THE Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, recently visited community organisations in Tennant Creek to learn about the innovative strategies being trialled and tested to help close the employment gap and grow remote workforces in the Barkly region. 

Funding has been provided to community organisations and local government bodies to create real jobs, where people will be paid the minimum wage and will be provided with leave, superannuation, and other employment entitlements. 

In the Barkly region, three organisations are being supported to create jobs and employ local people across various industries, including horticulture, cultural wellbeing, and music and arts. 

Alekarenge Horticulture, a not-for-profit Aboriginal community organisation, is receiving up to $1,076,889 to create 12 new jobs. 

The project aims to provide on-the-job horticultural training and employment opportunities to senior school students and adult community members, generating more employment opportunities that address food security and improve health and socioeconomic outcomes in the region. 

It is part of a long-term plan to develop a viable and sustainable primary industry on Indigenous-controlled farms. 

The funding will cover various costs, including wages and salaries, training, travel, uniforms, PPE, and hiring a farm ute and people mover. 

Barkly Region Alcohol and Drug Abuse Advisory Group Aboriginal Corporation is the sole provider of Alcohol and Other Drug services in the Barkly region. 

The organisation is receiving $761,744 to create a Community Cultural Wellbeing Support Program and employ eight cultural wellbeing officers. 

Wellbeing officers will be trained in trauma-informed care and practice and will engage with residents who are at risk of the harm associated with alcohol, drug, and volatile substance use. 

The funding will facilitate ceremonies, bush trips, and yarning circles to explore AOD use, build an understanding of the harm associated with substance use, and identify further treatment options. 

Barkly Regional Arts is an organisation providing employment, support, and opportunities for artists and musicians across the Barkly. 

The organisation is receiving $258,478 to create four jobs aimed at increasing employment for artists, providing production, training, and knowledge transfer skills for local First Nations people. 

The jobs will include work as music studio technicians and delivering arts-based learning activities focused on young people. 

These jobs in the Barkly region demonstrate how much the new Remote Jobs and Economic Development program can achieve in enabling economic development and empowerment at a local level to help close the gap in Indigenous employment. 

Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney said it is the first step to replace the failed CDP and give people living in remote areas like Barkly access to real jobs and real wages. 

“Having a job allows people to choose their own future path by opening up access to other opportunities, including further employment, education, and training,” she said. 

“Learnings from these trials, along with consultations, will inform the development of the new Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program and set it up for success to close the gap in employment. I would like to congratulate these three organisations and the 24 community members in the Barkly and look forward to more successes through the job trials.” 

Senator McCarthy said she was delighted to see local employment opportunities being created in the Barkly region and congratulated these three community organisations. 

“The jobs these organisations are creating are an example of how meaningful jobs driven by community can lead to a genuine difference in life outcomes for employees, businesses, and communities,” she said. 

“Our remote jobs program is about working with the community to support local people into local jobs.” 

CEO of Alekarenge Horticulture, Vincent Lange, said Centrefarm and Alekarenge Horticulture Work Experience Pathway Farm are delighted to have been successful with our application to participate in the new jobs program trial. 

“The 12 local jobs will make a profound difference in this remote community and will greatly assist in, over time, transitioning people to real work opportunities on the soon-to-be-developed Centrefarm commercial-scale farming projects,” he said. 

“We strongly believe that this type of reform to the provision of job services in remote First Nation settings is to be commended.” 

Chair of Barkly Region Alcohol and Drug Abuse Advisory Group (BRADAAG), Elliot McAdam, thanked the Federal Government for its contribution. 

“We thank Minister Burney and Assistant Minister McCarthy for making the funds available to support eight Cultural Wellbeing officers to increase services in Ali Curung and Elliott communities in the Barkly region,” he said. 

“These jobs will make a big difference to these remote communities.” 

Operations Director of Barkly Regional Arts, James Winwood was pleased their application was successful.

“Creating jobs for local community members increases capacity for art and music production across the Barkly as well as providing greater training and workshop facilitation opportunities to engage more young people in both the arts and arts worker roles,” he said.

“We are encouraged by this recognition of the important cultural, social and economic value that the arts have for communities of the Northern Territory and look forward to continuing to shine the bright lights of engagement and excellence far and wide in times to come.”