Applications are now open for grants through the Aboriginal Employment Initiatives program.
Grants of up to $250,000 may be offered for projects that support sustainable jobs, encourage labour coordination and mobility or fill a gap in existing funding.
Department of Business Chief Executive Michael Tennant said the Aboriginal Employment Initiatives grant round was aimed at increasing Aboriginal workforce participation across the Territory.
“We’ve streamlined the way we deliver four separate grant programs to make it simpler and easier to access for our clients,” Michael said.
“The application process includes a single point of entry.”
Projects that can be funded through the grants will address one of three areas:
Sustainable jobs: projects that support organisations to sustainably employ Aboriginal Territorians.
Labour coordination and mobilisation: projects that increase job opportunities through labour coordination and worker mobility by supporting Territory business and industry to meet current and emerging labour needs with an appropriately skilled Aboriginal workforce.
Gap funding: projects that will build sustainability into a new initiative to ensure its continuity or complement activities supported by other government programs.
“Over the last three years grants through these programs have helped 687 individuals achieve jobs or stay in employment and advance in their careers.
“An example of this is the partnership between Probuild, ie project, Red Appointments and Batchelor Institute to provide an ‘incubator’ for training and employment for the construction of the new NT Open Education Centre.
“During the program the fifteen trainees have been paid by Probuild for their ten weeks of training, as well as working on site where they have now completed a Certificate II in Construction. Three of these graduates have been offered apprenticeships with Probuild with the others continuing to work onsite.”
At the completion of construction participants will be well trained and experienced enough to secure other employment.
Applications for Aboriginal Employment Initiatives grants are open until 12 noon on Tuesday 15 December. To find out more or to apply visit dob.nt.gov.au/grants
In addition to the Aboriginal Employment Initiatives, the Department of Business is working to deliver complementary initiatives to create employment and economic opportunities for remote and regional Territorians. The Department has a network of 27 business development officers servicing all major urban and remote towns and communities.
Programs on offer include:
Bush Business Support and Growth;
Indigenous Business Tender Support;
Business Technology Enabler;
Business Directories and Job profiles;
To access business support services or advice visit a Territory Business Centre or phone 1800 193 111.
Media contact: Sarah Keane-Stack 8999 7985