Part Three: Priorities and Action Section 1: Region Priorities

Transcription

1 Part Three: Priorities and Action Section 1: Region Priorities Provide details on the key priorities for the region that align to the objectives of the RJCP (increased employment, participation and community development). The priorities should be sufficiently broad so as to include all communities in the region. Additional rows may be included, but the total number of priorities should be limited to five. Priority Name: 1. Increased employment opportunities and business development in the Flinders and Far North region. 2. Improved skills development and educational opportunities for people living in the Flinders and Far North region. 3. A culturally diverse and inclusive community that works together to achieve shared goals. Priority Description: Improved business and enterprise development and economic growth across the Flinders and Far North region, and access to employment opportunities for all people. Increased employment opportunities in the region, especially for youth, Aboriginal people, women and people with disability. A skilled community that values education and provides increased educational and training opportunities for all people in the Flinders and Far North region, and attracts and retains skills for the benefit of regional growth. A culturally diverse community that values and respects the contributions of people from all backgrounds, and works together to achieve shared goals.

2 Section 2: Action Provide details on the strategies and/or activities the RJCP Provider and communities will put in place to achieve the region s priorities listed in Part 3, Section 1 above. Priority One: Increased employment opportunities and business development in the Flinders and Far North region. Strategies to achieve this priority: What strengths/enablers in the region (identified in Part 2) will support the achievement of this priority? The Flinders and Far North region has a range of strengths and enablers that will support the achievement of increased employment opportunities for people living in the Flinders and Far North region of South Australia. The region has strong community governance and economic oversight through the Local Government and Progress Associations and Aboriginal Corporations, supported by the Aboriginal Elders, Community CEOs and Boards, and Regional Development Australia. Local Business people and Employers will help to achieve this priority by providing employment opportunities for local people. Complete Personnel will help to achieve this goal by connecting job seekers to Employers. RTOs and other training providers will also help to link job seekers and other people to training opportunities and prepare them to engage in the labour market. Training providers such as TAFE SA Regional, Career Employment Group and Tauondi College s mobile training van offer demand-led training options for job seekers and those looking to up-skill. Training facilities such as the Dunjiba Training Room, the Andamooka Town Hall, Nepabunna Community Centre, and the Marree Rural Transaction Centre provide facilities to host training on-site in communities. The community libraries in Roxby Downs, Coober Pedy, Leigh Creek, Hawker and Quorn offer free internet access for job seekers, as does Complete Personnel s offices. The Health and Social Assistance sector, comprised of Service Providers and NGOs; Health and allied health providers;

3 Schools, Childcare Providers and RTOs; Emergency Services and SAPOL; Complete Personnel and the Indigenous Coordination Centre in Port Augusta will help support the achievement of this priority by providing important services to job seekers experiencing barriers to employment. Program providers and Aboriginal Corporations in the Flinders and Far North region provide resources, assets and infrastructure to help deliver Activities against this priority. Community associations in the Flinders and Far North region are influential in fostering engagement and participation. In particular, the sporting clubs and associations, multicultural organisations, local churches, and other community organisations can offer work experience and potential partnerships for the delivery of RJCP Activities and positive role models for RJCP job seekers. Organisations and associations that were valued for their contribution to developing and sustaining community relationships were the local community hotels across the region, the progress associations, the CWA, Aboriginal Boards, and local Government bodies, the local churches, priests and Ministers, and the local schools. What strategies and/or opportunities identified in the Workforce Development Strategy will support the achievement against this priority? The Workforce Development Strategy identified that the challenge for the region is employing youth in the Roxby Downs region, unemployment for Aboriginal people, and long-term unemployment for RJCP job seekers of all ages and cultural groups. While unemployment in Roxby Downs is low, 85% of the long-term unemployed people in Roxby Downs are under the age of 25, suggesting that in Roxby Downs, youth with limited work experience are having difficulty cracking the job market. Conversely, across the region, most long-term unemployed job seekers are over the age of 45, mirroring national and state trends, and requiring that the RJCP provide strategies to address skills atrophy and career development for job seekers who have been out of the workforce for long periods. Aboriginal people are most likely to experience unemployment in the region, with Aboriginal communities experiencing high rates of disadvantage in the Flinders and Far North region. The communities of Oodnadatta and Copley in particular have low median incomes and high rates of unemployment. The strategies and/or opportunities that will support the achievement against this priority were identified as those outlined on pages of the Flinders and Far North Region Workforce Development Strategy:

