Railway employment steams ahead in Top End

Indigenous trainees attend access training courses in Katherine

With the Alice Springs to Darwin railway project just over halfway complete, the substantial benefits flowing to Aboriginal people in the NLC's area in terms of employment and training opportunities have become abundantly clear.

During negotiations over an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) leading up to the final sign-off on the $1.3 billion project in April 2001, both the NLC and CLC fought hard to secure these opportunities for Indigenous people living along the rail corridor.

As a result ADrail, the construction subsidiary of the Asia Pacific Transport Consortium, agreed to provide jobs for 100 Aboriginal people and training places for a further 200.

Additionally, the main subcontractors to ADrail - sleeper manufacturer Austrack, catering company Morris Corp and quarry operator Roche - each agreed to 20 per cent Indigenous employment levels in their operations.

In the NLC's area a dedicated four-strong Railway Unit operating out of the NLC's Katherine office has overseen both the implementation of these agreements and the training-to-employment process with spectacular results.

By the end of August 127 Indigenous people had already been employed on the Top End portion of the rail link, with a further 124 completing a variety of training courses, including pre-employment 'access' training and on-the-job training.

Of those Indigenous people starting access training, about 90% completed their courses - well above the total rail project training retention rate average of 79 per cent.

As a result there is now a solid core of Aboriginal people with accredited skills ranging from culvert construction, welding and rigging to truck driving, forklift and gantry operation.

NLC Chief Executive Norman Fry welcomed the positive training outcomes, saying the NLC was

proud to have worked closely with ADrail on the project. The creation of jobs for local Indigenous people is a key factor in stimulating regional economies, as our people stay and spend in their own region.

The development of a stronger skills base in the region is another invaluable benefit in the long run.

NLC Chief Executive Norman Fry

Already the details of 550 Indigenous people have been entered into the NLC's employment and training database, with comprehensive work histories and qualifications listed.

The NLC has also established a Working Group under the direction of Deputy Chief Executive John Berto to advance this initiative and seek the necessary resources from both government and private sector sources.

Given the number of major infrastructure projects slated for Aboriginal land in the near future, the NLC is confident that it will soon be in a position to provide greater employment opportunities for its constituents.

Norman Fry