring Indigenous Australians are fully part of our economic recovery and will empower people to deliver the changes they want to see in their lives, most importantly by sharing decision making with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“Even though the IAS investment makes up a small proportion of government investment in employment services for Indigenous Australians, they make an important contribution at the local level.

“More than 30,550 job seekers have been placed in jobs that lasted six months or more since the IAS started and we want to grow this number, supporting even more Indigenous Australians to build skills, address barriers and connect them to jobs, and provide sustainable career advancement. The new approach will focus on long term employment, not the 26 week employment outcomes currently provided.

“Looking at our investments closely and designing future models with strong community input delivers on our commitment in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap to work in partnership with local Indigenous communities,” Minister Wyatt said.

The new ISEP will replace the Vocational Training and Employment Centres (VTEC), Tailored Assistance Employment Grants (TAEG) and Employment Parity Initiative (EPI) from 1 July 2022.

For a copy of the paper and to submit your comments, visit Indigenous skills, engagement and employment Program (ISEP) Discussion Paper

Submissions close 10 September 2021.