Yilabara Solutions is pleased to announce that it has been awarded an Indigenous Specialist Licence to deliver Workforce Australia services to Aboriginal Australians in the Illawarra South Coast region (Yuin Nation) of NSW.
Workforce Australia is the Commonwealth Government’s new approach to working with unemployed job seekers to prepare for, find and maintain employment. Workforce Australia is funded by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment.
This decision means that Yilabara Solutions is the only Indigenous specialist provider of Workforce Australia services in NSW servicing over 1,000 Aboriginal community members.
Matthew Clarke, Yilabara Solutions CEO said, “This is a landmark moment for our Aboriginal communities, one that we are very proud to be able to deliver. It represents a step forward in Government trusting Aboriginal organisations to deliver employment services to our communities. Every report says the same thing – if we are to close the gap then we need to have Aboriginal controlled organisations leading these programs.”
“Today’s announcement is not about Yilabara Solutions’ business growth, it is about the benefit it will have for our local Aboriginal Communities. As an Aboriginal controlled organisation, we will provide a culturally safe environment where Aboriginal job seekers can be supported to build their skills to secure employment. They will also be able to engage with local community members who know and are committed to supporting their communities. While winning a job is one thing, staying in a job is another.”
“Yilabara Solutions will work with local industries and businesses to build their capability to provide culturally safe workplaces for Aboriginal employees, increasing retention rates and filling skills shortages”, Matt Clarke said.
Today’s announcement delivers the vision that the NSW Aboriginal Land Council had when it established Yilabara Solutions in 2019 – to increase the economic independence of our Aboriginal Communities through employment and training. This announcement is a big step forward to achieving this goal.
Yilabara Solutions will be opening offices in Wollongong, Dapto, Shellharbour, Nowra and Batemans Bay.
The transition of Participants to Workforce Australia will occur in July 2022. Find out more about Workforce Australia on the Department of Education, Skills and Employment website.
For media enquiries, please contact Matthew Clarke at matthew.clarke@yilabara.org.au