December 2006 Redfern-Waterloo Update - Text Version

RWA Redfern Waterloo UPDATE -DECEMBER 2006

Groundbreaking training enterprise - Yaama Dhinawan opens in Darlington

The first group at Yaama Dhinawan with Aunty Beryl Van-Oploo and chef Matthew Cribb.

The RWA’s Yaama Dhinawan Hospitality Training College has opened its doors at 255 Wilson Street, Darlington on the site of the old Eveleigh Railyards. The first course started on 23 October training 16 Aboriginal parents who are keen to get a start in the hospitality industry.

Waterloo local Sarah Johnson said she is really enjoying the course. ‘What I’ve learnt has exceeded my expectations,’ she said. ‘After this course I am going to work as a barista or in catering.’

Aboriginal Elder, Aunty Beryl Van- Oploo, a former TAFE teacher and caterer and Matthew Cribb, an Aboriginal chef and caterer with over 10 years experience, are helping train the participants.

The college is already available for functions and will soon be opening to the public as a café with a bush foods flavour.

Yaama Dhinawan is an initiative of the Redfern-Waterloo Authority which has invested $750,000 on a groundbreaking project that the community can be proud of.

Five 8-week courses in Certificate II Hospitality (Operations) will be run out of Yaama Dhinawan next year. The first one for the year (starting 5 February 2007) is for sole parents.

Future courses will be open to ALL unemployed people wanting to work in the hospitality industry. If this sounds like you, or if you are a business in the hospitality industry looking for committed and well-trained staff, please contact Louise Wagner at the RWA on 9202 9100 or louise.wagner@rwa.nsw.gov.au .

Construction industry training will also commence out of the centre in 2007.

Seasons Greetings

The Board and Staff of the Redfern-Waterloo Authority wish you a safe and happy festive season and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

Diploma in Business Management

Over the past four months, 14 people from not-for-profit organisations in the area have been attending the RWA offices to study a Diploma in Business Management with Rob Rickaby from Training Essentials. The Diploma will broaden their job prospects and gives them management skills in finance, human resources, OH&S, marketing and administration.

Photo: Diploma in Business Management students.

Congratulations Allana!

Allana Varga was the first apprentice on the Carriageworks site at North Eveleigh, and is building company St Hillier’s first female apprentice. She got her opportunity through the RWA’s Indigenous Employment Strategy.

Allana is now in the second year of her construction carpentry apprenticeship. She received a Field Officers Choice Award at MG MyGateway’s Annual Trainee and Apprentice Awards night held in late October.

Photo: Allana receives her Award. She is pictured with Adam Farmer, MyGateway’s Employment Services Manager.

Local job creation

The RWA is talking to businesses with the aim of increasing the employment opportunities and involvement of local young people and the unemployed by matching vocational skills training with available jobs.

This will benefit local businesses, so that when they are next looking to put on staff, they can have the option of recruiting from people who live in the area, know the area well and who want to work close to where they live. For further information, contact Chris Ryan at the RWA

on 9202 9100 or chris.ryan@rwa.nsw.gov.au .

Chris Ryan talking with Stephen Jin at his Redfern Street newsagency

Construction opportunities in Redfern-Waterloo

Construction jobs continue to be created and filled in Redfern-Waterloo through the RWA’s groundbreaking Indigenous Employment Model, which assists companies to employ Aboriginal people in the construction industry. More than 120 construction jobs have been created since last year. Employment numbers will increase as the pace of urban renewal quickens.

FRH Group

Aboriginal employment in action

Building company FRH Group has embraced Aboriginal participation and job creation during construction of the RWA’s new $47.5 million research building at the Australian Technology Park.

FRH has created 13 jobs for Aboriginal people, the majority of these being apprenticeships and traineeships, as part of their commitment to create 26 jobs during the construction phase.

The jobs have included an apprentice electrician, business administration trainee, apprentice plumber, trainee steelfixer, apprentice formworker and traffic controller.

