Jobs and education to secure future for Indigenous Australians

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

The Morrison Government is delivering substantial reforms in the 2021–22 Budget to secure Australia’s recovery, by helping Indigenous Australians into quality and long-lasting jobs, strengthening Indigenous businesses and community organisations, and backing its commitment to transform the way governments work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP, said this Budget combined with a new approach under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap will empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to address challenging socio-economic problems.

“The 2021-22 Budget ensures Indigenous Australians are fully part of the Government’s plan to secure Australia’s recovery, delivering the support they need to build skills, address barriers and find employment, with thriving families and communities that are safer, healthier and more resilient,” Minister Wyatt said.

Further measures will be released mid-year in line with the delivery of the Commonwealth’s first Closing the Gap Implementation Plan, which we are developing in partnership with the Coalition of Peaks and Indigenous Australians.

“Ahead of the delivery of the Government’s implementation plan for Closing the Gap, we are already moving on our priority reforms, reviewing a number of services to improve the way they work for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, according to their priorities.

“We have seen over the last year how effective we can be when working in partnership and we are committed to continuing to deliver our investments with that strong local input, so together, we can rebuild our economy and guarantee the services that all Australians rely on.”

To ensure employment services fit the changing job market in remote Australia and meet the unique needs of job seekers in remote communities, the Government will introduce a new remote jobs program in 2023, replacing the Community Development Program (CDP). This new program will be developed in partnership with communities and will complement the broader New Employment Services Model being rolled out in the latter half of 2022.

The Government will provide funding from the Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS) to pilot alternative approaches for the new remote jobs program in four sites starting this year.

In the short-term CDP providers across Australia will be supported with an additional $84.9 million in 2021-22 to meet increased demand arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Government is also committing from the IAS $42.8 million per annum, building to $60 million in future years, for a new Indigenous skills and employment program. The program will build on the most successful elements of the current Indigenous-specific employment programs, which will be phased out over 2022, and focus on upskilling Indigenous Australians for in-demand jobs and supporting them to gain employment.

Consultations will inform the final design of the package that will provide tailored, place- based investments to suit local labour markets and respond swiftly to emerging employment opportunities in collaboration with states and territories, Indigenous communities, industry and business.

Acknowledging that education is key to a successful future, and women are instrumental to inspiring and driving behavioural change in families, the Government is allocating a total of

$63.5 million through the IAS to increase support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls and young women to participate in girls’ academies throughout Australia. This funding will provide around 12,600 girls academy places by December 2023, matching the number of places for boys over the same period.

• $10 million over two years to support existing Indigenous enterprises and community organisations in the primary industry and land management sectors to expand or improve viability.
• $5 million investment in remote stores to improve food security, strengthen supply chains and improve storage, addressing issues that came to light during the pandemic.
• $36.7 million over the forward estimates to expand support provided to Prescribed Bodies Corporate (PBCs) that hold and protect native title rights and interests, building their capacity to more effectively engage with investors and others on economic development opportunities.

The Budget will also progress consideration of a National Resting Place within a broader cultural precinct in Canberra by committing funding from the IAS to develop a detailed business case.

These measures build on the Morrison Government’s continued commitment to the $5.7 billion Indigenous Advancement Strategy, helping secure Australia’s recovery by driving significant progress on a wide range of social and economic outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.