Employment program going the extra mile
WITH 40 per cent of Dubbo’s unemployed made up of Aboriginal people, one of the city’s largest employers is taking steps to alter the statistics by using a strategic approach.
Fletcher International Exports introduced their FACES program as a way to break down barriers and get more indigenous people into the workforce.
The company’s HR and compliance manager Maddy Herbert has been involved in rolling out the program.
“We have a real aim of getting people into the workforce and focused, with a view to keeping them going long-term,” she said.
WITH 40 per cent of Dubbo’s unemployed made up of Aboriginal people, one of the city’s largest employers is taking steps to alter the statistics by using a strategic approach.
Fletcher International Exports introduced their FACES (Fletcher Aboriginal Culture Employment Strategy) program as a way to break down barriers and get more indigenous people into the workforce.
The company’s HR and compliance manager Maddy Herbert has been involved in rolling out the program since its inception six months ago.
“What we’re aiming to do is to get local people, particularly indigenous people, into the workforce with the support they need,” she said.
Miss Herbert explained that the company offers traineeships in meat processing and their aim is to retain employees long-term.
“We have a real aim of getting people into the workforce and focused, with a view to keeping them going long-term,” she said.
“We’ve offered support in different ways – by helping them find accommodation, transport, even childcare.
“When you start a new job, your whole life changes. For the longterm unemployed, existing support is cut off. We offer support through that critical period, they can come for help to apply for private housing, transport, getting their licence.
“We are doing everything we can to assist people in any way we can, to provide support and mentoring, to get them through the door and keep them here. The idea is to keep them going long-term,” Ms Herbert told Dubbo Photo News.
“What’s good for the FACES project is good for the whole workforce.”
Earlier in the year, the Federal Government announced the Tailored Assistance Employment Grants as part of its Indigenous Advancement Strategy to connect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to jobs and more Australians into work. HR and compliance manager at Fletcher’s, Maddy Herbert, has been involved in rolling out the FACES program since the beginning. “We have a real aim of getting people into the workforce and focused, with a view to keeping them going long-term,” Ms Herbert said.