The Albanese Labor Government’s new Remote Australia Employment Service (RAES) begins today, providing tailored support to around 40,000 job seekers.
The new service delivers on the Government’s commitment to replace the Coalition’s Community Development Program (CDP).
RAES will support job seekers with the training and skills development needed to become job ready and take up job opportunities, including those created through the Remote Jobs and Economic Development (RJED) program.
There will be further support to stay in work, with greater access to mentoring.
Where work is not available, providers will engage job seekers in local community projects that build skills.
These projects give local communities more flexibility to design solutions to meet local employment and business needs and create tailored solutions for job-readiness.
RAES providers will use at least 25 per cent of their funding towards developing these local community projects, which benefit individuals and communities through real job pathways and enterprise development.
RAES will also invest in building provider capability to deliver higher quality, culturally safe services tailored to job seekers in 1,200 remote communities.
The design of RAES has been informed by community consultations and job trials.
Job seekers can call a dedicated RAES Transition Line on 1800 306 182 if they have any questions about their providers, or call Services Australia if they have questions about their income support payments.
To find out more about the RAES, visit www.niaa.gov.au/remote-services
Quotes attributable to Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy:
“Today the Albanese Government delivers on our commitment to replace the Coalition’s failed CDP with the new Remote Australia Employment Service.
“This new service has been developed in consultation with remote communities, job seekers and stakeholders to better support people who are looking to build skills, become job ready and contribute to their community.
“RAES will differ from the CDP by being more flexible, leading with a strengths-based approach, supporting providers to work collaboratively with remote communities to co-design projects based on their needs.
“RAES and our Remote Jobs and Economic Development program, which is creating up to 3,000 new jobs, are part of the Albanese Government’s commitment to economic empowerment for remote communities.”
Quotes attributable to Special Envoy for Remote Communities and Member for Lingiari, Marion Scrymgour MP:
“Our government promised to scrap the harmful CDP, and we are fulfilling that commitment.
“RAES will actively collaborate with communities to create work that is meaningful and can deliver long lasting benefits.
“We know people in remote communities want to work, and the RAES and RJED programs will drive economic development in some of our most disadvantaged regions.”