4 Industry: Retail Priority: To maximise employment opportunities for local people in the retail sector and improve retention. Strategies: The Retail sector in the Flinders and Far North region has a high rate of staff turnover and high demand for reliable staff. Develop a Retail focused pre-employment training program for job seekers with an emphasis on Indigenous, youth and mature-aged job seekers; Develop a Youth Corps project in Coober Pedy to prepare young people for work in the retail and hospitality sector, including providing work experience and simulated work activities; Provide food handling and hygiene training (HAACP) through Tauondi College; Partner with TAFE SA Regional to organise Certificate Level training in Retail to respond to the requests of employers; Work with Coober Pedy Retail Business and Tourism Association to develop an industry-led initiative for the Retail and Tourism sector. Industry: Local Government Priority: To take advantage of opportunities in Local Government Strategies: Complete Personnel will work with Local Government to offer Aboriginal Apprenticeships, wage subsidies and offer other relevant supports to encourage Local Government to consider RJCP job seekers; Recruit and support youth to undertake the proposed 2014 State Government Traineeship Program; Explore opportunities available with District Council of Coober Pedy, Dunjiba Community Council, Umoona Community Council and Andamooka Town Management Committee; for example leveraging the infrastructure and resources available to run employment and participation Activities and social enterprise.

5 Industry: Education & Training Priority: To open employment pathways for local job seekers in the Education & Training sector Strategies: Tauondi College and TAFE SA Aboriginal Access Centre have expressed interest in employing local people with relevant industry skills to provide training or mentoring in the Flinders and Far North region. Complete will identify local RJCP job seekers with relevant industry skills and experience (for example in Agriculture or Hospitality) to undertake Certificate IV Training and Assessment, funded through the Participation Account, with the aim of delivering training on Tauondi College s Training Scope. Industry: Accommodation & Food Services Priority: To improve access to employment in the Accommodation & Food Services sector in the Flinders and Far North region. Strategies: The Hotel sector in the Flinders and Far North region has demand for employees with a range of certifications. Tauondi College can provide access to skills training relevant to the Hospitality sector: Responsible Service of Alcohol and Responsible Gaming Certificates, Food Handling and Hygiene (HAACP) and Barista Training (modules from Certificate I and II Hospitality). Where required, the Tauondi College Mobile Training Van can provide in-situ training for job seekers with transport challenges. Connect job seekers to work experience opportunities in the hospitality sector to improve employment opportunities; Develop a Youth Corps project to prepare young people for work in the retail and hospitality sector, including providing work experience and simulated work activities; The hospitality sector has demand for back-of-house staff and housekeepers. Qualifications are generally not required, however post-placement support while the job seeker completes on-the-job training will help support retention; Promote the advantages of Australian Apprenticeships to employers in the Accommodation & Food Services; Work with the Coober Pedy Retail Business & Tourism Association to develop an industry-led initiative for the Retail

6 & Tourism sector; Work with the tourism and hospitality industry to identify emerging skills needs and provide training opportunities to up-skill job seekers to gain and retain employment; Industry: Services Sector Priority: To support employment opportunities in the Services Sector, including small business in the Flinders and Far North Region. Strategies: Support initiatives in the community to build small businesses by working with a range of partners who can assist communities and individuals with social enterprises and small business opportunities; Provide Certificates I-III Information Technology and Digital Media Training for Youth and Mature-aged job seekers through Tauondi College Mobile Training Van; Promote Indigenous small business establishment with the support of Indigenous Business Australia and small business brokers, and the Participation Account. Industry: Mining and Resources Sector Priority: To take advantage of new opportunities in the Mining and Resources Sector in the region and more widely in South Australia. Strategies: Provide access to Certificate II and III Resources and Infrastructure for those job seekers wishing to take up opportunities in the Mining and Resources Sector through TAFE SA Regional or Career Employment Group; Provide retraining for job seekers with previous industry experience in the Agricultural sector, including up-skilling in Information technology; If any new mines in the region move from pre-feasibility to Greenfields, Complete Personnel has extensive experience in addressing skills needs and employment opportunities;

7 Where a job seeker is successful in gaining employment in the Mining sector, use the Participation Account to support them to relocate outside of the region to take up the opportunity; Develop a Youth Corps project in Roxby Downs to prepare young people for work in the Resources sector (construction & maintenance), including work experience and simulated work activities to improve work readiness. Industry: Agriculture, forestry & fishing Priority: To take advantage of new opportunities in the pastoral sector in the region. Strategies: Develop a Youth Corps project in Roxby Downs to prepare young people for work in land management through Arid Recovery, including work experience and simulated work activities to improve work readiness. What Remote Employment and participation activities will contribute to achievement against this priority? The following RJCP Employment and Participation Activities currently run in the Flinders and Far North region will contribute to the achievement against this priority: Andamooka Tidy Towns; Flinders Ranges Tidy Towns; Port Germein Tidy Towns; Mt View Homes Helpers; Umoona Aged Care Malpas; Umoona Skills Program; Dusty Radio 104.5FM Coober Pedy; Child Care Activities Umoona Child Care; Coober Pedy Area School School Helpers & Maintenance; Yartawarli Southern Flinders Tidy Communities; Yartawarli Southern Flinders Admin & Maintenance Program; Nepabunna Community Garden & Craft Program;

