This is an analysis of the changes made on the RWA Employment and Enterprise website  http://www.redfernwaterloo.nsw.gov.au/redfern_waterloo_plan/employment_and_enterprise.php. 

The analysis compares the website before and after changes about 24 August 2007. The Black type indicates text unchanged from changes made about 28th March 2006. The blue indicates text removed and the red indicates text added.

The changes to the site are made from the sections below:

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN - UPDATE

Culture Of Work Project

A project is currently underway that is investigating strategies to motivate people in the Redfern-Waterloo area who are able to work but for various reasons are not in the labour force.

This project is working with the local community to gain an understanding of the factors that impact on how a community develops a culture of work and will focus on identifying current programs and initiatives that work, and developing strategies for the RWA and its partners to implement.

Improving Education And Training Opportunities For Local Residents

The vocational training centre at North Eveleigh is currently being refurbished. The RWA has committed $700,000 in 2005-2007 for capital works, fit out and start-up costs to establish the centre. Once completed, the centre will offer on-site accredited training in the construction, hospitality, transport and information technology industries.

The RWA is developing a partnership with schools in the local area to strengthen education outcomes as well as provide vocational education opportunities and link with the training centre at North Eveleigh and job opportunities being created in the area.

The RWA has delivered on its $750,000 commitment in establishing the Yaama Dhiyaan Training College at North Eveleigh.

The College is now a hive of activity with the Certificate II in Hospitality (Operations) course being taught at the Yaama Dhiyaan Hospitality Training & Function Centre upstairs; and the 8 week Koori Job Ready Construction course being taught at the Les Tobler Construction Training Centre on the ground floor.

In order for industrial vocational courses to be taught at Alexandria Park Community School, the RWA purchased $5,000 worth of tools and equipment for use by local school children.

The RWA has commenced the Young Achievers Australia program currently being delivered for Aboriginal youth from Alexandria Park Community School, Eora College and local youth. A Young Achievers Australia program will also be run for young mothers in the area. This program will show the young people how they can create job opportunities for themselves and others to enable them to contribute to the economic development of their community.

Three scholarships have been provided to local young people to take part in the PartyCp8 movie making course, where they will make a feature movie and will learn all aspects of the movie making industry. These scholarships have been awarded to young people who will act as mentors and take up leadership roles in the local community.

The RWA also has a partnership with Alexandria Park Community School to develop projects that strengthen education outcomes as well as link with vocational education opportunities. These include providing work experience for students at Yaama Dhiyaan Hospitality Training and Function Centre; and various construction projects at the school that link with the training centre at North Eveleigh and the job opportunities being created in the area.

LOCAL BUSINESS NEEDS SURVEY
As part of the RWA's on-going commitment to improving business and employment opportunities in the Redfern-Waterloo area, the RWA is conducting conducted  an Employment Opportunities - Business Needs survey of businesses. local businesses  in late 2006/early 2007.

The RWA wants to work with you to help your business grow in the the local area and we are looking for information from you on what your business needs to expand. 

An important step in this process is gathering information from local business people about staffing needs and any unmet training requirement
Local business people are invited to complete the survey.

The major findings of the survey were:·
•	There is a decline in industrial land in the Redfern-Waterloo area, as the land  is. converted to residential.
•	A majority of the businesses on Regent and Redfern Streets are small, family-owned businesses and therefore have limited employment opportunities.
•	The southern part of the operational area has the majority of  the employment opportunities. The major employment opportunities are in transport, logistics and warehousing.

Industry Based Employment Strategies

The first industries that the Redfern-Waterloo Authority is focussing on to create job opportunities for locals are the construction and hospitality industries. The RWA is also developing a strategy for transport and logistics, due to the outcomes of the business needs survey.  At a later stage, the RWA will look at employment strategies for the following industries:
retail; transport; commercial cleaning; information technology; services; cultural.

EMPLOYMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

The RWA and the Construction Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) have signed a 10 year Jobs Compact agreement to work together with employers to create real jobs and training for unemployed Aboriginal people.

