Government Media Release: 70 jobs in Warwick region Indigenous Employment project

Up to 70 Indigenous jobseekers from Warwick, Stanthorpe, Goondiwindi, St George and Dirranbandi will be part of an employment project thanks to the Australian Government’s Indigenous Employment Program.

Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development Mark Arbib said the Warwick Employment Service Area Industry project, delivered by Mission Australia, showed a commitment to boosting the skills of jobseekers so they could find meaningful employment in the local area.

“The project comprises pre-vocational training, industry-specific training, job placement and post-placement support for the participants and employers,” Senator Arbib said.

“Mission Australia will assess each participant and work with them to draw up an individual action plan outlining the steps the participants needs to take to move into a job. Once employed, participants will receive ongoing assistance for the first six months.

“Some of the key industries in the Warwick Region include transport and logistics, retail, wholesale, horticulture and primary production, food processing, aged care, hospitality and government.

“Industry-specific training will be given to participants based on what skills local employers have identified they need.

“This training can include things like licences and tickets for transport vehicles, forklift and machinery operation or short courses in retail, business administration or hospitality.

“The important thing with this project is that we are showing our commitment to getting Indigenous Australians skilled and employed in a meaningful way, not just providing training for training’s sake.”

Senator Arbib said the project was a result of more than $675,000 from the Indigenous Employment Program and would employ two mentors and a project coordinator with Mission Australia.

“This project follows on from the success of a 2009 Mission Australian Indigenous Employment Project in St George, which saw more than 97 per cent of project participants placed into employment,” Senator Arbib said.

“Thanks to this partnership we are able to continue to build job and training opportunities in regional and remote Queensland for Indigenous Australians.”

Senator Arbib said Treasury predicted 500,000 jobs would be created over the next two years and it was critical that Indigenous Australians had the support and training they needed to take up employment.

“Indigenous employment is not a short-term issue. Over the next four years the Australian Government has committed almost $650 million to the Indigenous Employment Program and $50 million to the Indigenous Youth Careers Pathway Program,” Senator Arbib said.

“This is part of the Australian Government’s target to create more than 100,000 jobs for Indigenous Australians by 2018.”

This media release was issued by Senator Mark Arbib on 17 August 2011

Saltwater Kitchen making its mark in Darwin

Mission Australia’s Saltwater Kitchen social enterprise has plenty on its plate, with more requests for catering coming in each week.

Based in Darwin, this commercial catering business provides practical training and work experience to disadvantaged jobseekers. Now in its second year of operation, the business is thriving, and recently catered for a 130-person event at the Darwin Museum.

Saltwater Kitchen currently employs 18 trainees, who are all undertaking or have just completed their Certificate II in Hospitality.

“Some of our trainees have never had a job let alone knowing what responsibilities having a job entails,” said Enterprise Development Manager, John Vreeling.

“The program is a real success and you can see it in our participants. Many commence with little or no self confidence and at the end of the 26 weeks you can really see a positive change.”

Trainees are employed for a period of approximately 26 weeks. During this time they rotate work locations between any of the three local primary school canteens and Saltwater Kitchen. During this time they are mentored and supported by our Canteen Managers – one of whom is a former trainee of the program – and Saltwater Kitchen’s resident Head Chef, Leigh Harding.

Saltwater Kitchen is operated by Mission Australia as part of the Changing Places Innovation Fund, which is delivered by the Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations.

Photo:  from left, John Vreeling (Enterprise Development Manager) with trainees Dwayne Wilson and Sarah-Jane Walkington at the Darwin Museum function earlier this month.

Government Media Release: Minister Calls on Local Government to strengthen Indigenous Employment

Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development Mark Arbib today opened the National Roundtable on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment in Local Government and urged representatives to employ more Indigenous people.

Representatives of local government organisations from around Australia gathered for the two-day roundtable at Redfern Town Hall to discuss how they could contribute to closing the gap on Indigenous employment.

“The Gillard Government is committed to working in partnership with local governments which are well placed to employ Indigenous Australians, especially in remote and regional areas,” Senator Arbib said.

