The
Minister responsible for Redfern Waterloo, Frank Sartor and Minister for
Community
Services,
Carmel Tebbutt today announced the Redfern Waterloo Authority, once established,
will put in place a comprehensive jobs plan to address the high levels of
people in the area not participating in the labour force.
“In Waterloo up to 74 per
cent of the general population are unemployed. This is even higher for the
Aboriginal community, where 79 per cent are unemployed,” said Mr Sartor.
“Disadvantaged
people living in Redfern Waterloo cannot continue to be left behind.
Although
employment is the responsibility of the Federal Government, the NSW Government is
committing to creating additional jobs in the area”.
“Clearly
it is time for Government to address this issue and this will be one of the
priorities of the new Redfern Waterloo Authority”.
The Jobs
Plan will focus on:
- The
creation of additional jobs, and - Strategies
to address labour market barriers faced by local people.
The
proposals set out in the Jobs Plan include:
- Increasing
employment through targeted development of State owned land - Encouraging
new commercial activity - Establishment
of an Aboriginal Business Hub - Use of
Government Procurement contracts for construction projects to create Aboriginal
and local training and employment opportunities - Strengthen
Aboriginal employment partnerships - Development
of a complementary education and training strategy, and - A focus
on increasing participation of young people in transition employment programs
“We need
to get people out of the cycle of poverty and one way to do this is help them
get a job. The despair experienced as a result of unemployment is one of the
major contributors to many of the social problems in communities like Redfern
Waterloo.
“Poverty
is a significant factor in drug and
alcohol abuse, domestic violence, stress and social isolation – all of which
impact on families and children,” Ms Tebbutt said.
“We know
the most effective way to combat poverty is through a job – this initiative, underpinned
by the new Human Services plan for the area, will address this important issue.