24 March 2011 – Today is National Close the Gap Day and Jobfind Centre Devonport is raising awareness for Indigenous health issues, particularly the health benefits of employment and training.
With the average life expectancy for Indigenous Australians being around 10 to 17 years less than non-Indigenous Australians, people from around the country are coming together today to raise awareness for Indigenous health issues and to campaign for improving access to health services, housing, nutrition, employment and education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
At a luncheon being held today by Jobfind Centre Devonport, Member for Braddon, Brenton Best and Tasmanian Greens Spokesperson for Education, Skills and Health, Paul O’Halloran, will join local Indigenous job seekers and community organisations to show their commitment towards closing the gap on Indigenous employment and training.
“It is a sad fact that people who are unemployed often suffer from health issues relating to stress, depression and reduced ability to afford adequate nutrition and housing”, says Michael Hughes, Executive Director at Jobfind.
“At Jobfind, we’re doing our part to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians by providing life-skills training and helping them into sustainable and fulfilling employment. With the help of Jobfind’s Budda-Jitja training programs, designed specifically by Indigenous Australians for Indigenous job seekers, Jobfind has successfully helped over 7,000 Indigenous Australians into employment since 2006.”
The Close the Gap luncheon will be held at 12:30pm on Thursday 24 March at Jobfind Centre, 43 Best Street, Devonport.
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For more information please contact Ry Bradly on 02 9259 5530.
NOTES TO EDITORS: About Jobfind Centres Australia Pty Ltd
Jobfind is a division of the Angus Knight group of companies, an Australian-owned organisation with a proven, decade-long record of providing quality employment and training services. A provider of the Australian Government’s Job Services Australia, Jobfind has placed more than 350,000 people into jobs since its inception. For more information on Jobfind and the Angus Knight Group, please visit www.jobfindcentre.com.au