3.1 Objective 1: Establish governance structures – the Regional Partnership Committee (RPC) and the Green Team Development Unit Aboriginal Corporation (GTDUAC).
The RPC and GTDUAC will provide the leadership and governance for the implementation, operation and on-going development of the Agreement. The RPC will also be responsible for performance management to ensure project objectives and outcomes are achieved.
[ top ]
3.2 Objective 2: To improve employment outcomes for Aboriginal people in the Many Rivers Region through economic and business development.
The GTDUAC will be responsible for economic and business development and creating job and business opportunities for AGTs while improving employment outcomes and addressing ‘Closing the Gap’ targets for employment, education and economic participation. There are already established AGTs working in the climate change jobs market and in multiple land remediation works. The GTDUAC will be able to provide training (if needed) and support services to assist these AGTs to become Aboriginal businesses. Other areas of employment to be developed under this Agreement will include sports, culture, arts, media, tourism, hospitality, aged care, construction and housing, enterprise and government jobs.
[ top ]
3.3 Objective 3: Facilitate the education, training and employment continuum.
The GTDUAC will be based in the Coffs Harbour Education Campus (CHEC) in its “Innovation Centre”. The CHEC is made up of a consortium of Years 11 and 12, TAFE and the Southern Cross University. The ICC Coffs Harbour engaged with the North Coast TAFE through the V-Tracks program (funded by DEEWR and FaHCSIA until June 2009) which provided students in Years 8/9/10/11 and 12 with opportunities to make links with TAFE and participate in vocational training workshops and career expos to develop pathways to education and employment. As the GTDUAC will also be working with Employment Service Providers, employer groups, government and industry, it will be able to provide pathways to education and employment for AGT participants/employees.
The NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water have recently implemented the Land Alive project. Developers of the project participated in the 2008 RPA Road-show across the NSW Central and North Coast regions. The Land Alive traineeship program and any other Conservation and Land Management training opportunities may fit into the RPA, as accredited land managers could utilise the support of the GTDUAC as a ‘Green Team’ business hub.
The Land Alive traineeship program provides accredited training and employment in sustainable jobs to Aboriginal people across NSW. Thirty (30) full time trainees will undertake Conservation and Land Management training, while carrying out a wide range of on-ground land management projects, applying their skills as bush regenerators. These trainees will be paid, supervised and mentored throughout their traineeship. Training modules will be run through Yarnteen College (Aboriginal controlled college in Newcastle) and employment services will be provided by MEGT, which is a National Group Training Company.
The Land Alive project team plans to continue to have a working partnership with the RPA in their North Coast region, working towards shared goals of social procurement, marketing ‘Green Teams’ and developing models to best support Aboriginal land managers to successfully win and carry out business.
[ top ]
3.4 Objective 4: Addressing the gaps in support services.
An important feature of the Agreement is to address identified gaps in human services supporting Aboriginal people working in full time jobs. Typically, there are barriers or service gaps involving transport, gaining driver’s licences, substance abuse, numeracy and literacy, childcare, motivation, mentoring, health issues and housing. The Agreement will base this work upon detailed data collection and will focus on ‘Closing the Gap’ commitments in employment, Year 12 completion rates, health, and literacy and numeracy rates.
[ top ]
3.5 Longer Term Implementation
The RPA has the potential to expand longer term to include the commercialisation of Aboriginal design and licensing within the region. All regional art cooperatives have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work cooperatively on the strategy. A key feature of this second phase will be the establishment of a National Aboriginal Design School working in collaboration with the manufacturing sector.
[ top ]
3.6 Cultural Protocol Principles
The Green Team Development Unit Aboriginal Corporation will engage with local communities and the traditional landowners on the country where they are working, using the cultural protocols agreed to in consultation with the RPC.