8 Dunjiba Community Infrastructure Program; Marree Community Program. What resources will be used to address this priority and how will they be sourced? Participation Account: will be used to provide RJCP job seekers with supports to address non-vocational barriers; Community Development Fund: Complete Personnel will support local community organisations to apply for CDF funding for programs that will address this priority; Remote Youth Leadership Development Corps: Youth Corps Activities will support the achievement of these priorities; Job Access Fund: will be used to help employers create accessible workplaces for job seekers and employers with disability; Wage connect subsidy: will be used to connect long-term unemployed job seekers to employment opportunities (when available again); Aboriginal Apprenticeship Program: will be used to incentivise the uptake of Aboriginal Apprenticeships; Indigenous Employment Program: will be used to develop and implement demand-led Aboriginal employment and training programs in the region (pending the result of the Indigenous Employment and Training Review); Skills for All: will be used to offer subsidised or fee-free accredited training for job seekers; Existing program providers: Program providers and Aboriginal Corporations in the Flinders and Far North region provide resources, assets and infrastructure to help deliver Activities against this priority. Examples of resources provided by program providers and corporations in the Flinders and Far North region include (please note that this is not an exhaustive list and will change over time): Dunjiba Community Council, Umoona Community Council, Yartawarli Aboriginal Corporation Resource Agency: Provides assets, personnel and infrastructure to deliver program Activities; Andamooka Town Management Committee: Provides assets and personnel to deliver program Activities. Describe the strategies for addressing the barriers identified in Part 2 that relate to this priority. Barriers relating to this priority in the Flinders and Far North region include: Homelessness, Family violence, Access to transport or a driver s licence, Ex-offending, Disability and psychiatric disability, Long-term unemployment, Mature-age,

9 Youth, Indigenous status, Sole parenthood, Lack of formal qualifications, and Access to the internet. These barriers are largely non-vocational and impact on the capacity of our job seekers to engage in activities that lead to employment such as training and job search, and employment. The RJCP Provider develops tailored Participation Plans that help our job seekers to address vocational and non-vocational barriers and become ready for work. Initial and ongoing assessment is a key element of the RJCP Provider s Person-centred Planning Approach. Other strategies include referral to counselling and support services in the Flinders and Far North region to address non-vocational barriers, and collaborative case conferencing with DHS and other service providers. General strategies: the Work Capacity Model Complete Personnel has adopted a `Work Capacity Model' (Wren, 2011), a flexible `mixed-model' approach to employment servicing, which combines `work-first' employment servicing with training and support programs, ensuring that job seekers receive a flexible, individualised service that meets their needs. For example, job seekers who are workready will require an approach that will help them enter the workforce as soon as possible. People that present with barriers to employment, (for example, a person who is long term unemployed), will require a higher level of human capital development. This approach provides the flexibility to service the full range of job seekers because it responds to individual needs in a practical way. Challenges to participation The complexity of issues faced by RJCP job seekers in remote areas means that a range of inhibiting factors (`barriers') might be identified during the assessment stage of Complete Personnel s Person-centred Planning approach (Urbis, 2012). However, rather than focusing solely on challenges, this approach supports job seekers to identify their strengths and set realistic employment goals. Collaborating with local service providers, and working closely with training providers such as TAFE SA, Career Employment Group and Tauondi College, ensures that support networks scaffold the most vulnerable job seekers, resulting in best outcomes. The Participation Account is used to address job seeker barriers by providing items such as transport assistance, training and work clothing. Indigenous status: Strong subcontract partnerships with Aboriginal corporations in the Flinders and Far North region are

10 integral to addressing barriers by delivering place-based Activities on community that respond to community needs and goals. The RJCP Service Delivery Model also emphasises the delivery of a structured post-placement support and mentoring service for Aboriginal job seekers during the first 6-12 months of employment, equipping Employers and job seekers with the skills, knowledge, and cultural understanding necessary to achieve sustainable employment. Job seekers with severe barriers to employment receive on-the job support and mentoring and after hours support. Post-placement support and mentoring assists job seekers, particularly Aboriginal job seekers and job seekers with Disability, to address problems in their employment before they become insurmountable; mentors help job seekers to address barriers and keep their jobs. Local labour hire and Group Training Organisations (GTO) will be used to access job opportunities locally and regionally. GTOs can support industry skills and labour force needs by placing Aboriginal apprentices and trainees with host employers. Employers in the Flinders and Far North region responding to our Workforce Development Survey have expressed a strong interest in both GTO options and the Indigenous Employment Program. The RJCP Provider will generate pathways into the mainstream labour market and expand range of opportunities available to Aboriginal people by creating demand-led pre-employment programs in the following industries: Retail; Hospitality & Tourism; Mining; Construction and Maintenance; and Aged Care and Community Services. Funding opportunities through the Indigenous Employment Program and wage and training incentives will help encourage the employment of Aboriginal job seekers. Youth: Promote the advantages of Group Training and Australian Apprenticeships to young people through information sessions targeted at young people. Promote apprenticeship pathways to young people and communities in collaboration with GTOs such as Career Employment Group, schools, Training Providers and Employers. Encourage an increase in the

