August 22, 2012
Murgon State High School this evening hosted the official launch of MRAEL’s new Indigenous Employment and Training Project.
The project, which is enabling 10 young Indigenous trainees to combine work with school for two years, has been organised by the Kingaroy-based apprenticeships company with the backing of Stanwell Corporation and the local Wakka Wakka people.
Cherbourg elder Patricia Bond did a “welcome to country” and young Wakka Wakka dancers from Cherbourg State School performed several traditional dances before each of the trainees was officially welcomed into the program.
Murgon High School hospitality students served finger food and dessert.
The employment project has been made possible through the Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) drawn up between Stanwell Corporation and the Wakka Wakka people.
Stanwell Community Relations Manager John Carey said the ILUA implementation group had identified as a priority the development of training and employment opportunities to help Wakka Wakka people and the South Burnett Aboriginal community.
“It is great to have so many businesses and employers come on board with this project,” he said.
The project has provided 10 fully-funded school-based traineeship opportunities for Year 10 or Year 11 students.
MRAEL Apprenticeships Specialist Frances Ross thanked the employers who had offered positions: Rendezvous Designs, Ken Mills Toyota, ARL Development, Swickers Kingaroy Bacon Factory, CKD Electrical, Busted Knuckle Services, South Burnett CTC and Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council.
Each student must agree to complete Year 12 as a condition of being accepted into the program.
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