Remote Australian job seekers will have more employment opportunities and communities will have more say over how the Community Development Program (CDP) is delivered locally under changes to the program.
These changes will be part of the first phase of CDP reforms, which aim to increase CDP participants’ attendance and reduce penalties applied to remote job seekers.
Minister for Indigenous Affairs Nigel Scullion said 1,000 subsidised jobs for CDP participants would be available from March 2019.
“These 1,000 new jobs will be available throughout remote Australia,” Minister Scullion said.
“There will also be a focus on supporting Indigenous businesses, as these subsidies will help those businesses operating in remote Australia to expand and hire new staff.
Minister Scullion also announced a further step in the transition to Indigenous organisations delivering CDP.
“This is because Indigenous organisations are better placed to engage with the community and respond to community priorities.
“Through the recent CDP provider selection process, I am delivering on that promise and from 1 July 2019, all CDP providers will be Indigenous organisations, including around 20 new local Indigenous organisations.”
Speaking from Ceduna in South Australia, Minister Scullion said most of the organisations selected would be local to the regions where they will deliver services or will be partnered with a local Indigenous organisation
Member for Grey, Rowan Ramsey said that Coalition Government is backing local Indigenous organisations and communities, and in Ceduna, the Far West Aboriginal Community Leaders Group will take over CDP for the first time.
“This means CDP will be delivered by a provider who knows the people and the community—who understands the local priorities in this place—who knows about the challenges and, more importantly, the opportunities for job seekers here.”
Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corporation CEO, Corey McLennan, said this decision ensures the local community is in the best position to create and broker opportunities that will transcend to more productive, vibrant and happy communities.
“With better control and localised community ownership of CDP, it will bring greater engagement within activities from participants and an increase in real jobs and opportunities across the region.”
Minister Scullion said other notable CDP provider success stories included Regional Anangu Service Aboriginal Corporation (RASAC) in the APY Lands and Winun Ngari in the Kimberley, which will continue to deliver CDP services after winning its first Funding Agreement last year.
“Importantly, we have paved the way for many Indigenous organisations to deliver CDP for the first time.
“This includes Gungarde Community Centre Aboriginal Corporation in the Cook region, Mokwiri Aboriginal Corporation in the Western Cape, Mungoorabada in Robinson River, Kalano in Katherine and Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council on Palm Island,” Minister Scullion said.
CDP supports job seekers in remote Australia to build skills, address barriers to employment and contribute to their communities through a range of flexible activities.
Since CDP was established in 2015, remote job seekers have been supported into more than 29,000 jobs. On over 10,000 occasions, these jobs have continued for at least six months.
More information: https://www.pmc.gov.au/cdp
