Media Release
Australians Working Together 2007 Grants - helping disadvantaged Territorians
Wednesday 31 January 2007
Territory training organisations and service providers are encouraged to submit applications for the Australians Working Together grants for 2007, as the closing date is fast approaching.
Deputy Chief Executive of the Department of Employment, Education and Training John Hassed said the grants are for pilot or short-term labour market programs specifically designed for disadvantaged Territorians.
“The program assists severely disadvantaged Territorians in accessing training and employment opportunities, to build sustainable pathways to employment,” Mr Hassed said.
“Grants are available for programs that will provide resources to boost employment and training opportunities for people with disabilities; parents returning to the workforce after an absence of five years or more; long-term unemployed migrants; refugees; mature-age workers; prisoners and offenders; and very long-term unemployed people (VLTU) or those at risk of becoming VLTU,” he said.
“The programs funded through the grants are designed to respond to identified community needs through partnerships between key stakeholders, to ensure long-term sustainability and real employment outcomes for program participants.
Mr Hassed highlighted the successes of the program to date. “The program boasts a success rate of over 70 per cent, with people who participated in earlier Australians Working Together programs now either working, moving on to further training or higher education or staying at school and actively involved in planning for their future”, he said.
“Last year seven organisations were allocated grants to run innovative programs to assist students from a refugee background, Indigenous prisoners with disabilities and students with disabilities to access tailored programs that will help them to enter the labour market.
One of the 2006 programs, the NT Correctional Services Crocodile Farming and Handling Course for Indigenous prisoners has attracted international recognition and will feature in an SBS feature film to be screened on Living Black later this year. One of the participants has already been offered employment at the Noonamah Crocodile Farm.
Another program for Indigenous prisoners, the Deckhands Course, has resulted in two graduates securing employment with Paspaley Pearls.
Submissions for the 2007 grants are invited from incorporated organisations, Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), schools, and individuals in exceptional circumstances (where no other funding is available to support access to training or work e.g. in a remote area where access to services is limited). Applications close on Friday 16 February 2007.
This is the fourth round of Australians Working Together grants – run by the NT Department of Employment, Education and Training (DEET), and funded through the Australian Government’s Australians Working Together program. DEET worked in partnership with Government agencies and NT Council of Social Service in developing the program.