The federal government has announced the organisations selected to deliver the new Remote Australia Employment Service (RAES), which will launch next month.
The program replaces the Liberal-era Community Development Program (CDP) - currently the subject of a lawsuit claiming it was "discriminatory and unjust." The CDP will end on October 31, with RAES beginning on November 1.
Following what the government described as a rigorous assessment process, 49 organisations have been chosen to deliver services to around 40,000 job seekers across 60 remote regions.
Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy said the new program would provide "culturally safe and tailored support to help people get the training they need to get job-ready and find work".
She said the old CDP "left First Nations people stuck in cycles of poverty and failed remote communities," adding, "we're getting on with replacing it".
Senator McCarthy said the RAES would "see the co-design of projects with communities that are relevant and needed in remote areas", describing it as "an opportunity to provide greater benefits not only to job seekers but also the wider community".
The government says RAES will give communities more flexibility and control than the CDP, allowing them to design employment solutions suited to local needs. Providers must allocate at least 25 per cent of their budget to co-design community projects, which are expected to create new opportunities for job seekers and support local enterprise.
The new program had been shaped by community consultations, job trials, and feedback from recent consultations on draft Grant Opportunity Guidelines
Special Envoy for Remote Communities Marion Scrymgour said meaningful work was essential to driving long-term change.
"Meaningful employment is the bedrock of economic development, local enterprise and business, and helping people feel a sense of purpose and community," she said.
"We promised remote communities we would replace the non-functioning CDP program with a new and improved employment system - and RAES marks the completion of that promise."
In a statement, the government said RAES providers will be better equipped to help people in remote communities develop their skills and access real employment opportunities, including through the Remote Jobs and Economic Development (RJED) program.
Under the Closing the Gap agreement, the federal government has committed to lifting Indigenous employment to 62 per cent by 2031.
Remote job seekers can call a dedication Transition Line on 1800 306 182 if they have any questions about their provider or income support payments.
To find out more about the RAES and for a full list of providers, visit www.niaa.gov.au/remote-services
