Program Overview: Employment and Training
The Employment and Training Program comprises of two subprograms:
1. Community Development Employment Program (CDEP); and
2. Community Training Program (CTP).
PROGRAM – COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM (CDEP)
Objective
To provide Torres Strait Islanders and Aboriginal people living in the region with the opportunity to voluntarily work in community managed activities that contribute to economic, social and community development and cultural maintenance.
Description
The CDEP is available to Torres Strait Islander communities within the Torres Strait region. The Program enables unemployed Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal persons living in the region to undertake work on activities chosen by the community or organisation, as an alternative to unemployment benefits.
The Program facilitates community development through the implementation of projects decided upon by the communities themselves and in accordance with their own priorities. Community development is further enhanced through the Program’s flexibility and capacity to link with other programs such as Business Funding and Community Economic Initiatives Schemes, the Major Infrastructure Program, various Australian and Queensland Government housing schemes, the Community Training Program (CTP), apprenticeships and various accredited training programs provided by the Australian and Queensland Governments. It also involves funding for environmental and landscaping programs.
Funding
In 2006-2007, the TSRA was allocated $31,865,094 for CDEP, and committed $31,832,403 of these funds to projects in the Torres Strait region, achieving 94.9% expenditure over commitment. It is the TSRA’s single largest program.
As at 30 June 2007, there was a total of 1,958 eligible participants in 19 CDEP schemes, covering 19 communities. Expenditure for 2006-2007 was $30,213,442, comprising: wages ($22,862,025) and recurrent/capital ($7,351,417), which included $93,080 as CDEP support comprising the conduct of 4 major reviews and costs associated with the engagement of a Grant Controller for TRAWQ CDEP.
Achievements
Each of the 19 CDEPs develop their own CDEP Work Plans and Budgets according to priorities arrived at through community level consultations involving both the participants on the program and the whole community. This allows them to balance the training needs and aspirations of participants with projects contributing to community development.
During 2006-2007 such projects included Council and CDEP administration, fuel depots, public transport, landscaping, landcare and environment management programs fostered by the TSRA’s Land & Sea Management Unit, recycling, contract cleaning, hydroponics, cemetery maintenance, road and drainage construction and maintenance, nursery projects, livestock management, an abattoir, stevedoring, mechanical workshops, tourism and hospitality, community policing, women, youth, culture and church projects, work
experience as teachers’ aides and health care assistants, fishing, seafood processing and marketing, take-away enterprises, a supermarket and other retail outlets, construction and maintenance of buildings, a quarry, sea walls, levee banks, screen-printing, art and crafts, child care and broadcasting.
Essential Service Officers maintaining water supply and sewerage systems are trained through their participation on CDEP, and most of the CDEPs include apprentices being trained through the employment of tradesmen funded under TSRA’s Community Training Program (CTP).
Participants also worked for contractors on Major Infrastructure Program projects, and where this involved the deployment of Heavy Equipment, Management and Training Program (HEMTP) equipment, were able to gain recognition of their newly gained skills with upgraded licences and plant operators certificates.
A major review of TSRA’s CDEP Program was undertaken and the final report issued in May 2007 identified areas where the Program is subsidising the responsibilities of the Local, Australian and Queensland governments.
One of the key recommendations from the report was for the TSRA to negotiate with relevant agencies, their acceptance for reform responsibilities within Island communities and appropriately increase resources to transform full CDEP funded jobs into real jobs that remunerate community workers according to appropriate awards. This is being pursued by the Policy Coordination and Development Section.
As a result of other recommendations from the CDEP review report, a working group is in place to revise the policy and guidelines to give the program linkages to training and employment outcomes and the development of community enterprises. This report was accepted by the TSRA Board and its recommendations will be implemented in 2007-2008. An annual CDEP Budgeting & Planning workshop for all CDEP organisations is proposed for 2007-2008. All TSRA reforms of CDEP will be in place for the 2008-2009 financial year.
PROGRAM – COMMUNITY TRAINING PROGRAM
Objective
To improve individual and community skill levels to enable communities and individuals to improve self-management to become more competitive in the mainstream labour markets.
Description
This component provides community organisations with the opportunity to apply for funds to upgrade skills in administration, financial management, services industries and trades, as well as training related to environmental issues, health, heritage and culture, and land management. This training can take the form of formal courses, on-the-job training, a mixture of both, or employment of tradesmen assuming responsibility for apprenticeships.
Through this component, financial assistance may also be provided to a sponsoring organisation’s staff member to undertake a full-time accredited course at a recognised tertiary educational institution.
Funding
In 2006-2007, the TSRA allocated and committed $1,138,363 to CTP for various Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations. $1,114,363 was expended, achieving 97.9% expenditure over commitment.
Achievements
In 2006-2007 a total of 28 separate training projects were approved across 17 communities. 20 of these projects were in trades, where CTP funds paid for the tradesman training apprentices and trainees. These projects accounted for 86% of CTP funds, and included plumbing, carpentry, welding, electrical, painting, mechanical and butchery. 115 participants were involved in trades training, either as apprentices or trainees. Other training included accounting (MYOB), plant operators, security, hookah diving, netting and knotting, retail skills, landscaping and jewellery making.