‘The RWA and the group employment company MyGateway have made the process of filling the positions very simple,’ says Craig McFarlane, the FRH Project Manager.

‘The apprentices and trainees are good workers who are keen to learn about their chosen trade.’

‘Having them pre-trained and ticketed through the Koori Job Ready course means they are prepared for the work environment,’ he said.

Photo: Terry Kelly, Tim King, Aaron M arr, Corey Carr, and Lorna Munro with FRH site foreman Mario Menna (second from right).

Photo: Job Ready course participants at work.

The next Koori Job Ready course will start at the North Eveleigh training centre in March 2007. For information about the next course, contact Terry Kelly at the RWA on 9202 9100 or terry.kelly@rwa.nsw.gov.au .

PROFILE: Raymond Russell

Raymond Russell from Waterloo has just completed the Koori Job Ready course in construction. He spent 10 weeks on a pre-apprenticeship course at Lidcombe TAFE learning the basics of carpentry, brick laying, painting, scaffolding, traffic controlling and concreting. Raymond has picked up his OH&S card, forklift drivers licence and senior first aid certificate.

Unemployed and looking for work before starting the course, Raymond said he needed to gain knowledge and skills plus the confidence to get full time employment.

‘The course has been fantastic. It has taught me about safety and how to work in a team environment, which I know is so important when working on a building site.’

Raymond will now be placed into an apprenticeship on one of the construction sites in Redfern-Waterloo.

Aboriginal Business Service success story

The Aboriginal Business Service is a free, confidential, one-on-one service that operates out of the RWA’s office at the former TNT Tower in Redfern. It is available to any Aboriginal person with a business idea or who has a business and wants some advice. In the short time it has been operating, the Service has assisted a number of people to set up their own business.

GTE Fitness

Helen Empacher sought the assistance of the Aboriginal Business Service to make sure that the first step she took into small business was on the right foot.

‘I wanted to make sure we were on the right path and that we were setting ourselves up properly to be a success,’ says Helen. ‘We didn’t want to fail the first go.’

Helen visited the RWA Aboriginal Business Service with her business partner, husband Jurgen.

Together they run GTE Fitness, providing fitness training to individuals and small groups in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.

The plan for the future is to focus the business on children’s fitness. Helen’s background as a primary school teacher will partner perfectly with her husband’s fitness skills.

‘The goal is to combine both skills, write programs that are school-based and go into schools and present them from Kindergarten to Year 6,’ said Helen.

Right now, Helen continues to work full time as a teacher, while putting in hours before and after school for the business. Visiting the Business Service was necessary to take GTE Fitness to the next level.

Helen and Jurgen had one session with Business Adviser Philip Schwenke. They said they received invaluable information that led them to change their plan to structure the business.

‘Phil gave lots of different scenarios for how we could structure the business, in terms of taxation, and whether to set it up as a partnership or a sole trader,’ Helen said.

‘The other thing that was really helpful was showing us a few different places to approach in order to get some finance.’

Something that really left an impression with Helen was how comfortable she felt visiting the Service.

‘I felt very welcome. Phil made us feel very at ease, and as an Aboriginal person sometimes it’s hard to approach others for help. It was nice to be able to walk into an office and feel like I had something to offer to the situation.’

Helen says she recommends the Aboriginal Business Service as a ‘safe and welcoming place’ to discuss business ideas.

To book an appointment with Philip Schwenke, Business Advisor, call 9202 9100.

To contact GTE Fitness phone 0433 419 434.

Photo: Helen (right) and Jurgen Empacher with son Jazmann.

Need Assistance?

For more information or to send us your feedback please contact the Redfern-Waterloo Authority, Level 11, Tower 2,1 Lawson Square, Redfern

Tel: (02) 9202 9100 Fax: (02) 9202 9111 Mail: PO Box 3332, Redfern NSW 2016 Email: redfernwaterloo@rwa.nsw.gov.au  Internet: www.redfernwaterloo.com.au