“This roundtable, convened by the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government, is a great way to share ideas and plan partnerships to increase recruitment and retention of Indigenous workers.

“The Centre of Excellence has identified that local councils are facing a crisis in long-term workforce planning due to an ageing workforce and the drain of skills from the regions which has been compounded by demand from the mining boom.

“The solution is right in front of us – investment in local Indigenous communities and individuals who can provide those skills in the long term.”

Senator Arbib announced in April new funding of $4.8 million over three years to support mentoring programs for Indigenous Shire Council employees working in the Northern Territory and urged councils to become involved with school-based traineeships in their communities.

“The Government has also committed $50.7 million to provide 6400 school-based traineeships for year 11 and 12 students. The program provides assistance to young Indigenous Australians as they move from school to work,” Senator Arbib said.

“Local Councils can take advantage of the program and work with school-based trainees in their area. In addition, Councils can use Government programs and services, such as Job Services Australia, to provide job-readiness training, literacy and numeracy skills and ongoing mentoring for their Indigenous employees.

“There are also a raft of programs available to assist local governments in employing and retaining Iocal Indigenous job seekers, as part of the Government’s goal of creating more than 100,000 jobs for Indigenous Australians by 2018.

“The Government is committed to working with all levels of Government, the corporate and community sectors and Indigenous communities and people to reach the target and close the gap on Indigenous employment.”

Media Contact: media@deewr.gov.au
Non-media queries: 1300 363 079

Language program opening doors for new arrivals

Last night comedian Anh Do won the Australian Book Industry Awards for his memoir The Happiest Refugee, which dealt with his early challenges learning to speak and write English.

Do’s story had a happy ending, but thousands of people remain locked out of employment and community life because of poor literacy skills.

To help, Mission Australia runs a Language, Literacy and Numeracy Program (LLNP) in more than 30 metro and rural locations. The program aims to help build students’ verbal and written English skills and in turn open doors to employment, study and community participation.

It also targets Australian-born clients who have had disrupted or minimal access to formal education and assists these clients with their reading, writing and numeracy.

Tom McKay, Mission Australia Operations Manager said that LLNP not only provides students with the opportunity to go on to further study and employment, but it also helps them to form friendships and connect with the wider community.

“If you are unable to communicate effectively there can be a feeling of isolation within the immediate community and stronger language skills empower people to be able to get out and be part of the community,” said Mr McKay.

For Muhammad and Maggie, two of Mission Australia’s LLNP students in Sydney’s inner west, the course has made a huge difference.

Muhammad (pictured with LLNP teacher Tina Zhang) enrolled in the program within a week of arriving in Australia. He is fluent in four other languages and moved to Australia from Cairo, Egypt.

Since completing more than half of the course, Muhammad’s written and oral English skills have increased dramatically. As a qualified engineer in Cairo, he hopes to gain employment in the same area once he finishes the LLNP program.

Muhammad added that he also enjoys the social aspect of the class and being able to talk to others in his situation. Having arrived in Australia alone, Muhammad is looking forward to meeting more people in his local area – and knows that strong English skills will unlock more social possibilities for him.

“I love coming to class so I can talk to others and practise my English. Our teacher is fantastic and always provides any extra help if needed”, he said.
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For Maggie, a mother of two from Hong Kong, the course has helped her build confidence to complete everyday practical tasks.

“Before I started the course, I found it very difficult to do simple things,” she said. “Now I can do things like take my son to the doctor or write a note to my son’s school.”

LLNP provides up to 800 hours of language, literacy and numeracy training. Courses are provided in 200 hour modules, with minimum attendance of 10 hours per week.

The initiative is a Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) program that is available to eligible jobseekers who want to increase skills in speaking, listening, reading, writing and maths.

The program is available through Mission Australia in New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Western Australia, with a new LLNP service recently beginning in Geraldton.

To find out more, visit the LLNP page or call 1300 676 937.

Government Media Release: More traineeships in Bellambi for people with disability

Minister for Employment Participation and Child Care, Kate Ellis and Federal Member for Cunningham Sharon Bird, today announced funding of $600 000 from the Innovation Fund program for Mission Australia’s Feather Weight project.

