New remote jobs program to fund hundreds of roles in remote communities
The Yolngu man from Milingimbi had been searching for work since moving to West Arnhem Land's largest regional hub, Maningrida, a year ago in search of a better lifestyle.
But when he started applying for jobs nearby, he was told he would instead need to participate in the "work-for-the-dole" Community Development Program (CDP) first, to build his skills.
"I struggled a bit — I asked when I was applying around looking for a job, [and] they told me they were all not available until I went to the CDP," he said.
But when Mr Wandji renewed his job search at a careers expo held by the Bawinanga Homelands Aboriginal Corporation (BHAC) last week, it took him just three days to land a job.
"I was excited, I just walked around looking at what is a good job for me," he said.
"I went there, had a look and was applying for three jobs. Another one from Intract called me back."
Mr Wandji financially supports a number of family members.
He said the job offer had made him proud, and he was now thinking about further training opportunities, such as undertaking training at the NT's Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education.
Under the Closing the Gap agreement, the federal government has promised to raise the employment rate of First Nations people to 62 per cent by 2031.
A 2021 Productivity Commission report showed the NT was the only jurisdiction that had gone backwards on progress towards that target.
The latest census found 70 per cent of Maningrida's population was not even in the labour force, and of those who were, 46 per cent were unemployed.
BHAC chief executive Kira Bourke said that was not for a lack of will.
Ms Bourke said those barriers include cultural commitments and the competing priorities of managing families, healthcare and access to services in a remote area.
But she said offering flexible work options could help.
"It means helping someone to get to an appointment because someone lives across town or out of town, or encouraging someone to have the confidence to go from being able to fix things as a 'bush mechanic' to shadowing someone on the job," she said.
The Maningrida jobs expo aimed to bring all local employers together under the tin roof of the community basketball court, to link up jobseekers with the full range of local organisations to discuss work options.
"We live isolated enough — there's no reason to isolate ourselves more by not working together," Ms Bourke said.
The expo was held ahead of the launch of 50 new jobs in Maningrida, which are being funded under the new Remote Jobs Economic Development Program from the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA).
The NIAA said 650 jobs had been approved under the program so far for remote communities across Australia, with 300 more continuing from a previous trial.
It said 140 of those jobs were in the Arnhem region, "including jobs in construction, retail, IT support, administration, homelands maintenance, transport and cultural roles".
The remote jobs program is part of an overhaul of the CDP system, through which employers will be funded to create real jobs within their organisations rather than work-for-the-dole activities.
Communities have long criticised the CDP and called for more meaningful work, training and better pay.
BHAC has been funded for several positions through the program, which the organisation plans to use to offer job-sharing arrangements for local jobseekers.
"It encourages women back into the workforce, it encourages older people, it encourages people that have cultural commitments, family commitments or other barriers to employment," Ms Bourke said.
She said she envisioned the Remote Aboriginal Employment Service, which will replace the CDP from November, would allow jobseekers such as Mr Wandji to improve their skills to move into the NIAA-funded jobs.
