Skill Hire Media Release
29-10-2010
Skill Hire boost for Indigenous employees
One of Western Australia’s leading
apprentice training organisations has boosted its commitment to training and
employing Indigenous people by joining the Australian Employment Covenant
(AEC).
Skill Hire has committed to employing another 95 Indigenous people over the next two years as part of their agreement with the AEC.
The new employees will be in addition to the 68 Indigenous people who make up about 11 per cent of the Skill Hire staff, apprentices and trainees employed through Skill Hire branches all over the state.
The AEC is the brainchild of Western Australian mining magnate Andrew Forrest and is a commitment between Australian employers, the Australian Government and Indigenous people aimed at securing 50,000 sustainable jobs for Indigenous Australians.
Some of Skill Hire’s apprentices had the chance to show their skills to AEC’s new Chief Executive Officer, Rhonda Parker, when she visited the Skill Hire training centre to mark the signing of the agreement.
Skill Hire’s Director Tony Fitzpatrick said the company had always had a strong commitment to providing training and employment services for Indigenous people.
“It was a major focus for us when we started Skill Hire 15 years ago and has continued to be something we put a lot of emphasis on,” Tony said.
“We are really pleased to be part of the Australian Employment Covenant and the goal to give people the ability to reach their potential and provide a clear pathway to jobs.
“It is also a great way for us at Skill Hire to reinforce our own commitment to Indigenous training and employment and set a clear target for the number of Indigenous people we employ.
“As an organisation that specialises in providing training and employment, it is particularly important for us to support Indigenous development throughout Western Australia,” he said.
