Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Pratt for that question and for her interest in Indigenous employment. The Gillard government believes all Australians, regardless of their circumstances or where they live, should be able to share in the benefits of the strong economy and enjoy the financial and social benefits of work. Since 2007 we have created 750,000 jobs in Australia, and the budget shows over the next two years we will create another 500,000. It is essential that Indigenous Australians share in these jobs.

I am very pleased to inform the Senate that this year's budget contains critical measures to help Indigenous Australians get into work, including a new measure to help Indigenous students move from school into work. The Indigenous Youth Careers Path­way Program will provide $50.7 million to support up to 6,400 Indigenous students to undertake school based traineeships. School based traineeships are one of the best ways to create a pipeline of job ready, trained and motivated young Indigenous people for Australian businesses. Companies like Qantas, ANZ and NAB have all benefited from taking on school based trainees, many of whom are employed with them right now. Service providers like the Aboriginal Employment Strategy have had great results in placing and retaining trainees who have gained a qualification and who are now employed. Since the AES started its school based traineeship program in 2002, 450 Indigenous students have graduated and gone on to secure career pathways.

The critical thing for the government and for the students is that this is not training for training's sake. This is training that leads to qualifications, training that leads to employ­ment. That is where the government is now focused: on ensuring that the transition from school into employment is one that has support— (Time expired)