"There will be a large activities component to that program, and that looks like getting people ready to go into jobs," she said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Beauty Diary: Sonia Kruger shares age-defying ‘secrets' as she turns 60
Sonia Kruger is about to turn 60 – but it's a fact many of her fans and followers simply can't believe. 'It's actually unbelievable, 60?' declared one fan after her milestone birthday was featured on the cover of Body+Soul recently. 'I can't believe you are turning 60 – you look like you are in your 40s,' remarked another. As one said: 'Oh wow, I had no idea … what an inspiration.' But while the popular TV presenter may appear to be ageing backwards, Kruger says the secret to looking healthy and happy is a lot simpler than you think. 'I think a sense of humour is actually the best kept secret, you've got to be able to have a good laugh with friends and family, because it really is the best medicine,' she tells The Beauty Diary. 'Then I think regular exercise is key. I do weight training and I use Strictly You, my dance fitness app which is great when you're too busy to hit the gym. It's important to have some variety in your exercise routine to keep things interesting. 'I also try to eat well, but I do have a soft spot for licorice bullets, and I must say they also make me very happy.' When it comes to products, The Voice and Dancing with the Stars host does have a few she swears by, revealing she can't live without fake tan. 'I grew up in Queensland and saw a bit too much of the sun when I was young, so for me self-tan is a great alternative,' she explains. 'I love Three Warriors, an all Australian company made with local ingredients like Aloe vera and Tasmanian olive oil. 'It's even certified organic. There are zero nasties in these products and the colour is the best I've found, and I am an experienced self-tanner.' Kruger said her love of tan comes from being professional dancer, joking that back then the colour was 'more than a little orange'. 'My favourite Three Warriors product is the gradual tan that can be used daily as it's the only self-tan product that I find is genuinely really moisturising. 'I also use the Radiant Complexion Serum each night as it's light weight with active ingredients and helps create a buildable glow for the face.' Her 60th birthday also marks her 30th anniversary in showbiz, but when she's not at work, Kruger likes to strip her make-up back. 'My routine has become more about quality over quantity, I like products that are effective and maintain hydration,' she says. 'Years of heavy make up on set means my skin needs a really good break when I am not working, so I tend to keep things pretty simple. 'On weekends I honestly just use a concealer and a tinted moisturiser with some lip gloss and that's really it.' During her recent appearance at The Logies, where Kruger stunned in a custom gold Alin Le' Kal gown, Kruger went all out with a full-blown skincare and make-up routine. 'On the day, we keep some eye gel masks in the fridge and pop them on to reduce any puffiness around the eyes, I also find this adds some extra hydration,' she explains of her pre-event preparation. 'It's truly a marathon, as my hair and make-up need to stay for the long haul, which is why I never skip a setting spray after everything has been applied, it helps make sure everything stays put for as long as possible.' Kruger said she always makes sure she packs a lip balm in her bag as it helps keep her moisturised and extends the colour of her lipstick. The fake tan expert also said she will prep for her fake tan a few days before a major event. 'The day before tanning, I always do a full body exfoliation using Three Warriors Tasmanian sand scrub with Aloe Vera and the exfoliating mitt, this way the skin has the perfect smooth texture and is completely ready for self-tan application,' she reveals. 'When it comes to self- tanning day use the TW brush to buff the tricky spots like hands, feet and ears to ensure a flawless finish. 'What I love about Three Warriors tan is that it doesn't come off on my clothes or my Logies dress.'
SBS Australia
an hour ago
- SBS Australia
Shirley always wanted to run a clothing factory. She says this Australian fashion giant killed her dream
Following the collapse of Australian fashion retailer Mosaic Brands, and its much-loved labels such as Katies and Noni B, Dateline meets the suppliers who say they lost nearly everything. Watch Part Two of the two-part investigation, The Cost of Doing Business, on Tuesday 19 August at 9.30pm on SBS or live on SBS On Demand . Watch Part One now on SBS On Demand . The Cost Of Doing Business: Part 1 Shirley Lu had always adored fashion and dreamed of one day running her own factory in Shenzen, China. When she had the chance to work with Australian retail giant Mosaic Brands, she was thrilled. Mosaic owned 10 labels including Rivers, Katies, Noni B and Millers after a period of expansion between 2014 and 2018. By 2019, the company had 1,400 stores, employed 7,000 people and worked with hundreds of suppliers in Australia and overseas. "I thought Mosaic was a very famous company in Australia," she told Dateline. However in