An Indigenous Skills and Employment Program (ISEP) will be launched on Wednesday, June 15, with an event at Tuggerah.
The commencement of the Make Tomorrow in Manufacturing project will mark the culmination of 18 months of work with industry and community to co-design an employment pathway program to train and mentor Aboriginal participants aged 15-30 for work and address skill shortages in the manufacturing and related industry sectors.
The project is led by Aboriginal community-controlled organisation Bara Barang Corporation Ltd, in a consortium approach with industry, business, vocational training, employment service and community partners.
An open competitive application process resulted in the project securing funding from the Australian Government’s Indigenous Skills and Employment Program with the support of a community joint decision-making panel convened by Barang Regional Alliance, the representative voice of the Central Coast Aboriginal community.
Central Coast resident and Elder Aunty Madeline McGrady is a member of the consortium and attended the project co-design workshops.
“If we as Elders and leaders can instil our youth’s cultural integrity intact, they can walk out the door and take on the world,” she said.
She will continue her involvement in the steering committee.
Bara Barang General Manager Andrew Malloch says it is critical to bring together diverse groups to effect positive change.
“To successfully implement the project there must be strong relationships with business and community, job-related and culturally appropriate training, holistic support and strong staff commitment,” he said.
“Make Tomorrow in Manufacturing has these ingredients, so we are in a position to create the strongest outcomes for everyone participating in the project.”
Central Coast Industry Connect Executive Director Frank Sammut said CCIC was pleased to be involved in a program helping educate manufacturing employers of the benefits of employing local Indigenous people and, at the same time, providing potential candidates to fill the current and future staff shortages.
“For young Indigenous people, it will provide an understanding of career opportunities and employment pathways in manufacturing,” he said.
The consortium members are Bara Barang Corporation Ltd, Central Coast Industry Connect, E-bisglobal, Borg Manufacturing, TrendPac, APM, Global Skills, Access Knowledge, Barang Regional Alliance and Aunty Madeline McGrady.
The project has secured four years of funding and involves entry-level manufacturing training, cultural support individually and in yarning circles and connections to apprenticeships, traineeships and paid work in a variety of job roles.
The launch event will be at 9.30am on Wednesday, May 15, at the premises of Ebisglobal, 7 Reliance Dr, Tuggerah.
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