Indigenous Employment and Training

Mr HUGHES (Giles) (14:51): My question is to the Minister for Social Housing. What is the government doing to support remote Aboriginal youth accessing post secondary, tertiary and vocational education?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay—Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (14:51): I thank the member for this question and for his continued interest in this area. Since 1 July this year, Housing SA and the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure property management services have been consolidated into one single contract. As a result, Housing SA has been able to leverage commonwealth investment on the APY lands to deliver employment and training opportunities for local jobseekers on the lands.

Maintenance services to properties managed by Housing SA and DPTI have included a growing Aboriginal workforce component of 46 per cent of all workforce hours during the last quarter. These local Indigenous employees are acquiring skills and knowledge and may now gain access to apprenticeships. I am pleased to report that two employees are already in the process of being signed up for this opportunity.

In addition, a significant education initiative is underway in the Adelaide CBD for remote youth to pursue post-secondary education opportunities. In March 2017, the commonwealth approved South Australia's proposal to construct a student accommodation facility on Gilbert Street, Adelaide, under the Employment and Education Housing Program. Funds are allocated to this program every two years under the National Partnership on Remote Housing and the current initiative is helping to develop a growing portfolio of properties for Aboriginal residents from remote and outer regional South Australian communities to access jobs and education opportunities not available in their home locations.

Importantly, since June 2017 this initiative has sought and included input from a range of stakeholders, including existing students, Aboriginal leaders, universities, the Adelaide city council, the AFL, senior executives across government and also nearby residents. The facility will house 20 students who are pursuing university studies or vocational training. It will also provide a range of support and mentoring services to support the students as they settle into a new living environment and begin studies.

The current National Partnership Agreement on Remote Housing is due to expire at the end of June 2018. This is a key source of investment that allows the South Australian government to provide vital Indigenous housing services. The recent Closing the Gap report notes that there is no gap in employment outcomes when Aboriginal students complete tertiary or vocational studies. I call upon the commonwealth to continue investing in remote Indigenous housing and commence negotiations with the states and territories regarding future funding arrangements to deliver these important programs. These programs will help create real change to the lives of Indigenous youth in remote and regional communities.