Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council is offering paid work experience to local students returning home to the remote community for the holidays .
Mayor Wayne Butcher told a recent gathering of Indigenous local government leaders in Cairns that the initiative had a good strike rate in transitioning local students into apprenticeships and local employment.
“We are doing something differently and seeing the results,” he said.
“When our kids go off to school they can earn pocket money down at the local Woolworths and shops – we’re offering them the chance to do that when they come home as well.”
Currently, council has 14 paid work experience students working in council entities, including the council office, Indigenous Knowledge Centre, building and diesel fitting and the council owned airport.
Mayor Butcher said the program was so successful, he had students ringing him up before they returned home for the holiday break lining up work.
“This is about the future of our local kids,” he said.
Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council also has a close relationship with Bond University to continue to build in-house youth employment strategies.