Jobs, LOCAL Workers & A 10 Year Commitment To Indigenous Employment

In February 2015 there is ongoing discussion and concern over what seems to be rorting of 457 and 417 visas, the cost and problems associated with Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) workforces and the actual number of jobs available across Australia. It is therefore gratifying to see:

• Jim Lewis’ shop-loading company Dadaru in remote Wyndham, WA, win a four year contract with Kimberley Metals Group (KMG) based on its ability to train and hire local people, largely Indigenous, due to cost savings from not using FIFO workers
• CareerTrackers Indigenous Internship Program announce that 12 leading businesses have committed to employ 3,500 Indigenous Australian student interns over the next decade

What Jim Lewis says

With just 25% of Aborigines in the Kimberley in paid employment Jim Lewis, a former bureaucrat and university lecturer, believes this will only change if companies make a greater effort to hire indigenous labour and do business with Aboriginal-owned companies. Acknowledging challenges in training and mentoring, and removing Aboriginal people from a cycle of unemployment, he says:

“We’ve got guys working for us who when they started had never had a proper job…
Some of those guys turned into our hardest workers..
These guys have bought new cars and some have actually bought their own homes.”

Jim employs 34 people. The average wage of his employees is $7000 a month and he hopes to expand his business into the Pilbara.

Companies Providing 10 Year Indigenous Internships

The companies below have signed 10-year contracts to employ 3,500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander university student as paid interns over the next ten years. See the announcement by Westpac CEO Gail Kelly on Facebook
? Commonwealth Bank
? Cox Architecture
? Gadens
? GHD
? Herbert Smith Freehills
? Indigenous Business Australia
? Insurance Australia Group
? Leighton Contractors
? Lend Lease
? Qantas
? SJB Architecture
? Westpac Group

About CareerTrackers

CareerTrackers Founder & CEO Michael Combs said:

“It’s a powerful vote of confidence in both the program and in the next generation of Indigenous
university students, and will ensure education and training flows from high school to university..

The pipeline of young Indigenous Australian university students is stronger, more qualified and
more career-minded than we’ve ever seen before. Through the program, these students can
accelerate their professional development, open doors to careers following their passions and
contribute to their communities.”

CareerTrackers First Five Years

The intake of interns has grown from 18 in 2009 to 943 interns today. In 2015, the program expects 750 new student registrations which is a direct reflection of the value it’s creating.

The organisation has grown from nine employment partners to 86. This includes small businesses and large multi-nationals.

For More Info

You can contact Michael Combs, Founder & Chief Executive Officer on
02 8090 5765 or michael.combs@careertrackers.org.au