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Sixteen Tennant Creek residents have become the first Indigenous Territorians to start a traineeship under the landmark Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program (SIHIP).

 

The $672 million SIHIP, a joint Australian and Northern Territory Government initiative, is being rolled out over five years to improve housing and infrastructure services in 73 communities.

 

Minister for Housing Rob Knight and Member for Barkly Gerry McCarthy, met some of the trainees in Tennant Creek today as they undertook training in kitchen fabrication.

 

 “A central component of SIHIP is the requirement for job and training opportunities for Indigenous Territorians, and here in Tennant Creek we’re seeing that commitment deliver real results,” Mr Knight said.

 

“The trainees began their eight-week prevocational course with Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation (JCAC) earlier this month, and are learning the skills they’ll need for the workplace, including the use of heavy machinery and health and safety practices.”

 

$36.5 million has been committed to upgrade and construct houses in Tennant Creek’s community living areas with site works underway in April.

 

JCAC is working with New Future Alliance, the venture delivering the package on the ground, to determine the scope of housing upgrades and construction around Tennant Creek.

 

“In the long-term, New Future is aiming for 100% of the staff constructing the kitchens to be Indigenous, with all the prefabrication to be undertaken at the Julalikari workshops,” Mr McCarthy said. 

 

“This is a great start to the project for the people of Tennant Creek, delivering real jobs for locals and closing the gap on indigenous disadvantage.”

 

Once complete, the trainees will receive Statements of Attainment for partially completing their Certificate III in Open Cut Mining Operations as well as partially completing Certificate III in Civil Construction.

  

Media contact: Katie Woolf  0420 972 505