A new partnership provides jobs for Aboriginal People

The Aboriginal Foundation of South Australian and McMahon Services Australia Pty Ltd have joined forces to create a new indigenous employment program.

The program, called INTRACT Indigenous Services, will promote employment for indigenous people by performing contract services to Government and private organisations in the building and construction industry, particularly organisations with obligations or an interest in employing indigenous people in the building and construction industry.

AFSA received funding in February 2011 from the Federal Government to recruit, mentor and train 40 candidates for jobs with INTRACT. AFSA CEO, Grahame Tonkin, said he is excited about the new enterprise “With the funding provided by the Department of Education, Employment and Work Place Relations, we can recruit people, hopefully young people for jobs with INTRACT, which will develop into long term meaningful employment,” he said.

They will be involved in contract work across a range of construction and mining activities and with companies that have a genuine interest in indigenous employment. “It is an exciting development and if we succeed in employing say 20 people in the first year into full time meaningful work, then we have made a difference,” he said.

“The Government of South Australia is committed to a minimum requirement for indigenous employment, so when the Government issues a tender for construction work, INTRACT can assume that role for the organisation that is successful in the tender. “We’ll take on that role of employing people through INTACT...and I feel very positive about our ability to perform in this area,” he said.

‘INTRACT’ Indigenous Services is a division of McMahon Services Australia Pty Ltd and has access to all of McMahon’s plant and machinery resources through the cooperative agreement. Training will include driving and operating heavy machinery and digging trenches as well as individual mentoring and drug and alcohol assistance.