After 11 years of unemployment Butchulla man Brian Darby is thriving in his new job at Thomas Borthwicks & Sons.
Brian secured employment after taking part in Moving the Mob, an intensive pre-placement training program created to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Mackay region.
Powered by MRAEL through IntoJobs (part of the IntoWork Group), Moving the Mob has been co-designed with First Nations Program Facilitators to provide support and assistance specific to the needs of unemployed First Nations people, in a culturally safe environment.
Previously, 46-year-old Brian struggled to keep a job for more than a week but he loves his new role as a packer at Borthwicks, “I love it. At the moment, I am stacking boxes of meat onto pallets and that suits me fine. It keeps me healthy and makes me stronger. I like to do work that builds my body and keeps me fit.”
“It was really good communication between everyone involved; goals were all set out and what we wanted to achieve in the course. It was a very happy-natured course.”
– BRIAN DARBY
Brian’s favourite thing about Moving the Mob program was learning self-respect and budgeting: “Basically, how to keep everything balanced in life. It was really good communication between everyone involved; goals were all set out and what we wanted to achieve in the course. It was a very happy-natured course.”
MRAEL Business Growth Partner Jason Allen said MRAEL consulted a range of First Nations representatives when developing the program to ensure it was both culturally safe and appropriate to reflect First Nation People’s specific needs, “Our program is not about accreditation, it’s not about even employability. It’s more about their story and where they are at and empowering them to get to the next stage. The program is designed to motivate, engage, and develop a personal ‘story’ of each participant so we can further develop them to gain employment.”
“… It’s more about their story and where they are at and empowering them to get to the next stage.”
– JASON ALLEN
The program covers off on personal and employment related goal setting and skills around money management, health and wellbeing, work readiness, local labour market information and access to further accredited training based on each individual needs.
With the pilot program held in Mackay, Mr Allen said MRAEL aims to expand the program to other Queensland regions and across Australia, “We want to launch this across Australia to help as many First Nations people as possible to reach their employment goals. We’re looking forward to seeing this program roll out to other First Nations communities and support their unique needs.”
Brian said Moving the Mob program was ‘mind-opening’, “The program was pretty outstanding, and the mentoring was great. Everyone participated and got along. We didn’t have any breakdowns or communication failure even though people came from different backgrounds. The program gave people a sense of direction and job prospects, and it was a good, fun environment. I loved every single day.”
Brian is now working to gain his forklift license and HR license to upskill himself in his job.
The next program will run in July, with applications closing on 30th June 2023. For more information call Intojobs Mackay on 1300 115 627.
IntoJobs program facilitators recently spoke with ABC Tropical North about the program’s early success. Listen here
About IntoWork Australia
IntoWork Australia Leading in workforce participation
Established in 1983, IntoWork Australia is a non-for-profit organisation that has grown to become a leading national provider of employment, skills and support services that promote educational, economic and social participation for Australians from all walks of life. IntoWork employs more than 1600 in over 150 locations, supporting 100,000 individuals in employment and individualised support and working closely with 60,000 businesses nationally.
About MRAEL
MRAEL is Queensland’s leading provider of education, training, and employment services. With over 30 years of industry experience, MRAEL operates a number of companies, all with the core objective of contributing to the growth, development and sustainability of a skilled workforce for the future.
About IntoJobs
IntoJobs, part of the IntoWork Group, was born out of an identified need to provide the highest quality of advice, support and care to Australians looking to enter or re-enter the workforce. Through its delivery of Workforce Australia employment services, IntoJobs core belief is that there is ‘a job for everyone’. Leveraging the collective experience of the IntoWork Group of companies, IntoJobs delivers employment and career transition services across Australia, supporting thousands of clients and businesses into sustainable futures.
Media Contact: Eilish Massie, Media Communications Specialist, 0448 771 045