GenerationOne launched in Coffs
CLOSING the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians along the Coffs Coast became top priority yesterday as the new movement ‘GenerationOne’ was launched locally.
At a special breakfast launch at Pacific Bay Resort, dignitaries gathered to support the movement that is aimed at ensuring this is the last generation of indigenous Australians who don’t have the same opportunities as everyone else.
“GenerationOne is not about hand outs but ‘hand ups’, about how to apply, about how to not just talk the talk but walk the walk,” Coffs Harbour City Council Aboriginal liaison officer Rob Waters said.
“GenerationOne shows indigenous people where to look for jobs and find out what jobs are going, shows employers how to advertise vacancies so that indigenous and other people know there’s a job going.
“It trains indigenous people to have the confidence to apply for a job and they can receive training and mentoring to be qualified for jobs as they become available.”
Coffs City Council general manager Stephen Sawtell said via video message that council pledges that at least 3 per cent of employees will be indigenous, while Bananacoast Credit Union said it would try to attain a similar figure.
Young Australian of the Year, Tanya Major, and runner-up Young Australian of the Year, Jack Manning-Bancroft, were both in attendance and said they hope to ‘not just bridge the disparity in indigenous and non-indigenous employment rates, but to smash it entirely’. For more information, visit: www.generationone.org.au.
