Townsville Indigenous Concreting Training Project

Townsville Indigenous Concreting Training Project

A project to help address skill shortages in the construction industry in regional Australia and help to alleviate the higher than average unemployment rates within the Indigenous Community in the Townsville region.

Background to the Project

The construction industry has grown by more than 40 % in the past five years (based on Census data 2001/2006) leading to a serious skill shortage in the Townsville region. At the same time, unemployment in Indigenous population is at 17% - compared with 4% across the board.

Whilst industry has a skills shortage, industry members are seeking people with a level of skills that enables them to be ‘work-ready’. Funded by the Department of Education, Employment and Industrial Relations through the Industry Training Strategies Program – Indigenous Regional Projects, this project has been successful in achieving these objectives.

What the Project has Delivered

The Project has delivered eleven (of twelve who commenced) people with nationally recognised training as well as safety induction and first aid.

Participants have undertaken training and workplacements. Workplacements have been with Townsville Citiwater, Bindal Sharks Sports Ground and the Police and Citizens Youth Club. The group has practiced theory learned in off-job training. They have excavated and built driveways, stands for seating and the perimeter of a swimming pool. All this has been under the guidance of Carl Wyles an Indigenous man with many years of experience in the concreting industry and a trainer with CSTC.

The Project has further refined a training program which has application to other locations.

The Project Process

The Project brought together a wide range of stakeholders including:

Australian Commonwealth Government,
Queensland State Government;
Townsville City Council;
The Coolgaree Aboriginal Corporation;
Bindal Sharks Sports and Recreation Club;
Construction Skills Queensland;
Construction Skills Training Centre;
TORGAS Group Training Scheme;
Industry members;
Concrete manufacturers; and
CPSISC.

Project Steering Committee

The Project Steering Committee (PSC) has been formed and represents all key industry players and other stakeholders. The PSC plays a vital role in overseeing the project and providing expert industry input and providing access to industry practitioners and other stakeholders.