Creating opportunities and
meeting desert challenges through
partnerships, know-how and innovation
 

Indigenous Education and Employment Taskforce

The Indigenous Education and Employment Taskforce (IEET) was created in response to community concern about Indigenous school retention rates and employment outcomes.

The IEET aims to improve education, training and employment outcomes for Indigenous youth in desert Australia and change peoples' perceptions of what can be achieved and aspired to.

The IEET is facilitated by Desert Knowledge Australia. The Taskforce is intercultural and includes representatives from both government and non-government organisations. These participants include senior representatives of:

  • Alice Springs Town Council
  • Centrecorp
  • Central Land Council
  • Department of Education and Training
  • Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
  • Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre
  • Newmont
  • Peppered Black Security
  • Tangentyere Council

Girls at the Centre

Girls at the Centre is an IEET initiative in partnership with The Smith Family, to help Indigenous girls in years 7 – 9 stay at school, transition to senior school and develop career goals.

In 2008, 30 girls and their families from Alice Springs High School (ASHS) and seven from Anzac Hill High School took part in the program.

The girls and their families participate in activities such as Breakfast with a Mentor, Tuesday after-school activities, Families and Schools Together (FAST) and Core of Life, a pregnancy and parenting program.

The first FAST program was held at Alice Springs High School in Term 4, 2008. The program is aimed at improving relationships between the girls, their parents and the school. Nine families, including one father, took part in the 8 week program.  The ASHS Principal reported that this is the only program she has seen that has successfully brought Indigenous parents into the school to participate in a positive way.

The program is continuing to sign-up girls for 2009. IEET is assisting Girls at the Centre source additional funding.

Sustainable Employment Initiatives

Indigenous Employment Strategies

As part of their commitment to IEET, Centrecorp and Alice Springs Town Council have established Indigenous Employment Strategies to help attract and retain Indigenous workers.

The organisations meet regularly to share ideas and experiences and look for opportunities to collaborate.

Structured Indigenous Housing Infrastructure Project (SIHIP)

The SIHIP is a jointly funded program of the Northern Territory and Australian Governments. The program addresses the disadvantage Indigenous Territorians experience in relation to the condition and availability of appropriate housing in remote communities across the Territory.

IEET is facilitating discussions with Indigenous Employment Organisations to look at opportunities the project provides.

Past Projects

Alice Springs Partnerships for Success Program

The Alice Springs Partnerships for Success program is based on the successful model established by the Graham (Polly) Farmer Foundation, a national organisation that works in partnership with community and industry organisations to assist Indigenous youth reach their full educational and employment potential.

The Alice Springs based program is a partnership between Centrecorp, the Department of Education and Training (DET), the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) and the Graham (Polly) Farmer Foundation and is the first major outcome of the IEET.

The project was established by IEET and is now running independently.