More Aboriginal jobseekers are getting work across Victoria’s northeast thanks to the Andrews Labor Government’s flagship Jobs Victoria program.

Industry and Employment Minister Wade Noonan met businesses, employment providers and workers in Shepparton today to get an update on the Algabonyah Employment Partnerships program.

The Algabonyah program has so far registered 49 Aboriginal participants – with 33 successfully placed into work and a further nine people gaining sustainable employment.

Algabonyah means ‘coming together’ – with program partners working to narrow the workforce participation gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in the region.

Last year the Labor Government provided $1.4 million to the program to place 75 young Aboriginal jobseekers into sustainable work across the Goulburn Murray region over four years.

The project is driven by a number of Aboriginal controlled organisations in the region – including the Rumbalara Football and Netball Club, the Kaiela Institute, Njernda Aboriginal Corporation and the Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation.

The Algabonyah project has also linked up with many partner organisations through its employment and training program, including large companies, local government organisations, professional sporting clubs, schools and small to medium enterprises.

Jobs Victoria is helping break down barriers to employment, with a goal of helping 4,000 Victorians find sustainable jobs.

The program is well on the way to achieving its target with more than 1,000 participants successfully placed in the first eight months of the program.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Industry and Employment Wade Noonan

“The Goulburn Murray region faces many challenges around Aboriginal employment, and the Algabonyah Employment Partnerships program is helping to turn this around.”

“It’s great to see highly respected local organisations partnering on this project, which has already helped dozens of people into work.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Natalie Hutchins

“We want to create more employment opportunities for the Victorian Aboriginal community and this program is doing that at a local level.”