11 uptake of Aboriginal apprentices within the private sector. Provide mentoring support for all trainees. Use the Participation Account to fund wage subsidies and other business supports such as PPE, licenses and tickets, postplacement support and structured mentoring. Provide opportunities to access the Remote Youth Leadership Development Corps. People with disability: Complete Personnel ensures that all training provided is accessible for job seekers with disability. TAFE SA Regional provides appropriate facilities for people with disability. Job seekers with disability have access to services provided by our specialist disability service delivery subcontract partner, Community Bridging Services, to address their barriers and access support. Family Violence: Job seekers experiencing family and lateral violence will be supported to access Aboriginal Family Support Services, the Coober Pedy Violence and Aboriginal Family Violence Service run by Uniting Care Wesley, Centacare in the Southern Flinders, and social work services at Roxby Downs to receive intensive supports. Access to transport/driver s Licence: The RJCP Provider can support job seekers to complete driver education courses, pay for driver s licenses, and in approved circumstances, pay for fuel cards and car repairs if these measures will ensure that the job seeker is able to attend employment or training. Job seekers will be linked to Aboriginal Legal Rights and the Magistrates Court to access assistance for legal supports to deal with fines and licensing issues. The Participation Account can be used to support job seekers to access transport assistance. Homelessness and transitional status: The RJCP Provider has a long term relationship with Housing SA and the Lakeview Transitional Accommodation Centre (TAC) in Port Augusta, and has partnered in its operations since it opened to meet the needs of homeless and transient Aboriginal people from across the Far North region and APY Lands. The RJCP Provider has strong referral processes to ensure timely referral of RJCP job seekers to Housing SA and the TAC. The RJCP Provider will make appropriate use of the Participation Account to help RJCP job seekers to address some of the other challenges that

12 stem from homelessness, such as lack of appropriate work clothing, food and transport. Sole parenthood: Support sole parents to access affordable child-care while training or in employment, including providing information such as the JET CCFA program for eligible job seekers. Provide access to career planning through the Career Advice for Parents service, funded by the Department of Employment, including a professional resume appraisal. Mature age: Provide retraining and pathways to employment in regional growth sectors such as Retail and Health & Social Assistance. Encourage and support mature-aged job seekers to access the Commonwealth Government range of Experience + programs for mature-aged job seekers. Provide IT training for mature-aged and structurally unemployed job seekers to improve workplace skills. Develop a mentoring program to utilise the experience and expertise of older job seekers in supporting local young people, to build the capacity of older job seekers whilst building confidence and selfesteem. Long-term unemployment: Use wage subsidies such as the Wage Connect and other Australian Government subsidies for long-term unemployed job seekers. Lack of formal qualifications: Use the Participation Account to pay for training to up-skill job seekers with no or outdated formal qualifications. Describe the strategy for addressing any service gaps identified in Part 2 that will affect the achievement of this priority. Service gaps identified in part two that will affect the achievement of this priority include limited services for people with disability and people with mental health problems; and limited training opportunities. Limited services for people with disability and people with mental health problems: The RJCP Provider supports referral and connection for job seekers with disability or mental health problems to access services where possible. Such services in the Flinders and Far North region are generally limited and the RJCP Provider recommends some work is done in

13 conjunction with existing service providers in Port Augusta and Metropolitan areas to enhance the connectivity and accessibility of services to the Flinders and Far North; for example, funding information sessions about regional, state and national services for local families and job seekers experiencing disability; and researching available funding options for respite and other services to be delivered locally so that carers can return to work or training. Limited training opportunities: In-scope training opportunities in the region are limited; however, TAFE SA Aboriginal Access Centre are working in partnership with the RJCP Provider to deliver in-demand training such as Certificate II Resources and Infrastructure in Oodnadatta. The RJCP Provider can assist in addressing gaps in training service delivery by negotiating with current training providers to access training that is not on scope, or using the Participation Account to fund job seekers to attend training in Port Augusta or Whyalla. Another option is identifying local demand for training not currently available in the region, using the Workforce Development Strategy as a starting point, and opening a Request for Tender to deliver required training in the region. Measuring achievement through narratives development of Key Performance Indicators Provide a description of what the current situation looks like and why this priority was chosen. This will be used as a baseline for measuring progress against the priority. This narrative will be updated as part of the annual review. The Flinders and Far North region is characterised by smaller isolated communities and some regional centres, dominated by employment in the Mining and Tourism industries. The dominance of these industries has created localised areas of wealth and disadvantage, with some communities typified by high employment, high median incomes, access to services, a high annual population turnover and generally young population. Conversely, other communities are struggling with high unemployment, low incomes, stagnant labour markets, ageing populations, limited service delivery for ageing residents and people with disability, and potential school closures. As global and national changes have swept through the Mining sector over the past eighteen months, the communities of the Flinders and Far North are grappling with a need to develop new industries and build a skilled labour force to fill the gap that the Mining industry is leaving in its wake. While Mining was still considered to be of primary importance in the region, the development of new businesses and enterprise was thought to be an important way to become independent.