This project will train and employ up to 11 job seekers with disability in recycling services, giving them the support they need to achieve accredited training in Certificate II in waste management.

The job seekers will receive training though a soon to be established social enterprise Feather Weight, which will manufacture punching bags and protective sports equipment, including tackle bags, hit shields and goal post pads.

“For people with disability, the benefits of work extend far beyond a mere pay packet. A good job brings with it dignity, purpose and a sense of connectedness to the community,” Ms Ellis said.

“The Feather Weight project will provide the critical support and assistance that unemployed people with a physical disability or mental illness need to be able to enter the labour market.”

This project will also have an environmental benefit, as job seekers will be working to reduce waste material such as car seats, from the automotive industry by an estimated 1 020 000 tonnes, which would otherwise be sent to landfill.

The project will give job seekers the opportunity to gain paid work experience combined with on-the-job training, peer support, group learning and personal support services, all as part of an integrated service delivery model.

Ms Bird said that the project will benefit not only job seekers with disability but the broader Bellambi community through the establishment of a viable self sustaining social enterprise.

“The Government is also providing funding so that the participants are supported once they complete their training and can successfully transition to the open labour market,” Ms Bird said.

“I believe that we can do better than a lifetime spent on income support for residents in Bellambi who are living with disability but have the capacity and the will to work.”

“That is why we are also making it easier for people on disability pensions to get and keep a job and providing employers with incentives to hire people with disability through the 2011-12 Budget.”

Senator McLucas said that “increasing access to employment opportunities is an important part of the National Disability Strategy.”

“Mission Australia’s Feather Weight project will provide valuable work and training opportunities for local people with disability.”

The National Disability Strategy sets a ten-year reform plan that will help to ensure that people with disability have the same opportunities as other Australians. Developed through the Council of Australian Governments, the Strategy is the first time in Australia’s history that all governments have committed to a unified, national approach to improving the lives of people with disability, their families and carers.

The Feather Weight project is one of 12 Innovation Fund projects targeting assistance to job seekers with disability, valued at approximately $2.9 million.

The $41 million Innovation Fund also contributes to the achievement of the Australian Government’s Social Inclusion Agenda, which includes supporting innovative strategies to help disadvantaged job seekers find and retain employment.

For more information on the Innovation Fund visit:  deewr.gov.au/innovationfund

Media Contact:  media@deewr.gov.au

Non-media queries:  1300 363 079

This media release originally issued on the 29 June 2011 by the Hon Kate Ellis MP MP, Senator the Hon Jan McLucas and Ms Sharon Bird MP

Shoalhaven job seekers star in video resumes

More than100 job seekers from Mission Australia’s Nowra and Ulladulla Employment Solutions offices have been given the opportunity to promote themselves to businesses using online video resumes.

This DEEWR-approved program is being piloted by Mission Australia in Nowra, NSW, with the potential to be picked up by all Job Service Australia providers.

The digital resumes – provided by Meetseeker – go way beyond the traditional print resume by including a video profile of the job seeker. The result is a resume that conveys the individual’s personality and gives potential employers the flexibility to view and review applicants at their own convenience.

Over the course of three days last week, staff at Mission Australia Employment Solutions Nowra trained job seekers on video presentation and helped them with their hair and make-up before supporting them through the recording process. In addition to the 100 job seekers from Nowra, 10 Ulladulla residents travelled to the office to create personal video profiles.

Once the profiles were loaded onto Meetseeker by our employment advisors, our sales support staff sent the new links to potential employers. Employment Solutions has already received positive feedback from local business, with two job seekers already gaining interviews based on their video resumes.

“This businessperson absolutely loved the concept of Meetseekers because they could hear how the candidate spoke and see how they presented straight away,” said Sharon Webster, JobSeeker Solutions Manager.

