$23 MILLION FOR TRAINING INDIGENOUS YOUTH FROM
REMOTE AREAS
10 May 2005 MINBUD 39/05
The Australian Government will provide $23.1 million
over five years to introduce a major new initiative to help young
Indigenous people from remote Australia access training and
employment opportunities on offer in larger population centres.
The Indigenous Youth Mobility Programme will provide
600 young people with an opportunity to relocate to centres
including Cairns, Townsville, Toowoomba, Dubbo, Newcastle/Hunter
Valley, Canberra, Shepparton, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin.
Participants will elect to relocate to one of these
centres with the support of their families and communities. The
first young people to access this Programme will begin their
training during the second semester of 2005. There will be
subsequent intakes in 2006, 2007, and 2008.
These training opportunities will give the
participants the opportunity to build satisfying careers in the
trades, nursing, accountancy, business management and teaching – all
in high demand in remote Australian communities.
A community of support will be built around the
young people who relocate involving educational institutions,
employers, mentors and Aboriginal Hostels Limited, who will provide
safe and supported accommodation in each location.
To maximise opportunities for success and in
recognition of the difficulties a young person will face when moving
long distances from home, the Programme will ensure young people are
provided with mentors, a supportive training environment and the
support needed to maintain contact with their home communities.
This initiative is part of the Howard Government’s
$2.1 billion package for Indigenous education for 2005-08. The
funding package is a 22.3% increase over the previous four year
funding period.
Media Contacts:
Dr Nelson’s Office: Yaron Finkelstein 0414 927 663
Dept of Education, Science & Training: Virginia Cook 0412 971 323
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