Prime Minister Tony Abbott will today announce the appointment of Mr Forrest to run the review which will be required to report back to him by April 7 next year according to reports in NEWS LTD
INDIGENOUS Australians are suffering “the racism of low expectations” about their job prospects, billionaire miner Andrew Forrest has claimed after taking the reins of a review of Federal Government Aboriginal employment programs.
SEE NACCHO NEWS ALERT: RACISM A DRIVER OF ABORIGINAL ILL HEALTH
The review will provide recommendations to ensure indigenous training and employment services are run to connect unemployed indigenous people with real and sustainable jobs.
It will also consider ways that training and employment services can better link to the commitment of employers and end the cycle of indigenous disadvantage.
Mr Forrest said that while indigenous Australians “continue to suffer the racism of low expectations”, they could make the greatest social and economic contribution to workplaces and the nation when given the opportunity.
“I am looking forward to hearing from as many people as possible throughout this review, to ensure all successful models of training that lead to employment are fully considered,” he said.
“I have seen in my own company Aboriginal people who have turned their lives around when given the guarantee of a job at the completion of training.”
Mr Abbott said the review delivered on an election commitment and showed his government was committed to boosting job opportunities for indigenous Australians.
“Too often, employment and training programs provide ‘training for training’s sake’ without the practical skills that people need to fill the jobs that exist,” he said.
“It is important that attention be given not just to skills training, but practical life education and ongoing mentoring to make sure jobs are lasting and careers are developed for indigenous Australians.”
Mr Abbott has promised to spend a week every year in an indigenous community as Prime Minister.
Mr Forrest said the review would throw open the books of government funding.
“We cannot measure the impact of labour market interventions without examining them from a systems perspective,” he said.
“By understanding the way they connect, and where the gaps are, we can inform policies that will provide holistic support for indigenous jobseekers so they can add value to the workplace on day one of the job.”
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