Gavin Carboni of Meetseekers also had praise for the way our Employment Solutions staff supported job seekers: “They team did an amazing job empowering the job seekers to believe in themselves enough to record the videos,” Mr Carboni said. “It was overwhelmingly fantastic to work with them and a real pleasure to see the job seekers enjoy themselves.”

Last Thursday’s program launch attracted local media, including WIN TV, who recorded this news item at Youtube.

The South Coast register also reported on the new initiative.

Government Media Release: New report highlights Australian job opportunities

The Australian Jobs 2011 report was released today, highlighting opportunities and encouraging all Australians to participate in the workforce in Australia’s current strong economy.

Minister for Employment Participation and Child Care, Kate Ellis, released the 2011 edition of the annual publication at the Local Employment Coordinators Conference in Canberra.

“It is essential that job seekers, students and employment service providers have access to up-to-date information about what the opportunities are and where the jobs are now, and where opportunities and new jobs are likely to arise in the next five years,” Ms Ellis said.

“The Australian Jobs report is a key resource in helping job seekers to find employment opportunities in our nation’s dynamic job market, and for employment service providers to plan for the future.”

Australian Jobs, prepared by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, provides key information about Australian employment figures, helping job seekers and employment service providers alike.

This year’s report focuses on regional labour markets and contains useful information about occupations and industries and about state and territory labour markets.

“Australia’s economy is strong. More than 265 000 new jobs have been created over the past year and the national unemployment rate is 4.9 per cent,” Ms Ellis said.

“The Australian economy needs more skilled workers if we are going to successfully take advantage of the minerals boom and manage the challenges of our ageing population.”

“This presents a great opportunity for Australians who have previously had difficulty gaining employment to find and to keep a job.”

Australian Jobs supports the Australian Government’s focus on developing a highly skilled and educated workforce to meet Australia’s future needs, by highlighting the link between higher levels of education and training and better labour market outcomes such as lower unemployment and higher pay.

The report highlights that 4.1 million Australians are employed in regional areas, with regional employers experiencing particular difficulty recruiting skilled workers.

Ms Ellis said that this means there are sound opportunities for employment outside state capital cities.

“Improving labour market outcomes – putting more people into more jobs – benefits individuals, their families and communities but also the whole Australian economy,” Ms Ellis said.

“The 2011-12 Budget lays out a strong plan to make the most of current economic circumstances and get more Australians into work.”

“This report shows us that there are jobs available and that there has rarely been a better time in our nation’s history for people to enter the workforce.”

For more information and to view Australian Jobs 2011 www.deewr.gov.au/australianjobs or email AustralianJobs@deewr.gov.au

Media Contact: media@deewr.gov.au

Non-media queries: 1300 363 079

This media release originally issued on the 18 May 2011 by the Hon Kate Ellis MP, Minister for Employment Participation and Child Care

Business with a heart of glass

Six months ago, glassmaker Matthew Anderson sold the odd bit of his work on Ebay to make a bit of extra money.

Now he’s running his own business, with the support of a new Mission Australia employment scheme.

The city resident supplies local clients with laboratory glassware he makes or imports from India.

“Ever since I was young I always loved scientific stuff and chemistry,” Mr Anderson told The City Messenger.

“I’ve had good jobs but I have never lasted more than a few months; I don’t know why. This is the first time work is something I truly love.”

Under the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme, participants complete a training program and then formulate their own business plan which is approved by industry representatives.

Mission Australia provides support for the first year of the business, including a mentor to monitor progress.

The program is funded by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

Mr Anderson joined the program in January and his business - www.sciencesupply.com.au - has already attracted 10 clients.

He said he would “still be completely broke and hopeless” were it not for the program.

“All of a sudden I have money in the bank.”

Mr Anderson, who cares for his schizophrenic brother David, is now hoping to save enough money to buy a block of land in the Adelaide Hills and build a house. For more information on the program, contact 1300 006 347.

Story by Jessica Whiting, courtesy of The City Messenger.

Further reading

• For more information on the NEIS program and information on how to start your own business, visit our new Employment Solutions website.
• Read more NEIS success stories here.

Hard work gets results for Eden Employment Solutions team

Lacey was a mum at 16 and is now bringing up three children, aged 10 to 14, on her own.

