VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING

The Hon. L.R. BREUER (Giles) (14:49): My question is to the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills. Can the minister inform the house about how the state government is working with South Australian business and industry to improve opportunities for Aboriginal people in obtaining jobs and training?

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (14:49): I would like to thank the member for this very important question and acknowledge the work that she does locally and in this place to advance the cause of Aboriginal people. Members in this place, in particular the member for Giles, are well aware that there are very low numbers of Aboriginal people represented as employees in a number of industries and sectors.

While the state government is very committed to closing these gaps and having Aboriginal people represented in all of our sectors, we also recognise that governments alone cannot make the difference. It is absolutely critical that this be a partnership, a collaboration, between industry, business and communities. That is why I was very pleased to join His Excellency the Governor at a recent event which was hosted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants. I would like to acknowledge and thank Mark Jones, who is the regional manager of the South Australian and Northern Territory branch.

The event was designed to showcase our Aboriginal employment industry clusters to prominent members of the financial and professional services industry and to talk about the role they can play in involving more Aboriginal people in their sector. I have to say that my impression is that these sectors are working very well. The aim is to get both employers to think about ways in which they can engage more effectively with Aboriginal people and to provide more opportunities for Aboriginal people to gain rewarding and sustainable jobs, particularly in industries where they are unrepresented.

I am pleased to advise that there are seven of these clusters in South Australia which are increasing training and employment opportunities in the areas of advanced manufacturing, community services, energy and water, hospitality, professional services, retail and in the South Australian public sector.

I learnt at this event that when leaders in the finance industry first got together as the professional services cluster, a survey found that there were no Aboriginal people in jobs in any of the top or mid-tier accounting firms in South Australia, and I acknowledge the outstanding leadership of Mark Butcher, who is chairing that cluster. He is doing a first-class job.

However, this cluster is working to change that, and they are changing that. I can report that across all of the clusters to date, 114 Aboriginal people have gained employment and 363 Aboriginal people are being supported into training. An additional 370 people will participate in the program during 2012-13 (so, that will conclude shortly).

Change will take time but this partnership approach is making a difference. I would like to take this opportunity to applaud and acknowledge our business leaders, Mark Butcher and Mark Jones, the Aboriginal communities, individuals who are involved and, of course, the organisations that are supporting those individuals. I wish them all the very best.