14 This priority was chosen because almost all stakeholders referred to employment, increasing opportunities for business and tourism, or enterprise or economic growth leading to employment as a personal goal or as their vision for the Flinders and Far North region in the next five years. All people consulted from all groups placed a high priority on employment and job creation in the Flinders and Far North region, with a heavy emphasis on job creation for youth and Aboriginal people. There was a concern amongst many stakeholders that if employment opportunities were not available for young people, that they would leave, and the population of the region would fall, leading to further business losses over the long-term. A linked goal was to expand the population of the Flinders and Far North region as a whole, to ensure the future economic prosperity of the region. Describe what achievement against this priority looks like in the region include short, medium and long-term steps and timeframes. Short term (1 year ): Develop and implement RJCP Activities in 2014 that help achievement against this priority, including Youth Corps activities to engage young people; Engage with Employers with identified needs for staff and skills training to place job seekers into employment; Provide with post-placement support and mentoring from job seekers to ensure employment is successful and sustainable; Work with project partners in the region to develop and implement identified RJCP Activities that achieve this priority and build their independence, with the goal of building their capacity to run Activities themselves; Support communities to develop CDF grant applications if requested; Work with CDF grant recipients to help them implement successful projects; Set up the proposed Community Economic Development Committee (CEDC) by the end of June 2014 to help drive the goals of the Flinders and Far North region CAP; Engage with Employers in the Health and Social Assistance to improve the employment opportunities available to Aboriginal people in the Health sector in the Flinders and Far North region, using the Indigenous Employment Program (if available), wage subsidies, and other available funding to develop an up-skilling program and incentives

15 to employ in the sector; Engage with the tourism and hospitality sector in the Flinders and Far North region, which has demand for employees with a range of vocational certifications, and providing training for RJCP job seekers in skills training relevant to the Hospitality sector, including Responsible Service of Alcohol and Responsible Gaming Certificates, Food Handling & Hygiene (HAACP) and Barista training. Job seekers will be connected to work experience opportunities in the hospitality sector to improve employment outcomes; Run Small Business Workshops in conjunction with Indigenous Business Australia in Flinders and Far North Region; Provide relocation assistance for job seekers wishing to gain work in areas with more employment opportunities; and Commence Certificate II Horticulture at Quorn, Leigh Creek, Copley and Marree in partnership with Yartawarli Aboriginal Corporation Resource Agency to develop land management skills for Aboriginal people. Medium term (2 years 2015/2016): Develop RJCP Activities in 2015/2016 that help achievement against this priority; Engage with Employers with identified needs for staff and skills training to place job seekers into employment; Provide post-placement support and mentoring for job seekers to ensure employment is successful and sustainable; Work with project partners in the region to develop and implement identified RJCP Activities that achieve this priority, and build their independence, with the goal of building their capacity to run the RJCP in community themselves; Support communities to develop CDF grant applications if requested; Engage with Employers in the Retail and Hospitality Sector to improve the employment opportunities available to Youth, Long-term unemployed, and Aboriginal people in the Flinders and Far North region, using the Indigenous Employment Program (if available), wage subsidies, and other available funding to develop an up-skilling program and incentives to employ in the sector; Engage with Employers in Health and Social Assistance to improve the employment opportunities available to

16 Aboriginal people in the Health sector in the Flinders and Far North region, using the Indigenous Employment Program (if available), wage subsidies, and other available funding to develop an up-skilling program and incentives to employ in the sector; Work with project partners to develop a Youth Corps project in Roxby Downs to prepare young people for work in land management through Arid Recovery, including work experience and simulated work activities to improve work readiness. Provide food handling and hygiene training (HAACP) through Tauondi College; Partner with TAFE SA Regional to organise Certificate Level training in Retail to respond to the requests of employers; Partner with TAFE SA Regional or Tauondi College, the Coober Pedy Retail Business and Tourism Association and Indigenous Business Australia to run Certificate IV in Small Business Management and a business mentoring program for job seekers who want to start a small business; Work with the tourism and hospitality industry, including the Coober Pedy Retail Business and Tourism Association, to identify emerging skills needs and provide training opportunities to up-skill job seekers to gain and retain employment; Provide access to Certificate II and III Resources and Infrastructure for those job seekers wishing to take up opportunities in the Mining and Resources Sector through TAFE SA Regional or Career Employment Group, including providing work experience and simulated work activities; Provide retraining for job seekers with previous industry experience in the Agricultural sector, including up-skilling in Information technology; Establish Dreaming the Future, a Culture-focused Career Development project for young and long-term unemployed job seekers to explore career pathways, plan for their future, and address literacy and numeracy challenges; Support the RDA FN s annual Careers Expo to help job seekers, in particular long-term unemployed job seekers, explore local, regional and inter-regional career and training opportunities; Provide relocation assistance for job seekers wishing to gain work in areas with more employment opportunities;