September 2023, her first invoice went unpaid. "I saw my shoes for sale on Rivers' official website but when my payment was due, no one got back to me … From September through October, I contacted them every single day by phone and email. But no one answered me." By March 2024, she says she received US$40,000 (around $62,000) after being put on a payment plan by Mosaic, but it wasn't enough to cover her expenses. "They took my goods but refused to pay. I was so miserable and broken, because I had to pay for the workers' wages." Fashion supplier Shirley Lu was initially excited to work with an Australian company the size of Mosaic Brands. Source: SBS Shirley borrowed money from her sister to cover some of her costs, but her sister was later diagnosed with breast cancer and needed the money back. "I told them, I need this money for my loved ones to survive … but they didn't reply." "We all felt that our world had come crashing down." Mosaic Brands in financial trouble The company had been reporting mostly modest profits to the ASX and in 2022, CEO Scott Evans took home a salary package of over $2 million. Noni B stores across Australia have closed down after the label's owner Mosaic Brands went into administration in October 2024. Insolvent trading is when a company is unable to pay existing debts while taking on new ones. It is illegal in Australia because of the harm it can inflict on unsuspecting businesses. However, Mosaic was using a legal protection called 'safe harbour', which enables a company to keep trading while its directors take steps to rescue the business. In recent years, the retail climate in Australia has been hit by a perfect storm of COVID-19, cost of living pressures and the rise of online shopping. This year alone, 800 Australian retailers have gone bust. According to the report to creditors, Mosaic used safe harbour protection on and off for a period of four and half years. While in safe harbour, a publicly-listed company doesn't have to disclose their insolvency to shareholders or suppliers. 'A kind of blackmail' Harry Wang also says he didn't know that Mosaic Brands was in financial trouble. He first began making shoes for Rivers from his factory in Xiamen, China, back in 2012. He says when Mosaic acquired the Australian brand in 2018, things changed. But he says it wasn't until 2022 that he stopped getting paid on time for the goods he supplied. Harry Wang says Mosaic Brands now owes him US$6.2 million (around $9.5 million). Source: SBS Harry says he felt pressured to continue to supply goods or he would face loss of sales claims or non-payment for the goods he had already supplied. "We have no choice. We'd be pushed to deliver the goods. Otherwise, we really don't have any payment … So we have to keep on supplying them," he told Dateline. "That's a trick for all the suppliers … a kind of blackmail." Harry says he was also issued with US$4.5 million (around $6.9 million) worth of loss of sales claims due to reported delivery delays or faulty goods from 2022 to 2024. Harry settled these claims at the time with Mosaic, but alleges they were excessive. He says Mosaic Brands now owes him US$6.2 million (around $9.5 million): US$4.2 million (around $6.5 million) in unpaid invoices accrued between 2022 and 2024, and US$2 million (around $3 million) in stock that he's already made, including 80,000 pairs of shoes stocked in his warehouse that may never be delivered. Harry's office staff has been reduced from 15 to four, while one of the factories he works with is in 'a state of shutdown'. Harry says the stress has placed a huge strain on his marriage and family life. "This is a very, very big lesson for all the Chinese suppliers … Don't trust anybody. That's the lesson we got," he says. "All of our wealth, after all our hard work, was suddenly wiped out by them. "I'm so sad." This is a very, very big lesson for all the Chinese suppliers … Don't trust anybody. Harry Wang Mosaic 'deeply disappointed and upset' When Mosaic entered administration in October 2024, its 10 labels and then-650 stores closed for good. Among the company's losses, Mosaic owed an estimated $US50 million (around $77 million) to suppliers in China, according to the Mosaic Brand creditor list from 8 November. Suppliers in China, Bangladesh and Australia are coming together to demand answers and call for a public inquiry into the actions of Mosaic Brands. Former Mosaic Brands CEO Scott Evans declined Dateline's request for an interview and did not provide any detailed answers to questions we put to him. Through his lawyers, he said: "Given the current circumstances of the company it is difficult ... to provide substantive comments." "Based on some of the questions and propositions that have been put to me, there seems to be material misinformation about the company, which I believe will be clarified in the fullness of time." Scott Evans when he was CEO of Noni B in 2014. Source: AAP / Dean Lewins He added that during his 10 years as CEO he "had the privilege of working alongside literally thousands of hardworking team members ...and suppliers". And that he was "deeply disappointed and upset to see Mosaic Brands enter administration". No adverse findings have been laid against any Mosaic Brands directors. 