Fed: Govt unveils city list for remote indigenous training program

AAP General News (Australia)
12-15-2005
Fed: Govt unveils city list for remote indigenous training program

By Darrin Barnett

CANBERRA, Dec 15 AAP - Nine Australian cities will take part in a federal program to
provide training and employment for young Aborigines from remote communities.

The Indigenous Youth Mobility Program allows 600 young people to relocate to major
regional centres and train for new careers through pre-vocational training, apprenticeships
or tertiary education.

The providers will be based in Cairns, Townsville, Toowoomba, Newcastle, Dubbo, Canberra,
Shepparton, Perth and Darwin.

Education Minister Brendan Nelson said the $24 million program was essential in ensuring
that indigenous youth from remote Australia receive training and employment opportunities.

"The training opportunities could lead to occupations in high demand throughout our
remote Australian communities, such as trades, nursing, accountancy, business management
and teaching," Dr Nelson said.

"Participants may choose to return to their own communities to take up skilled jobs
that are often filled by non-indigenous workers, or pursue their careers elsewhere."

Participants will be backed up by a support network, including accommodation, mentors,
training and help in keeping contact with their own communities.

Meanwhile, Australia's financial watchdog today released a booklet warning indigenous
communities of the dangers of leaving their PIN and credit card details with retailers.

Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Northern Territory regional
commissioner Anthony Beven said the process - known as `book-up' - had many inherent risks.

He said it could leave people tied to one store and lead to excessive debt and extra
fees and charges.

Book-up is widely used by Aboriginal people, especially in regional and remote areas.

"ASIC hopes this guide will be a useful resource for community workers, financial counsellors,
consumer affairs, fair trading officers and anyone else helping Aboriginal communities
to deal with book-up problems," Mr Beven said.

The guide contains case studies highlighting what communities have done to control
or eliminate book-up, suggestions for alternative ways of managing money, and legal information.

AAP db/mfh/jjs/br

KEYWORD: INDIGENOUS

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