17 and Provide IT training for mature-aged job seekers in Andamooka. Long-term (3 years ): Develop RJCP Activities in that help achievement against this priority; Engage with Employers with identified needs for staff and skills training to place job seekers into employment; Provide post-placement support and mentoring for job seekers to ensure employment is successful and sustainable; Work with project partners in the region to develop and implement identified RJCP Activities that achieve this priority and build their independence, with the goal of building their capacity to run the RJCP in community themselves; Provide relocation assistance for job seekers wishing to gain work in areas with more employment opportunities; and Use the Participation Account to implement Participation initiatives such as Personal Development Programs (Budgeting and Financial Management, Home Skills and Nutrition, and Coping with Family Violence) in partnership with key local service providers.

18 Priority Two: Improved skills development and educational opportunities for people living in the Flinders and Far North region. Strategies to achieve this priority: What strengths/enablers in the region (identified in Part 2) will support the achievement of this priority? The Flinders and Far North region has a range of strengths and enablers that will support the achievement of increased skills development and educational opportunities for people living in the Flinders and Far North region of South Australia. The region has strong community governance and economic oversight through the Local Government and Progress Associations and Aboriginal Corporations, supported by the Aboriginal Elders, Community CEOs and Boards, and Regional Development Australia. Local Business people and Employers will help to achieve this priority by providing employment opportunities for local people. Complete Personnel will help to achieve this goal by connecting job seekers to Employers. RTOs and other training providers will also help to link job seekers and other people to training opportunities and prepare them to engage in the labour market. Training providers such as TAFE SA Regional, Career Employment Group and Tauondi College s mobile training van offer demand-led training options for job seekers and those looking to up-skill. Training facilities such as the Dunjiba Training Room, the Andamooka, Nepabunna Community Centre, and the Marree Rural Transaction Centre

19 provide facilities to host training on-site in communities. The community libraries in Roxby Downs, Coober Pedy, Leigh Creek, Hawker and Quorn offer free internet access for job seekers, as does Complete Personnel s offices. The Health and Social Assistance sector, comprised of Service Providers and NGOs; Health and allied health providers; Schools, Childcare Providers and RTOs; Emergency Services and SAPOL; Complete Personnel and the Indigenous Coordination Centre in Port Augusta will help support the achievement of this priority by providing important services to job seekers experiencing barriers to employment. Program providers and Aboriginal Corporations in the Flinders and Far North region provide resources, assets and infrastructure to help deliver Activities against this priority. RTOs and training providers will work with Complete Personnel as the RJCP Provider to deliver training in the remote communities where possible. Community associations in the Flinders and Far North region are influential in fostering engagement and participation. In particular, the sporting clubs and associations, multicultural organisations, local churches, and other community organisations can offer work experience and potential partnerships for the delivery of RJCP Activities and positive role models for RJCP job seekers. Organisations and associations that were valued for their contribution to developing and sustaining community relationships were the local community hotels across the region, the progress associations, the CWA, Aboriginal Boards, and local Government bodies, the local churches, priests and Ministers, and the local schools. What strategies and/or opportunities identified in the Workforce Development Strategy will support the achievement against this priority? The strategies and/or opportunities that will support the achievement against this priority were identified as those outlined on pages of the Flinders and Far North Region Workforce Development Strategy: Industry: Retail Priority: To maximise employment opportunities for local people in the retail sector and improve retention. Strategies: The Retail sector in the Flinders and Far North region has a high rate of staff turnover and high demand for reliable

20 staff. Develop a Retail focused pre-employment training program for job seekers with an emphasis on Indigenous, youth and mature-aged job seekers; Develop a Youth Corps project in Coober Pedy to prepare young people for work in the retail and hospitality sector, including providing work experience and simulated work activities; Provide food handling and hygiene training (HAACP) through Tauondi College; Partner with TAFE SA Regional to organise Certificate Level training in Retail to respond to the requests of employers; Work with Coober Pedy Retail Business and Tourism Association to develop an industry-led initiative for the Retail and Tourism sector. Industry: Local Government Priority: To take advantage of opportunities in Local Government Strategies: Complete Personnel will work with Local Government to offer Aboriginal Apprenticeships, wage subsidies and offer other relevant supports to encourage Local Government to consider RJCP job seekers; Recruit and support youth to undertake the proposed 2014 State Government Traineeship Program; Explore opportunities available with Dunjiba Community Council, Umoona Community Council and Andamooka Town Management Committee; for example leveraging the infrastructure and resources available to run employment and participation Activities and social enterprise. Industry: Education & Training Priority: To open employment pathways for local job seekers in the Education & Training sector Strategies: Tauondi College and TAFE SA have expressed interest in employing local people with relevant industry skills to provide training or mentoring in the Flinders and Far North region. Complete will identify local RJCP job seekers with

