Territory Government promises $6m to ensure 1000 workers are connected to jobs in regional and remote communities

A $6m program will see businesses in regional and remote Territory communities receive $3000 for every new apprentice and trainee they take on. Here’s how the funding can be accessed.

Remote and regional businesses can receive up to $30,000 to recruit workers from regional or remote Territory locations.

The Territory Government has committed $6m to attract 1000 workers to jobs in these areas.

Jobs and Training Minister Paul Kirby said the targeted package would assist remote and regional businesses and registered training organisations to grow local participation.

Under the plan, businesses in regional or remote Northern Territory will receive $3000 for every new apprentice and trainee recruited, with a maximum of $30,000 per organisation available.

“We know we’ve got a worker shortage across the Northern Territory and a skills shortage as well,” Mr Kirby said.

“We’ve said for a long time, training Territorians is our number one priority and investments like this will go towards helping that.

“This is a targeted $6m announcement that will absolutely help businesses like Outback Stores employ more people in remote regional parts of the NT to help grow that workforce and give remote Territorians those extra incentives and make sure they get the best opportunities they absolutely can.”

About $3m will go to registered training organisations to reimburse for costs associated with training in remote communities and the remaining $3m is offered to businesses to encourage them to take on more apprentices and trainees.

An Outback Stores Papunya staff member makes sure the shelves are fully stocked for customers Rosieannaa Jugadai and Mikalya MacDonald. Picture: SUPPLIED

“It costs more to train people in remote parts of the Northern Territory than anywhere else in the nation just about, so this is a targeted approach to drill down into what those costs are,” Mr Kirby said.

“It will give people like Outback Stores better opportunities to employ more Territorians, give those young guys and girls in remote communities the opportunity to upskill, particularly while we’ve got these worker shortages.

“We know there’s never been a better opportunity for remote Aboriginal Territorians to get their foot in that door to get a long-term job and to make a real difference for their family.”

Outback Store chief operating officer Evan Ralph said the company, which has 30 stores across regional and remote NT, has 50 team members currently undertaking retail certificates.

“We believe the program will certainly assist with that and grow those numbers well over the 50 through those 30 or more communities,” he said.

“This will attract a greater workforce in those communities and help with that meaningful employment moving forward.”

Outback Stores employee Dotty Repu has spent two-and-a-half-years with the company since moving from Maningrida.

She was recently named Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student of the year at this year’s NT Training Awards.

“I moved to Darwin then a week later got an interview with Outback Stores,” she said.

Recently promoted to a training officer role, she teaches Indigenous store staff and managers to prepare them for the workforce.

“I enjoy it when I go out to communities and the opportunities to travel and to train up other store staff,” she said.

“Working in a shop means if you do the qualification you can get a job at Coles or Woolies when you want to leave the community because it’s all retail.”

In recent weeks the NT Government has announced schemes to attract hospitality workers from the UK and construction workers from the Philippines and India under its $12.8m Workforce Package.