It's a familiar story and for the people who find themselves in situations such as this, it can be soul-destroying with feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.

But thanks to Mission Australia Employment Solutions Site Manager Regi Moulds and Employment Advisor Crystal Hall, Lacey's breaking out of the welfare rut and looking forward to employment as a social worker. It's a huge step, especially for someone who's had to be a full-time mum and never been employed in the workplace.

"I was in my final year at uni when I approached Mission Australia and they've been helping
me get ready to go into a job," the 31-year-old told The Eden Imlay Magnet in southern NSW.

"They helped put together my resume and helped with the cover letter and all the eligibility criteria, posting things out, internet access so I can keep studying, they covered costs such as uni books it's been wonderful."

While the benefits of having a job are obvious, there is something so much more that Lacey is
getting from this important step in her life.

"I was born and bred in Eden and I was 16 when I had my first child," she said. "I always felt
that the community looked at me as though I wasn't contributing and not having a go.

"Doing this uni degree and now getting ready for job here has been so important for my self-esteem. There are still moments when I get anxious," she added, "especially when I go for job interviews, because I've never done it before. So I ring Regi and she'll ask the questions I'll likely get in the interview and pump up and that really helps."

Mission Australia's Employment Solutions Eden office recently won its third Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) five-star rating (the highest given out) in a row. These ratings recognise the speed at which a person finds a job, the number of people placed in jobs and whether they maintained their new positions long-term.

Regi says it's getting tougher with businesses closing their doors, tourism down, major industry threatened and sheer bad luck such as the Pelagic Fish Processors plant fire. However, Regi and Chrystal have been working tirelessly to find work for many unemployed people of all ages and backgrounds in Eden.

"Some people have never had a career, or there are people with drug and alcohol dependency, mental and physical barriers," Regi said, but they've still managed to place around 80 people in the six months to December.

"But it's not just finding them work, she said. “It's a journey to sustainable employment it might be working out what study is needed to achieve employment, or something simple like helping with resumes and paperwork even how to dress for an interview."

Chrystal added that working with potential employees is also an important part of their work, which takes a holistic approach to employment.

"We're not trying to just put someone in a job," she said. "We like to make sure that it's the right person for the right job so both the employer and employee are happy. Then we keep in touch with them afterwards to make sure that it is a happy employment situation."

For people looking for workers, Mission Australia can help with wages assistance, training and even providing a place to conduct interviews.

In 2009-10, Mission Australia’s Employment Solutions assisted 154,676 job seekers across the nation. If you’re looking for work, or staff, find out more at http://www.missionaustralia.com.au/pathways-sustainable-employment-services

Above photo: Regi Moulds and Crystal Hall flank client Lacey.

Story by Justin Law and courtesy of the Eden Imlay Magnet

Enterprising young men lend a hand after Yasi

Here’s a very welcome good news story from Queensland. Seven young Indigenous Employment Program participants from Cairns recently volunteered their time to help elderly locals clean up after Cyclone Yasi, which swept through late last month.

The young men, who are gaining landscaping and construction skills through Djarragun Enterprises, contacted the local RSL offering to clear vegetation and debris from the yards of elderly people in the community.

They subsequently helped residents in Gordonvale and Mission Beach, clearing their properties and bringing their yards back to a condition that would be easier for them to maintain in the future.

In Gordonvale, they helped clear a mini banana plantation from the backyard of a 92-year-old war veteran. The Djarragun Enterprises crew took two days of hard work to clear damaged plants and prepare the area for re-growth. In the process, the team bonded with the home owner and offered to help her on an ongoing basis.

The young men also travelled down to Mission Beach and spent the day offering what assistance they could, free of charge. The day started early for the crew, who left at 6am for the trip and arrived home after 7pm.

“As the emphasis of the program is to equip our participants to operate in mainstream society, it was a valuable opportunity for them to experience the benefits of giving freely of their time and energy to assist others less fortunate,” said Programs Manager Steve Burrowes.