21 relevant industry skills and experience (for example in Horticulture or Hospitality) to undertake Certificate IV Training and Assessment, funded through the Participation Account, with the aim of delivering training on Tauondi College s Training Scope. Industry: Accommodation & Food Services Priority: To improve access to employment in the Accommodation & Food Services sector in the Flinders and Far North region. Strategies: The Hotel sector in the Flinders and Far North region has demand for employees with a range of certifications. Tauondi College can provide access to skills training relevant to the Hospitality sector: Responsible Service of Alcohol and Responsible Gaming Certificates, Food Handling and Hygiene (HAACP) and Barista Training (modules from Certificate I and II Hospitality). Where required, the Tauondi College Mobile Training Van can provide in-situ training for job seekers with transport challenges. Connect job seekers to work experience opportunities in the hospitality sector to improve employment opportunities; Develop a Youth Corps project to prepare young people for work in the retail and hospitality sector, including providing work experience and simulated work activities; The hospitality sector has demand for back-of-house staff and housekeepers. Qualifications are generally not required, however post-placement support while the job seeker completes on-the-job training will help support retention; Promote the advantages of Australian Apprenticeships to employers in the Accommodation & Food Services; Work with the Coober Pedy Retail Business & Tourism Association to develop an industry-led initiative for the Retail & Tourism sector; Work with the tourism and hospitality industry to identify emerging skills needs and provide training opportunities to up-skill job seekers to gain and retain employment; Industry: Services Sector

22 Priority: To support employment opportunities in the Services Sector, including small business in the Flinders and Far North Region. Strategies: Support initiatives in the community to build small businesses by working with a range of partners who can assist communities and individuals with social enterprises and small business opportunities; Provide Certificates I-III Information Technology and Digital Media Training for Youth and Mature-aged job seekers through Tauondi College Mobile Training Van; Promote Indigenous small business establishment with the support of Indigenous Business Australia and small business brokers and the Participation Account. Industry: Mining and Resources Sector Priority: To take advantage of new opportunities in the Mining and Resources Sector in the region and more widely in South Australia. Strategies: Provide access to Certificate II and III Resources and Infrastructure for those job seekers wishing to take up opportunities in the Mining and Resources Sector through TAFE SA Regional or Career Employment Group; Provide retraining for job seekers with previous industry experience in the Agricultural sector, including up-skilling in Information technology; If any new mines in the region move from pre-feasibility to Greenfields, Complete Personnel has extensive experience in addressing skills needs and employment opportunities; Where a job seeker is successful in gaining employment in the Mining sector, use the Participation Account to support them to relocate outside of the region to take up the opportunity; Develop a Youth Corps project in Roxby Downs to prepare young people for work in the Resources sector (construction & maintenance), including work experience and simulated work activities to improve work readiness.

23 Industry: Agriculture, forestry & fishing Priority: To take advantage of new opportunities in the pastoral sector in the region. Strategies: Develop a Youth Corps project in Roxby Downs to prepare young people for work in land management through Arid Recovery, including work experience and simulated work activities to improve work readiness. What Remote Employment and participation activities will contribute to achievement against this priority? The following RJCP Employment and Participation Activities currently run in the Flinders and Far North region will contribute to the achievement against this priority: Andamooka Tidy Towns; Flinders Ranges Tidy Towns; Port Germein Tidy Towns; Mt View Homes Helpers; Umoona Aged Care Malpas; Umoona Skills Program; Dusty Radio 104.5FM Coober Pedy; Child Care Activities Umoona Child Care; Coober Pedy Area School School Helpers & Maintenance; Yartawarli Southern Flinders Tidy Communities; Yartawarli Southern Flinders Admin & Maintenance Program; Nepabunna Community Garden & Craft Program; Dunjiba Community Infrastructure Program; Marree Community Program. What resources will be used to address this priority and how will they be sourced? Participation Account: will be used to provide RJCP job seekers with supports to address non-vocational barriers; Community Development Fund: Complete Personnel will support local community organisations to apply for CDF funding

