INDICATES RECENTLY UPDATED
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"The CFMEU is committed to the training and
employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in
the building and construction industry. "
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CFMEU Aboriginal
Employment Program
The CFMEU is committed to the training and employment of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the building and
construction industry. For many years Les Tobler, an Indigenous
Australian, was employed as the CFMEU Aboriginal Liaison
Officer. The Union received funding from their employment
company the Building Workers Assistance Centre to assist with
this initiative.
Les coordinated
the recruitment of unemployed Aboriginal & Torres Strait
Islanders to pre-employment training programs. The union then
assisted in the placement of these successful students into
employment.
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Many of the major
builders in the industry were approached by Les who set up formal
meetings to discuss their obligation to ensure an ongoing commitment
to youth training and employment initiatives in the building &
construction industry.
One of the major achievements was the development and establishment
of accredited training programmes for Indigenous people through
TAFE. The Job Ready Program was a collective industry wide effort,
initiated in the second half of 2003.
 The
first program ran for 6 weeks where 16 students ranging in ages from
15 to 38 took part under the guidance and direction of their mentor
Les Tobler. During this period students gained training in plan
reading, use of carpentry tools, formwork erection, basic
scaffolding, forklift training, elevated work platform, explosive
power tools, and basic carpentry. During the course students were
required to demonstrate their skills by building outdoor settings.
All 14 students completed the course and successfully passed exams
for certification.
The employers responded positively to this initiative by providing
employment to all students. The program resulted in jobs for all 16.
Two found employment in the first 2 weeks, and the rest went on to
complete the course and have been employed in jobs ranging from
apprenticeships, traineeships and laboring. A great success that led
to real jobs. Les Tobler went on to build on this success and
scheduled several more courses in 2004 and 2005.
Rohan Tobler has recently taken up a full-time position as Liaison
Officer position for Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander workers
with the CFMEU. The job is funded jointly by the NSW Department of
Aboriginal Affairs and Redfern Waterloo Authority.
 Rohan
is working closely with another Indigenous officer Terry Kelly at
the Authority on finding candidates for Koori Job Ready courses and
mentoring them through to employment in the construction industry.
All contractors bidding for Redfern Redevelopment work have to
provide an ‘Aboriginal participation plan’ as part of the tender
process. It has resulted in 50 jobs already for Indigenous workers,
with many more expected over the 10 year life of the redevelopment.
Koori Job Ready courses will commence at purpose built premises in
the Eveleigh train yards from late September. Meanwhile, another
course is in progress at Lidcombe TAFE. TAFE teachers will continue
to provide the training.
For Rohan Tobler working with his own people and seeing some good
success stories coming out of it is the attraction of the new job.
Besides working with the young trainees, Rohan and Terry are also
assisting Indigenous construction companies to ensure they do the
right thing by their employees.
Rohan Tobler is also the President of the CFMEU Reconciliation
Committee.
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