Working Together
A partnership between the Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation (ALPA) and the Australian Government is creating local jobs for the Yolngu people of North East Arnhem Land.
The Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation (ALPA) has been around for forty-three years, run by Yolngu people, and providing services like stores in remote communities, and creating jobs and opportunities for Yolngu.
ALPA is an independent Aboriginal corporation, a social enterprise based on commercial principles, owned and governed by Yolngu. With 774 employees (608 of whom are Indigenous), and with profits used to fund benevolent programmes in communities, ALPA is a vital part of the Northern Territory economy.
So, ALPA management were eager to be involved in the Vocational, Training and Employment Centres (VTEC) initiative to complement the work ALPA is doing creating jobs. VTEC is the Australian Government’s new initiative connecting Indigenous job seekers with guaranteed jobs and ALPA has linked up with VTEC provider Group Training Northern Territory (GTNT).
At ALPA’s Ramingining store there are four VTEC participants, who are learning how to perform different roles at the store, while receiving vocational training. Once these participants have completed the programme they will have an ongoing job waiting for them with ALPA.
Matjarra Garrawurra, Ramingining Women’s Programs Supervisor, believes that Australian Government initiatives like VTEC are vital if Ramingining and Yolngu are to reach their full potential.
“Our old people, young people, children and balanda (non-Indigenous people). It’s a very important thing to work together, everyone doing something to make the community better,” Matjarra said.
“There are women who have got a job in the shop, making healthy lunches and dinners. This is helping the whole community.”
ALPA’s General Manager, Enterprise and Community Services, Christopher Hayward, sees the benefit of this cross-cultural partnership.
“It’s already creating real jobs now,” Christopher said.
“The training is connected to the job from day one, before the training even starts and that’s the ideal situation. If you support Indigenous business you will support Indigenous jobs growth and I think that’s a good starting point,” Christopher said.
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Getting adults into work and making sure everyone has the opportunity to own their own home, run a business, and provide for themselves and their families will mean a strong future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The Australian Government and communities are working together to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned businesses, which will lead to more jobs in their communities and financial security to families.
The Australian Government has committed up to $45 million for Vocational, Training and Employment Centres (VTECs) to train up to 5000 Indigenous job seekers and place them into real jobs before July 2015. To find a VTEC near you, visit Generation One VTEC.