New centre to help Aboriginal jobseekers in the Kimberley

A new Aboriginal Workforce Development Centre in Broome will provide greater support for Aboriginal jobseekers and employers in the Kimberley.

Opening the centre today, Training and Workforce Development Minister Peter Collier said it was a cornerstone of the State Government’s Training together-working together Aboriginal workforce development strategy.

“These centres will play a vital role in helping Aboriginal jobseekers gain meaningful employment through network co-ordination in the local labour market,” Mr Collier said.

“They will support Aboriginal people transitioning from school into training, from training into jobs, and from unemployment into employment.

“They will also play a key role putting in place solutions to overcome barriers to employment.”

This is the second of four regional centres the State Government will open this year to improve co-ordination between job seekers, employers, employment service providers and training providers.

The other centres are in Bunbury, Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Geraldton. A centre in Perth has been operating since March 2010.

The Minister said the Broome centre would work in partnership with other organisations, providing employment, career training and mentoring services, whether they were government, private or not-for-profit organisations. They would not duplicate existing services. 

“Working with the community is paramount,” Mr Collier said.

“The Broome centre is doing this in conjunction with a range of partners, including the University of Notre Dame, the Broome Workforce Development Centre, Kimberley TAFE and Job Services Providers.

“The centre will have a regional steering committee, representing key stakeholders from industry, local Aboriginal leaders and community representatives to ensure they meet local needs and are part of local job creation opportunities.”

For more information contact the Minister's office - 9213 7150