More than 55,000 Indigenous jobs created under Australian Employment Covenant
Exert from Nicolas Perpitch’s article in The Australian, 1st July 2011
Andrew Forrest with AEC staff at their Head Office in Dalkeith, WA.
GOOD JOB: Mining magnate and Australian Employment Covenant founder Andrew Forrest says more than 270 companies have committed to 55,000 jobs for indigenous people. Source: PerthNow
HUNDREDS of Australian companies have committed to the creation of 55,000 jobs for indigenous people - 5000 more than the original target.
Australian Employment Covenant founder Andrew Forrest says a key milestone has been passed with more than 270 companies committing to jobs for indigenous people.
But the Fortescue Metals Group executive director says government must now help create job-specific training so the committed jobs can be filled.
Mr Forrest launched the Australian Employment Covenant (AEC) three years ago with the goal of drumming up 50,000 indigenous job commitments by July 1.
Mr Forrest says about 55,000 job pledges had come in by today's deadline.
"We go from here on to training," he told ABC Radio.
Mr Forrest said never before had so many Australian companies united for a single purpose and it proved there was a real demand to employ Aboriginal people.
"Today is a key milestone in creating real change for indigenous Australians with 50,000 future job opportunities pledged by Australian employers," Mr Forrest said.
"Now we really do have the opportunities available to create real change for indigenous Australians by moving from welfare to work and create a better pathway to the future for all Australians," he said on Friday.
Mr Forrest said the AEC would now turn its attention to supporting businesses to fill the committed jobs.
So far the AEC has filled only 4300 of the committed jobs since the initiative was announced by Mr Forrest in August 2008.
AEC chief executive Rhonda Parker said national retail outlets such as Myer, mining companies, Telstra, Australia Post, and catering, tourism and sporting groups were all involved.
She said around 50 per cent of the committed jobs would be in metropolitan areas and the other rest in rural and regional Australia.
Federal Minister for Indigenous Employment Mark Arbib congratulated the AEC on reaching its job commitment target.
"The vast majority of business leaders I meet understand that employing indigenous Australians is not just a corporate responsibility, it's in their business interests," he said.
"The hard work is still in front of us and we are committed to the challenge," he said.
"Some of the commitments are from companies who will employ thousands of indigenous employees over five to 10 years and we need to ensure there are job-ready candidates to fill those positions."