Building a boost for island work
A LABOUR hire company has been commended for its efforts to fill construction job gaps with indigenous workboots in Cairns and the Torres Strait Islands.
Torres Strait Islander Shane Lui formed Strait Support in 2016 to provide employment and training opportunities for indigenous jobseekers.
Last week, the company was announced as a finalist in the Queensland Government Small Business Achievement Award, part of the Queensland Community Achievement Awards.
Mr Lui said he was happy to see the company’s progress recognised.
“I wanted to provide some real opportunities to my indigenous brothers and sisters that were finding it hard to gain employment,” he said.
“So I tender on projects, using locals to participate in the jobs that I win.
“Between labour hire and my own project, I try to create as much opportunities as I can.
“It’s not easy because you don’t always have construction projects going in the Torres Strait.”
Strait Support transitioned from a sole trader to a proprietary limited company in June 2017 and since then has increased its staff from one to 17.
Outside of the civil construction projects that Strait Support has been involved in, it has also secured a contract with Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to supply labour hire over a two-year contract.
This contract commenced in June 2018 and includes the supply of two indigenous compliance rangers and two indigenous compliance officers.
Mr Lui will travel to Brisbane on November 29 for the Awards Gala Presentation Dinner at Royal on the Park Brisbane.
All finalists including Strait Support are also up for the People’s Choice Award, available for voting on the Queensland Community Achievement Awards Facebook page.