Former Origin Greats promote Indigenous employment in Cairns
Former Origin Greats (FOGS) will tomorrow join forces with big industry and local businesses in Cairns to promote job opportunities for young Indigenous jobseekers and students.
Minister for Employment Participation Mark Arbib and Member for Leichhardt Jim Turnour said there had been a fantastic response from the Cairns business community wanting to participate in this year’s employment and careers expo.
“There are more than 60 exhibitors involved at this year’s Cairns employment and career expo. This number tops last year and the Brisbane expo for exhibitor numbers,” Senator Arbib said.
“The FOGS expo brings together industry, local businesses, job services providers, schools and tertiary institutions. The expo provides Indigenous job seekers and students with an opportunity to discuss real work and training opportunities with employers.”
Origin great and FOGS Chairman Gene Miles will be joined at the Cairns Expo by former origin players Mal Meninga, Allan Langer, Steve Walters, Arthur Beetson, Sam Backo, Gary Belcher, Chris Close, Greg Conescu and Colin Scott.
The FOGS employment and careers expos combine with the government’s Learn. Earn. Legend! initiative to support young Indigenous Australians.
The Learn. Earn. Legend! initiative encourages Indigenous Australians to have a go, stay at school and to follow their goals to a good job.
Following the success of the 2009 FOGS Expos, the Australian Government has committed $2.8 million to FOGS to support 39 events in 2010 and 2011, including the Employment and Careers Expos, employment forums and corporate events.
Member for Leichhardt Jim Turnour said: “Getting a good education is the most important thing a young Indigenous person can do.
“Finishing school, going to TAFE or university, or undertaking an apprenticeship, are all good options available to young people to help them find a job now and in the future.
“That’s the message the FOGS and the Indigenous All Stars are sharing with young Indigenous Australians.
“And with unemployment in Cairns one of the highest in the country, it is an important and relevant message.”
More than 10,000 Indigenous job seekers and students attended the 2009 FOGS Expos and more than 250 industries and local employers exhibited their business and training opportunities.
“More than 150 job seekers secured immediate jobs as a result of the 2009 FOGS expos and 1500 Indigenous Australians took part in interviews. I look forward to seeing similar results for Indigenous job seekers in 2010,” Senator Arbib said.
The FOGS employment and career expos and Learn. Earn. Legend! are part of the Australian Government's commitment to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous education and employment outcomes.
