Murdi Paaki Regional Enterprise Corporation
MPREC (Murdi Paaki Regional Enterprise Corporation) is the largest organisation of its type in Australia. As a charitable, Aboriginal-run provider of social and economic development programs, MPREC works through partnerships with Government and private industry to achieve employment outcomes for Indigenous people.
With a strong focus on partnership, communication is key, and NAIDOC week is exactly the time to get communities talking.
“Celebrating our culture also means celebrating the success of our team and the communities that we work with,” said MPREC CEO Paul Newman. “There are so many great stories that demonstrate positive futures for our communities and young people”.
Many of these great stories happen through the support of MPREC. The complex labour markets offered by regional and remote Australia make it difficult for job seekers to find and sustain long term employment, while the communities’ young people don’t always see positive work experiences in action. However, MPREC is finding ways to combat this.
“We create opportunities for Aboriginal job seekers to build practical pathways to longterm employment,” says Mr Newman.
“It starts with education. Each school day, MPREC staff help get kids to school through the Remote Schools Attendance Strategy.”
“Our RTO (91444) supports further education and work readiness amongst job seekers, and we offer actual employment and on-thejob training through our Social Enterprises, including Blueridge Cafe in Dubbo and Two Eight Three Five clothing store in Cobar. For entrepreneurs, we encourage independence through mentoring and support, to build future leaders and create self-generated employment opportunities.”
“I believe that, along with other well recognised and great Aboriginal organisations, together we can change the conversation on employment and Aboriginal people.”
MPREC also has a number of Market Gardens in communities such as Cobar and Goodooga, which incorporates cultural heritage aspects into job readiness and community programs, such as increasing knowledge and production of native plants