NSWALC to boost jobs and housing

30 January, 2018

NSWALC to boost jobs and housing

30 January 2018

A new strategy recently approved by its elected council will see the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) adopt a strong focus and assume a lead role in the areas of employment services, training and brokerage, Aboriginal housing and land development and construction.

The aim of the strategy - NSWALC Employment and Enterprises - is to dramatically improve economic and social outcomes for Aboriginal people in New South Wales.

NSWALC Chair Roy Ah-See said that jobs and housing are essential to Aboriginal peoples' full participation in the economy of New South Wales.

"Having a secure, stable job that earns a decent wage is the single greatest pathway out of poverty and disadvantage not just for Aboriginal people but for everyone.

"However, it's incredibly difficult to hold down a job or undertake study if you don't have a safe, functioning home that isn't overcrowded."

Cr Ah-See said that NSWALC considers jobs and homes as essential to realising the gains our people have made from the Land Rights movement.

"Over the past decade we have seen some LALCs achieve remarkable success in housing, real estate development and construction. However, progress has been uneven, with many LALCs not having sufficient resources on their own to unlock the full value and potential of their key assets - their land and land council membership."

Cr Ah-See said that NSWALC Employment and Enterprises will work with LALCs so that their members can share the benefits. By pooling resources, NSWALC and LALCs working together can create the scale to better attract commercial finance and government funding.

An early focus for NSWALC Employment and Enterprises is to develop partnerships with employment services and training providers to help improve pathways to employment for Aboriginal people.

An announcement is expected shortly regarding the formation of an initial partnership with an established provider in the employment services industry. 

NSWALC is establishing a dedicated Taskforce in its Parramatta office to lead the development and drive the implementation of NSWALC Employment and Enterprises.                                                                                                          

The Taskforce will be undertaking a round of discussions across all regions in February and March to talk about and seek feedback on the key components and timing of the work that is be undertaken.

The Taskforce will sit down with LALCs to better understand how LALCs want to best use their land, the enterprise development expertise and aspirations of LALC members as well as their training and employment needs.

The NSWALC Employment and Enterprises Taskforce can be contacted at: nswalcenterprises@alc.org.au

Acknowledgement

We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners of the lands where we work as well as across the lands we travel through. We also acknowledge our Elders past, present and emerging.

Artwork Credit: Craig Cromelin, from a painting he did titled, "4 favourite fishing holes". It is a snippet of his growing years on the Lachlan River, featuring yabby, turtle, fish and family.

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