The Minister for Redfern-Waterloo and the CFMEU officially launched the Jobs Compact on 12 May 2005 at North Eveleigh.

The deal requires all contracts for construction on State-owned land in Redfern-Waterloo to include tougher provision and support aimed at increasing on-site work and training opportunities for Aboriginal people.

The RWA has developed an Indigenous employment model for use in the construction industry that expands on the Jobs Compact with the CFMEU.

The model delivers a streamlined recruitment, training and employment path for head contractors, coordinating: 

Recruitment; Training; Apprenticeships; Group employment; and Mentoring.

The RWA has developed partnerships with the agencies involved in delivering services to the employment model. The partners are:

TAFE NSW; CFMEU; New Apprenticeship Centres- Macarthur My Gateway  and BWAC; Macarthur My Gateway  Group Employment and Training; Job Network Providers; AES Marrickville Training Organisation

On the construction projects currently operating, the RWA has negotiated 19 jobs for Aboriginal people at the Contemporary Performing Arts Centre site at North Eveleigh, 26 jobs for Aboriginal people at the Building D site at the Australian Technology Park and 60 jobs at the Channel 7 development at the Australian Technology Park. 

The RWA has negotiated over 75 jobs for Aboriginal people on  the construction projects that have commenced since  the RWA was set up. Another 100 will be created over the coming 18 months.

These numbers will continue to increase as more projects come online at the Australian Technology Park, North Eveleigh and other sites within  the Redfern Station precinct redevelopment. RWA area. 

The trades that these positions/apprenticeships/traineeships are in include:
Electrical; Construction carpentry; Plumbing; Boiler making; Scaffolding; Painting; Brick laying; Fire sprinkler fitting; Sheet metal works; Labouring; and Landscaping.

EMPLOYMENT IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY – YAAMA DHIYAAN COLLEGE

Yaama Dhiyaan is a Hospitality Training college and Function Centre that specialises in modern Australian cuisine using Indigenous produce and flavours. It is a unique cross-cultural educational experience that focuses on providing hospitality training with an emphasis on practical work experience in the Yaama Dhiyaan Function Centre.

Aboriginal elder and caterer Aunty Beryl Van-Oploo and exciting young Aboriginal chef Mathew Cribb have formed a partnership with RWA to set up a world-class cross-cultural training and employment program in Indigenous Australian cuisine.

This training is open to all unemployed people who want a career in the hospitality industry. The students are linked up with major hospitality employers towards the end of the training. It is located within the Redfern Waterloo Authority’s new North Eveleigh precinct at 255 Wilson Street Darlington.

ABORIGINAL BUSINESSES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Part of the conditions for contractors on Government-owned land includes the contractor having to invite Aboriginal businesses in the construction industry to tender for works.
The following is a list of Indigenous owned and operated businesses in the construction industry in NSW. To view, click on the link below:
Aboriginal building companies (pdf ~11kb)
If you would like to register another Indigenous owned and operated construction business, please email the details of the business to indigenousenterprise@rwa.nsw.gov.au

ABORIGINAL BUSINESS SERVICE ADVICE SERVICES
The RWA has set up two business advice services that operate from the RWA office in Redfern:

Any The Aboriginal Business Service assists any Aboriginal  person who has an idea for a business and would like to know where to start, or who has an existing business and requires further assistance, can access the Aboriginal business service.

The Redfern-Waterloo Enterprise Service has been set up to assist any resident of Redfern, Waterloo, Eveleigh or Darlington who is interested in setting up  a business.

This Both of these services are FREE, ONE-ON-ONE & CONFIDENTIAL service.  You will meet  with an experienced and qualified business professional that can help on a range of business issues including:
Business Planning Understanding regulations Financing  Management skills Marketing and market research Mentor support

The facilitator works out of the RWA office in Redfern. Call 9202-9100 to book in a time to meet with the business facilitator. advisor.

The Redfern-Waterloo Authority is offering this service these services in Redfern in partnership with the Department of State and Regional Development.