'More likely to get bitten by a shark' As the Mosaic Brands administration process unfolds, Professor Jason Harris, an insolvency expert at The University of Sydney Law School, warns that suppliers are unlikely to get any money back. Nor is the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) likely to take action, he adds. "You're more likely to get bitten by a shark on George St in Sydney than you are to be prosecuted for insolvent training," he told Dateline. "The problem we have in Australia is there are so few cases where ASIC is taking action, or where liquidators have the funding to take action, that the bad guys out there know they're likely to get away with it. "More than 90 per cent of companies that go into liquidation give nothing to unsecured creditors. "There's all the laws we need to address this poor behaviour. What we don't have is effective enforcement of those laws." Harris adds that Mosaic Brands' use of safe harbour could be the first real test case for this law. While there is no time limit or expiry on the use of safe harbour, it relies on company directors and their advisers knowing when a business can't be saved. Harris says while it's hard to comment on Mosaic's specific situation without being across all the information, four years "stretches credulity". "If you're still having the same problems four and a half years later, then clearly it's not working... "Where were the gatekeepers?" A release issued on behalf of the Mosaic Brands board of directors last year, in response to previous reports the company had been using safe harbour protections, said its directors take their duties seriously, and did seek advice on the applicability and compliance with the safe harbour provisions. ASIC did not respond to Dateline's specific questions, but says it continues to monitor the administration of Mosaic Brands. Ongoing struggles Meanwhile, Dateline has spoken to 50 suppliers across Australia, China, Bangladesh and India who all say the way Mosaic Brands conducted business was unethical. In Shenzen, Shirley is still struggling to rebuild her life. To pay back her sister and cover her costs, she mortgaged her home. But she says Mosaic still owes her US$60,000 (around $92,000). Her dreams of growing her business and one day owning her own factory are now shattered. "I had delivered the products on time, on quality, to Mosaic," she says. "But I never imagined that they would cheat with my goods and not pay me." * Some of the debts referenced by suppliers in this story are disputed, with creditors' debts to be finalised as part of the administration process.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Stock Tips: Which picks are as ‘safe as houses' this week? Maybe… houses?
It's no easy gig analysing share prices and company performance but somebody's got to do it. Every week two experts from our Share Tips columnist pool give us their recommendations. David Thang – Sequoia Financial Group BUY REA Group (ASX:REA) A dominant player in the real estate listings and services space, with a solid balance sheet. The positive outlook in the property sector is supported by additional interest rate cuts and strong employment, hence increasing listing activity. Evolution Mining (ASX:EVN) The gold and copper producer is expected to benefit from high profit margins in both commodities over the medium term. Financial gearing has reduced, and double-digit earnings growth appears here to stay. HOLD A technology company that provides a platform for location-based services and family safety continues to increase subscriber growth and retention, underpinned by strong international expansion. Car Group (CAR) The global digital marketplace provider of online vehicle sales delivered excellent financial year 2025 results. Net profit is on the rise along with its dividend yield. SELL Bapcor (ASX:BAP) Given profit is on the decline, a weakening sales outlook and board changes, we prefer others. Boss Energy (ASX:BOE) The Australian uranium exploration and mining company announced the resignation of its CEO and disappointing production guidance. Sean Conlan – Leyland Private Asset Management BUY WiseTech Global (ASX:WTC) We forecast FY25 core NPATA of $236 million, up +29% yoy and broadly in line with consensus, which assumes revenue growth of +16% yoy. Bhagwan Marine (ASX:BWN) A leading marine solutions provider to the oil and gas, port, civil and defence industries, growing market share in expanding markets. HOLD Woodside Energy Group (ASX:WDS) Our lacklustre oil and weakening spot LNG outlook (in 2027/28) makes it difficult to become more positive here, particularly given recent strength in WDS shares. Evolution Energy Minerals (ASX:EV1) EVN offers effectively unhedged gold and copper exposure via a portfolio of high quality, long-life, low-cost assets in Tier 1 jurisdictions. SELL Beach Energy (ASX:BPT) We are surprised the market hasn't reacted more negatively following FY25 results and reserves report. FY26 guidance points to a weaker outlook. The FY25 result has caused us to become incrementally more cautious on the outlook for both China and the US, and downgrade to 'sell'.
