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Indigenous job seekers graduate with real life skills

Jobs, Land and Economy
Beach shore picture taken from above

Twenty disadvantaged Indigenous job seekers have gained basic skills to re-enter the workforce after completing Ngarda’s Work Start Basics Residential Project, commissioned by the Department Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).

Twenty disadvantaged Indigenous job seekers have gained basic skills to re-enter the workforce after completing Ngarda’s Work Start Basics Residential Project, commissioned by the Department Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).

The Residential Project targeted unemployed Indigenous people residing in Port Hedland who were referred from Job Service Australia providers in the region.

The Certificate I in Resources and Infrastructure was coordinated and supported by Ngarda’s recruitment agency Ngarda People and delivered at Pundulmurra Campus together with Pilbara Institute.

The course included life skills and industry awareness and also identified individual barriers to employment such as self-esteem, confidence, motivation and the ability to communicate in the workplace.

The participants had to overcome a number of barriers to employment, such as a lack of current driver’s licenses, health issues including alcohol and drug problems, homelessness, literacy and numeracy problems and relationships issues.

The program helped boost self-esteem levels and confidence, but most of all, increased their chances of employment in the resources and mining sectors.

Ngarda Community Relations provided a full-time mentor to provide support and guidance to participants. A range of local stakeholders also provided services to the program including health checks, drug and alcohol awareness, driver license checks, relationship counselling and income support.

Local role models enhanced the program by encouraging participants throughout the course.

Fortescue Metal Group (FMG) provided accommodation at Rail Camp 25A, which gave the participants exposure to the real life experience of living and working on a mine site.

The mining camp environment was used to emphasise the importance of working as a team, getting plenty of sleep, eating health food, diet and exercise, fluid intake and fatigue factors but most importantly, interaction with people from diverse backgrounds.

Ngarda People are now working on placement of graduates in the Pilbara region.

Find out more

The Work Start Basics Program 2012 is funded under the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations’ Indigenous Employment Program (IEP).

The five week intensive residential pre-employment course was delivered by Ngarda to 20 disadvantaged Indigenous job seekers to address the participants’ barriers by engaging, motivating and preparing them for the workforce, resulting in employment in the Pilbara Resources Industry.