Sky’s the limit for Tuka program
FOR decades, too many job programs and training regimes have failed to assist Aboriginal people close the skill-gap to get and retain real jobs, but this week Dubbo and Wellington took a giant leap forward when it comes to practical outcomes, according to NSW Minister for Finance and Small Business, Damien Tudehope.
“Today we acknowledge the successful recruitment of eight Aboriginal people at Early Rise Baking Company, where Dreamtime Tuka slices and food products are mass produced,” Mr Tudehope said in Dubbo on Tuesday.
“I congratulate Herb Smith and the team at Dreamtime Tuka for their passion and vision to make a positive impact on the social and economic well-being of Aboriginal people and local communities in NSW.”
Back to the start of this long journey and Herb Smith, after serving 31 years with NSW Police, wanted to move back to Wellington and create a better future for his community by providing opportunities that had been sadly lacking.
He took inspiration from his grandparents who made all sorts of food for the family using native bush ingredients and set up Dreamtime Tuka, hitting the big time when Qantas contracted him for regional and then domestic flights.
Now he has government agencies and corporations from across this wide brown land knocking at his door.
He’s determined to give jobs and on-the-job training to workers across every aspect of the business, from baking to marketing, and already he’s well on the way, thanks to the Stevenson family’s Early Rise Bakery.
“I’m very proud that our partner, Early Rise Baking Company, has led the way with the placement of our very first hires,” Mr
Smith said.
“The one thing that I know will close the gap for Aboriginal people in Australia is to have a job.
“I’ve been lucky, even though I grew up in a challenging time for Aboriginal people in Australia, I’ve always known the value of working,” he said.
Providing a boost to the company’s business model and ongoing sustainability when it comes to employment opportunities is a state procurement policy. That policy target is to have three per cent of government goods and services contracts offered to Aboriginal-owned businesses in the next three years, aimed at underpinning an average of 1000 Aboriginal jobs a year.
“We spend about $34 billion in procurement each year, and we know that small, regional, and Aboriginal businesses are a wellspring of quality goods and services,” Mr Tudehope said.
“As an example, NSW Trainlink has engaged Dreamtime Tuka to provide a range of sweet and savoury snacks on its regional rail service.”
As well as the 10 employees working in varied roles at Early Rise, the Tuesday launch of Dreamtime Tuka’s new Aboriginal Pathway to Employment Program also saw an announcement that another local partner has enthusiastically jumped on board.
“R and D Glass Services from Wellington and Dubbo have offered Dreamtime Tuka Pathways to Employment Program six positions for the Wellington community, six jobs in Wellington,” Mr Smith said.
He had to pause at that stage as the large audience broke into spontaneous clapping.
“Two will be apprentice positions and the others will be labouring positions.
“I commend the owners of this company, Dave, Ben and Sharon, for actively being part of the program and so generously offering these positions,” he said.