24 for programs that will address this priority; Remote Youth Leadership Development Corps: Youth Corps Activities will support the achievement of these priorities; Job Access Fund: will be used to help employers create accessible workplaces for job seekers and employers with disability; Wage connect subsidy: will be used to connect long-term unemployed job seekers to employment opportunities (when available again); Aboriginal Apprenticeship Program: will be used to incentivise the uptake of Aboriginal Apprenticeships; Indigenous Employment Program: will be used to develop and implement demand-led Aboriginal employment and training programs in the region (pending the result of the Indigenous Employment and Training Review); Skills for All: will be used to offer subsidised or fee-free accredited training for job seekers; Existing program providers: Program providers and Aboriginal Corporations in the Flinders and Far North region provide resources, assets and infrastructure to help deliver Activities against this priority. Examples of resources provided by program providers and corporations in the Flinders and Far North region include (please note that this is not an exhaustive list and will change over time): Dunjiba Community Council, Umoona Community Council, Yartawarli Aboriginal Corporation Resource Agency: Provides assets, personnel and infrastructure to deliver program Activities; Andamooka Town Management Committee: Provides assets and personnel to deliver program Activities. Describe the strategies for addressing the barriers identified in Part 2 that relate to this priority. Barriers relating to this priority in the Flinders and Far North region include: Family violence, Homelessness, Access to transport or a driver s license, Disability and psychiatric disability, Access to the Internet, Sole parenthood, Mature-age, Long-term unemployment, Youth, Lack of formal qualifications, and Indigenous status. These barriers are largely non-vocational and impact upon the ability of our job seekers to participate in community life as much as they may wish to, as well as their capacity to engage in participation activities such as training and job search, and employment. The RJCP Provider develops tailored Participation Plans that help our job seekers to address vocational and non-vocational barriers and become ready for work. Initial and ongoing assessment is a key element of the RJCP Provider s

25 Person-centred Planning approach. Other strategies include referral to counselling and support services in the Flinders and Far North region to address non-vocational barriers, and collaborative case conferencing with DHS and other service providers. Family Violence: Job seekers experiencing family and lateral violence will be supported to access Aboriginal Family Support Services, the Coober Pedy Violence and Aboriginal Family Violence Service run by Uniting Care Wesley, Centacare in the Southern Flinders, and social work services at Roxby Downs to receive intensive supports. Access to transport/driver s Licence: The RJCP Provider can support job seekers to complete driver education courses, pay for driver s licenses, and in approved circumstances, pay for fuel cards and car repairs if these measures will ensure that the job seeker is able to attend employment or training. Job seekers will be linked to Aboriginal Legal Rights and the Magistrates Court to access assistance for legal supports to deal with fines and licensing issues. The Participation Account can be used to support job seekers to access transport assistance. Homelessness and transitional status: The RJCP Provider has a long term relationship with Housing SA and the Lakeview Transitional Accommodation Centre (TAC) in Port Augusta, and has partnered in its operations since it opened to meet the needs of homeless and transient Aboriginal people from across the Far North region and APY Lands. The RJCP Provider has strong referral processes to ensure timely referral of RJCP job seekers to Housing SA and the TAC. The RJCP Provider will make appropriate use of the Participation Account to help RJCP job seekers to address some of the other challenges that stem from homelessness, such as lack of appropriate work clothing, food and transport. People with disability: Employers are provided with information about the Job Access Fund to fund workplace modifications for employees with disability. The Participation Account is used to fund Ongoing Support, mentoring and skills training for job seekers with disability. Complete Personnel ensures that all training provided is accessible for job seekers with disability. TAFE SA Regional provides appropriate facilities for people with disability. Job seekers with

26 disability have access to a services provided by our specialist disability service delivery subcontract partner, Community Bridging Services, to address their barriers and access support. Sole parenthood: Support sole parents to access affordable child-care while training or in employment, including providing information such as the JET CCFA program for eligible job seekers. Provide access to career planning through the Career Advice for Parents service, funded by the Department of Employment, including a professional resume appraisal. Mature age: Provide retraining and pathways to employment in regional growth sectors such as Retail and Health & Social Assistance. Encourage and support mature-aged job seekers to access the Commonwealth Government range of Experience + programs for mature-aged job seekers. Provide IT training for mature-aged and long-term unemployed/structurally unemployed job seekers to improve workplace skills. Develop a mentoring program to utilise the experience and expertise of older job seekers in supporting local young people, to build the capacity of older job seekers whilst building confidence and self-esteem. Long-term unemployment: Access Skills for All funded programs where available. Indigenous status: Access Skills for All funded programs where available. Engage culturally appropriate training providers such as Tauondi College, Career Employment Group, TAFE SA Aboriginal Access Centre, and Carey Training to deliver services to job seekers across a range of skills. All programs will be aligned with current and future workforce needs. Help job seekers with LLN challenges to undertake Certificate II LLN programs through TAFE SA Regional. Youth: Promote the advantages of Group Training and Australian Apprenticeships to young people through information sessions targeted at young people. Promote apprenticeship pathways to young people and communities in collaboration with GTOs such as Career Employment Group, schools, Training Providers and Employers. Encourage an increase in the uptake of Aboriginal apprentices within the private sector. Provide mentoring support for all trainees. Use the Participation Account to fund training, licenses and tickets, post-placement support and structured mentoring. Provide