The Hon Julie Bishop MP - Minister for Education, Science and Training, and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues

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Media Release

Creating opportunities for our Indigenous workforce

8 May 2007

BUDB 17/07

The Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, today announced funding to support around 200 Community Development Employment Project (CDEP) participants to move into ongoing employment within the education system.

The $15 million initiative is part of a broader $97.2m package announced today by the Australian Government, which will see CDEP participants move from the welfare programme to mainstream employment in education, environment and heritage protection, community care, childcare, and Indigenous night patrols.

In the 30 years of CDEP operations, Indigenous people have been delivering services for all levels of government. Through this 2007-08 Budget initiative, CDEP participants will gain the full benefits of employment including professional wages, leave, superannuation, training and professional development.

"Participants in the projects have been doing similar work to Indigenous Education Workers currently being paid by schools, but until now have not received the same employee benefits," Minister Bishop said.

"The initiative announced today redresses that anomaly."

The education element of the package will commence from 1 July 2007 in urban and major regional centres and will involve the Australian Government redirecting the funding for CDEP wages to employers in the education sector. The initiative will be available to government and non-government schools and systems.

The Australian Government will be working closely with state and territory governments and non-government schools to implement this important initiative.

Media Contacts

Minister Bishop’s Office: Tory Vidler 0414 228 727

Dept of Education, Science & Training: Virginia Cook 0412 971 323

Non-media queries:
1300 363 079

Supporting Information

Why is this important?

Around 200 Community Development Employment Project (CDEP) positions will be converted into jobs in the education sector. For many years Indigenous people have been doing this work but it has not been recognised as employment. These Indigenous Australians will now receive the benefits of normal employment arrangements, including access to career pathways.

This initiative will begin to remove the cross-subsidisation of government service delivery by CDEP in the target sectors. The new funding arrangements supporting these jobs will be transparent, accountable and not reliant on the CDEP welfare programme.

Who will benefit?

This initiative provides economic opportunities for Indigenous people and communities that will help them move from passive welfare dependence to participation in Australia’s burgeoning economy.

Through the initiative more Indigenous Australians will see real job opportunities and professional development pathways in the education sector.

What funding is the Government committing to the initiative?

The Government has committed funding of $97.2 million over the next four years for the creation of at least 825 jobs in education, environment and heritage protection, community care, child care and Indigenous night patrols.

$15.1 million of this will be used to create these sustainable jobs and career paths for about 200 Indigenous Australians in the education sector.

Education providers, including state and territory governments, will be expected to at least retain their current funding commitments to CDEP participants taking advantage of the package.

What have we done in the past?

A first step in converting CDEP positions supporting the delivery of government services to mainstream jobs was announced in the 2006-07 Federal Budget - $20.5 million over four years was provided to normalise the employment arrangements of CDEP positions performing health worker duties in community-based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health care and (substance use) services. This initiative recognised the role of these positions in providing health care services.

The Australian Government and state and territory governments have agreed to the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Policy. This involves a commitment to support more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to become employed in the education sector.

When will the initiative conclude?

This is an ongoing initiative.