Indigenous Land Corporation gpo box 652 Adelaide sa 5001

Achievements in 2013–14

1. A total of 578 Indigenous employees and trainees on ILC Tourism Businesses;

2. A total of 285 Indigenous employees and trainees on ILC Agricultural Businesses;

3. A 90% Indigenous workforce at the Mossman Gorge Centre;

4. A 78% Indigenous workforce on agricultural businesses for 2013–14; and

5. A 34% Indigenous workforce at Ayers Rock Resort.

Challenges and funding

The ILC has allocated funding of approximately $6m annually for T2E, provided matching funding from other federal and state agencies with responsibilities for Indigenous training and employment is also received.

In 2013–14, and for T2E Agriculture, there have been difficulties in securing matching funding from government and other agencies, and, as a result, fewer training positions were offered in 2014.

Despite these issues, in January 2014, the ILC was pleased to secure approx $3.2m from the Australian Government to assist Indigenous jobseekers.

Indigenous Jobs and Training Review submission

The ILC provided a comprehensive submission to the Forrest review into Indigenous training and employment programmes. ILC staff attended review consultation meetings across Australia and also participated in roundtable meetings with review chair Mr Forrest and senior review staff.

In its submission, the ILC strongly advocated for improvements to Indigenous employment and training through:

• Simplification of the employment service model where providers are focussed on the needs of employers and in filling jobs. Job-ready candidates should be presented to employers to fill vacancies at every opportunity. The ILC argued there was currently a disconnect between employers and employment service providers.

• Development of a simplified funding model where funding which is flexible, multi-year, takes into account jobs in different industries and avoids the need for employers to source funding from multiple government departments and service providers. Direct funding to employers, to contribute to wages and support costs, who employ trainees from commencement of training and guarantee a job on completion should be considered. Funding should be split into two payments – one up front to support recruitment and support structures such as mentoring, 
and a payment at six months of retention.