10 March 2011 – A proud group of forty Indigenous Australians from Western Sydney graduated today from Jobfind’s Retail Skills Indigenous Employment Program with the skills they need to find meaningful and sustainable work in the retail industry.
Forty graduates of an Indigenous Employment Program, offered by Jobfind Centres in Bankstown, Blacktown and Mt Druitt, were recognised today for their successful completion of training and work experience in the Retail Industry.
Funded by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations' (DEEWR) and offered in conjunction with the Australian Retailers Association, the program has helped Indigenous locals develop the skills they need to find meaningful and sustainable work in the retail industry.
As well as receiving theoretical training by working through a Nationally accredited Certificate III in Retail, participants in the program undertook a great deal of hands-on work experience thanks to partnerships formed between Jobfind Centres Australia and a number of local retailers such as Myer, Kmart, Target and Bunnings Warehouse.
To ensure they are well prepared to enter the workforce, participants also completed Budda-Jitja – Australia’s first pre-employment training program designed specifically by Indigenous Australians for Indigenous job seekers. Exclusive to Jobfind, Budda-Jitja has been successfully used by thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to learn skills such as Using a Computer, Time Management, Dealing with Money, Reading and Mathematics.
Senator Mark Arbib, Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development, has commended the graduates for all of their hard work and commitment.
“When it comes to long-term sustainable employment, proper training is absolutely essential and forms the foundation of a career. By completing this training, the participants have proven they have what it takes to build a successful career in retail. I’m pleased to hear that three trainees have already accepted job offers in retail”, said Senator Arbib.
“Today’s graduation marks only the first step on the road to long-term employability for this dedicated group of job-ready candidates”, says Michael Hughes, Executive Director at Jobfind.
“With over 7,000 Indigenous Australians placed into employment since 2006, Jobfind Centres Australia not only gives Indigenous job seekers the assistance they need, but also offers post-
placement mentoring, support services and financial assistance to help employers retain their Indigenous employees for the long term.”
In attendance was the Federal Member for Chifley, Mr Ed Husic, who presented the graduates with their certificates and also took part in a fun boomerang throwing lesson. Mr Husic congratulated the graduates, many of whom were from the Blacktown/Mt Druitt area he represents, on seeing the training through to the end.
The graduation ceremony took place on Thursday 10 March at Muru Mittigar Aboriginal Cultural & Education Centre: 89-151 Old Castlereagh Road, Penrith, and included traditional entertainment, boomerang throwing and a cultural talk by the Muru Mittigar staff.
Graduate Catherine Dennis receives her certificate from Alan Handsaker (Australian Retailers Association), Ed Husic (Federal Member for Chifley), and Les Bunda (Jobfind Indigenous Mentor)
From left: Joanne Selfe from DEEWR, graduates Anthony Ferris and Amy Foster, Federal Member for Chifley Ed Husic, graduate Melena Coppini and Muru Mittigar guide Sonny
-- ends --
MEDIA CONTACT:
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