A JOBS campaign aimed at helping Indigenous job-seekers is already half way to its target in a short time, but the backers are not resting on their laurels.
The campaign, 31 Jobs in 31 Days, was launched on the Mid North Coast on 18 September by training and development company Future Ambition in conjunction with the Arthur Beetson Foundation and rugby league superstar Laurie Daley.
It does not officially end until the end of October, but as of last week, employers across the Mid North Coast had already committed to filling almost half of the total 31 jobs.
“That’s a very encouraging start, but Future Ambition and the Arthur Beetson Foundation are calling on more local employers to offer up some jobs to help achieve the target of 31 Indigenous jobs in October,” a spokesperson said.
Part of the reason for the good response to date is the Day in the Life course which Future Ambition runs to help employers and potential employees meet and get to know one another.
The Holiday Coast Credit Union in Port Macquarie is one company that has already employed staff after using the Day in the Life concept.
Community engagement manager Warden Mersey said the course gave them the opportunity to really get to know each candidate and observe them in a group environment before making a decision.
“The course created great efficiencies and insight for us in the selection process as our managers were able to evaluate each candidate individually over a four-hour period from a pool of eight candidates for four positions, all of which were filled, a process which would have normally taken at least two days,” he said.
The CEO of the Arthur Beetson Foundation and Arthur’s youngest son, Kristian Heffernan, said it was crucial for all Australians to work together to close the employment gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
“We are very excited to be working with Future Ambition on this campaign to fill 31 Jobs on the mid north coast in the month of October,” he said.
“I hope all employers get on board and help us out with a few jobs.”
Future Ambition is a staff training, mentoring and employment company, while the Arthur Beetson Foundation was set up to help Indigenious people achieve their dreams. It is named after the famous late Aboriginal footballer of the same name.
For more information contact Future Ambition on 6584 6843 or visit www.futureambition.com.au/31jobs. Staff from Future Ambition are happy to visit employers in their workplace to find out their staffing requirements first-hand. Incentives are also available for employers who support the program.