Djarragun Enterprises is an Indigenous Employment Program social enterprise that operates out of Cairns. Funded by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), this 15-month program provides an industry-based employment pathway for Indigenous graduates from Djarragun College.

Three Mission Australia live-in support staff work closely with participants at their accommodation, helping them to develop social skills and ensure they are self-sufficient and assisted to make the transition into permanent employment.

Mission Australia also provides post-placement and employment support to young people who complete training with Djarragun Enterprises.

Media Release: Strong report card for Mission Australia’s Employment Solutions

Mission Australia Employment Solutions has received a strong report card for its work providing employment services to job seekers across the country.

Fourteen employment offices in Victoria, NSW and Queensland have been awarded the maximum ‘5 Star’ rating for their efforts in helping local job seekers find work.

The sites are: Sale, Bairnsdale, Lake Tyers, Mallacoota, Omeo and Orbost (Victoria); Castle Hill, Bega, Eden, Muswellbrook, Scone, Toronto and Merimbula (NSW); and Caboolture (Queensland).

The ratings, awarded by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), recognise both efficiency (the speed at which a person is found a job) and effectiveness (the number of people found jobs for and whether they maintain their new positions long-term).

Employment services within an area that receive a 5 Star rating are considered to be performing at 40 per cent or more above the average.

Other positives from the latest round of ratings include: 

• 26 Mission Australia Employment Solutions sites were rated at 4 Stars.
• 95% of Mission Australia Employment Solutions sites achieved 3 Stars or more.

Mission Australia’s Executive Leader of Employment Solutions, Dr Prins Ralston, said the results were a welcome recognition of his team’s commitment in finding work for unemployed people throughout the country.

“We’re just over the moon at what our sites are achieving – particularly those that have picked up five stars, it really means a lot to us all here,” said Dr Ralston.

“Our team has worked so hard over the past 12 months helping job seekers find the right role or assisting local employers fill their vacancies.

“Normally, all the recognition we need is knowing we’ve done our job well – getting someone into work – but receiving this level of support really puts the icing on the cake,” said Dr Ralston.

Media contact: Paul Andrews 0409 665 495

Strong online start with DoinBiz

Mission Australia is helping entrepreneurs to get their businesses off the ground by offering free online support to NEIS (New Enterprise Incentive Scheme) participants.

Every NEIS client who successfully completes their training and starts a business is eligible to be featured on our DoinBiz site - www.doinbiz.com.au - with no fee for online design and uploading during the first year of trading.

Created two years ago, DoinBiz enables Mission Australia NEIS businesses to market their products and services. The website gives small businesspeople starting out a helping hand and ongoing promotional support while educating them about the value of quality online marketing.

Small businesses on the DoinBizwebsite are presented in ‘industry’ categories – from ‘air conditioning to tourism’ - to help potential customers find services.

DoinBiz has recently been expanded to include NEIS participants in Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania and it is expected that the site will host close to 200 businesses by the end of June 2011.

“We know that if in the early days we assist clients responsibly, and they benefit from their appearance on DoinBiz, that they will naturally remain a long-term client and expand their business presence, recognising it has traceable, measurable benefits for their business,” said Warren Silverston, Mission Australia’s Business Manager NEIS South Australia.

“It exposes our clients to a much larger market, both in Australia and overseas, than would be expected through more traditional forms of marketing such as newspapers. Most importantly, it gives our clients a higher potential success rate in achieving independence from income support and creating new jobs for other unemployed people.”

The website has been constructed to ensure anyone using a search engine such as Google who is looking for a specific product or service will be quickly and directly linked to a Mission Australia NEIS participant’s web page.

“This ‘economies of scale’ web-based marketing model is designed to give even the most computer-illiterate NEIS participant access to this technology,” said Mr Silverston. “The more businesses on the site the merrier and the greater pull for the search engines.”

Mr Silverston added that the DoinBiz promotional website was unique to Mission Australia as a NEIS provider. To find out more visit www.doinbiz.com.au.

