A new $6 million training centre in Darwin will expand career opportunities for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Northern Territory for work in the growing resources sector.
Attending the official launch of the Larrakia Trade Training Centre in Darwin today, Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson AM MP, commended the partnership between the Larrakia Development Corporation, resources companies INPEX and Total and the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in realising this ambitious project.
“By gaining a trade in an area such as electrical, refrigeration, automotive mechanics, metal fabrication and plumbing, young people are being offered the chance to get a great job close to home,” Minister Ferguson said.
“Building long-term relationships between Aboriginal communities and the resources sector is now widely regarded by industry as part of its core business and is recognised as a key measure to help address skills shortages.
“I congratulate the Larrakia Development Corporation, with the support of INPEX and Total, on reaching this milestone whose benefits will be widely felt. It really sets a benchmark, and I encourage others in the upstream oil and gas sector to recognise and tap into the pool of potential talent and skills in our Aboriginal communities.
“By working with schools and training providers, the new centre is also one of the educational building blocks that help young people to be job-ready and inspire them to continue their training.”
In the Northern Territory, gas and the LNG industry will be major drivers of economic growth and jobs. It is estimated that the Ichthys Project alone will add 18 per cent to the Territory’s gross product and employ more than 2,000 people in the onshore construction phase and several hundred during operations.
With Darwin LNG already in operation, Minister Ferguson said Ichthys would be a catalyst for further growth, cementing Darwin's place on the map as one of Australia's key LNG hubs.
“The Australian Government is doing its part to grow skills and increase training opportunities, especially in the resources sector in our response to the National Resources Sector Employment Taskforce. This includes freeing up apprenticeships and making them available to adult workers as well as the $200 million Critical Skills Investment,” Minister Ferguson said.
“But the Government can not address this issue alone or in isolation, which is why we welcome these sort of practical initiatives from the private sector that will make a real difference to the lives of many young people in the Territory.”