The group has launched its Skills and Training for Career draft policy and is calling for feedback.

GenOne spokesperson Tania Major said the draft policy was based on anecdotal evidence from people and groups who had worked to increase sustainable employment for Indigenous people.

Submissions can be made at http://generationone.org.auttraining/submissions

Ms Major launched the draft policy as part of the ‘Bringing It All Together’ forum, hosted recently by the Queensland Government.

Referring to research conducted by Auspoll, she said around two-thirds of Indigenous Australians had named inadequate training and qualifications as a barrier to gaining employment.

“Most Indigenous respondents (63 per cent) identified not having the right training and qualifications for the job while nearly half (47 per cent) identified not having a good understanding of the rules of the workplace.

“Fifty two per cent also agreed that not having the right job-specific training was a major contributing factor to unemployment levels, while 57 per cent named not having someone within the workplace to help them to settle in and feel supported as a key barrier that had impacted on their ability to achieve employment and a career.”

GenOne CEO Tim Gartrell said the research highlighted the pressing need for job-readiness training.

“The gap between job readiness and available jobs is an issue employers consistently raise with the Australian.

Employment Covenant as it rolls out the 50,000 jobs campaign with the 230-plus employers who have signed up,” he said.

The survey also found that most Australians (59 per cent) would like to work with an Indigenous person if they had the chance, and 66 per cent would employ an Indigenous person if the opportunity arose. Only 5 per cent would not; and 57 per cent of Indigenous respondents believed that Indigenous people lacking the basic literacy and numeracy skills necessary to get jobs was a major contributor to high unemployment levels.

‘Most Indigenous respondents (63 per cent) identified not having the right training and qualifications for the job while nearly half (47 per cent) identified not having a good understanding of the rules of the workplace’

Koori Mail
Wednesday 1/6/2011 Page: 40
Section: General News
Region: Lismore Circulation: 9,567
GenerationOne’s Tania Major