NEIS is funded by the Australian Government's Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, and is designed to help unemployed job seekers to set up and run their own business. NEIS provides accredited training in small business, business advice and mentoring as well as 52 weeks’ worth of income support.

Saltwater Kitchen welcomes new head chef and trainees

Mission Australia’s Saltwater Kitchen has welcomed a new Head Chef, Leigh Harding, who is sharing 30 years’ worth of culinary knowledge with the Darwin social enterprises’s latest intake of trainees.

The catering business supplies fresh, healthy food to school students, local businesses and government departments while providing practical training and work experience to local disadvantaged job seekers.

Head chef Leigh has worked in the hospitality industry for three decades, including six years teaching Commercial Cookery at Charles Darwin University. He also has experience delivering training to remote Aboriginal communities.

The 17 new trainee recruits began their pre-employment training this week in preparation for the start of the school year next Tuesday.

“We’ve got a great crew on board this year,” said Mission Australia Enterprise Development Manager Lawson Broad. “The trainees are all looking forward to putting their new skills into action next week.”

Saltwater Kitchen currently caters for Sanderson Middle School, Rosebery Middle School, Rosebery Primary School and Millner Primary School and recently moved into Nightcliff Middle School. The training kitchen at Nightcliff has proved to be the ideal base for Saltwater Kitchen’s high-quality catering business.

Mission Australia has also recruited three more Canteen Managers to Saltwater Kitchen, given the growing numbers of schools the social enterprise is catering to.

Saltwater Kitchen is operated by Mission Australia as part of the Changing Places Innovation Fund, which is deliverd by the Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations.

Long-term unemployment rises: ABS

The percentage of long-term unemployed people (unemployed for one year or more) rose from 16 per cent in July 2009 to 18 per cent in July 2010, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) this week.

For long-term unemployed people the most common main difficulty in finding a job was '”too many applicants for available jobs'” (14 per cent), followed by “too far to travel/transport problems” (13 per cent) and “own health or disability” (13 per cent).

However, the majority (82 per cent) of unemployed people are short-term unemployed (that is, they have been unemployed for less than one year), with one in four having been unemployed for less than four weeks.

Of those people who had been unemployed for under eight weeks, 20 per cent reported “no difficulties at all” in finding new work and the most common main difficulty reported was “too many applicants for available jobs” (13 per cent).

According to the ABS, for young people aged 15 to 24 years, the main difficulty in finding work was “insufficient work experience” (17 per cent), while for those aged 45 years and over it was “considered too old by employers” (17 per cent).

Of all unemployed people, 21 per cent had never worked before and 17 per cent had worked, but not in the past two years.

Last year Mission Australia worked with more than 154,000 Australian jobseekers, helping them to find and maintain sustainable employment.

Mission Australia Employment Solutions operates eight Department of Employment, Education and Workplace Relations programs nationwide - including Job Services Australia and Apprenticeship Solutions. Our challenge is to prevent more Australians from getting caught up in the long-term cycle of unemployment.

Mission Australia client looks outside-the-square to build a path to success

After relocating to Adelaide from Melbourne three years ago, Madee River found that, after a few months of unemployment, he would need to think outside-the-square if he was going to be able to support himself.

He came across Mission Australia's New Enterprise Incentive Scheme and soon had the small business training, mentoring and relevant qualifications to help him develop a business plan that set him on the path to success.

The New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) is a self-employment program funded by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). NEIS has helped over 100,000 unemployed people since the early 1990s by helping them develop the skills and knowledge needed to start and manage their own business.

At the recent National NEIS Association Awards for Performance, Mr River achieved national recognition in the 'best growth business' category for his company Designer Muzik.

Mr River and his team now help businesses such as Novotel hotel group, Cibo and BMW build their branding through tailored music, advertising and promotional events

"My background is in the music industry and I certainly spent many months researching and planning my business proposition," said Mr River to the Adelaide Advertiser.

"But I am sure I would not be here now without Mission Australia NEIS support," said Mr River.

DesignerMuzik is set for further success, with plans for the business to expand into Sydney and international markets.

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To read more about NEIS, or apply see the links below...

• About the program
• Application information  

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