Joint media release with Member for O’Connor Rick Wilson MP

Seventy Indigenous people are being provided with training and employment opportunities, with Ngaanyatjarra Council Aboriginal Corporation receiving $500,000 funding from the Australian Government for tourism and employment projects.

Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion, and Member for O’Connor, Rick Wilson, visited Warburton today to announce funding from the Community Development Fund (CDF) for two projects in Ngaanyatjarra Lands, one for a referral service for job seekers, as well as funding for a tourism project to attract more visitors to the area.

Minister Scullion said a key priority for the Government was to ensure as many Indigenous people as possible were working in real jobs.

“The CDF provides funding to organisations to deliver projects that support social and economic development and participation in remote communities such as Ngaanyatjarra Lands,” Minister Scullion said.

“The CDF assists service providers, employers and community organisations to create new jobs and deliver rewarding community activities.”

Mr Wilson said the two projects would provide employment as well as mentoring and training for up to 70 locals.

“Funding of $300,000 will support the engagement of jobseekers from the Remote Jobs and Communities Programme to help community members and their families by providing links and referrals to a range of mainstream and Indigenous services,” Mr Wilson said.

“Mentoring and personal or professional development opportunities will be available for 70 Indigenous people, and of these 30 Indigenous people will receive accredited training and six will be directly employed by the project.”

Mr Wilson said the second funding package of $200,000 would support the Ngaanyatjarra Lands Tourism Project in establishing facilities to encourage greater numbers of self-drive tourists to visit areas of interest.

“These include the Warakurna – Blackstone axis which takes in both Rawlinson and Blackstone Ranges and local areas of cultural significance to Indigenous communities,” Mr Wilson said.

“It is expected that the increased tourism activity will generate revenue for communities from conducting tours to places of interest, and from tourists staying in accommodation, purchasing provisions from the local stores and buying Indigenous artwork.”

It is expected that the activity will generate revenue for communities from conducting tours to places of interest, from tourists staying in accommodation, purchasing provisions from the local stores and buying Indigenous artwork.

Download media release:
2014-04-30 CDF WA Ngaanyatjarra release.pdf