The design and delivery of the Remote Jobs and Economic Development (RJED) Program is being informed by consultation with remote community members, peak bodies, First Nations people, Community Development Program (CDP) providers and participants and other stakeholders.
This is stage two of the consultation process and will help determine the final recommendations to the Government. The consultation schedule is:
- April 2024: Launch of the discussion paper and supporting survey
- April – June 2024: Remote community and other stakeholder consultation
- July 2024: Publish phase two consultation final report
- Second half 2024: Start of the new program and phase three of consultation.
We want to hear from you
To help design the new Remote Jobs and Economic Development (RJED) Program, the Australian Government is seeking feedback about how the program should work.
People can have their say via a discussion paper and online survey, and through virtual and face-to-face consultation sessions.
Survey
The discussion paper is a central element of the consultation process. The purpose of the discussion paper is to outline the proposed design elements of the new program based on feedback received through the first phase of consultation and to seek views from interested stakeholders on the design of the RJED program.
The following short survey seeks feedback from individuals, communities and organisations who have an interest in remote employment. Your feedback is important to help inform the design and implementation of the RJED program.
We have asked a number of questions to help design and deliver the new program. We don't expect you to answer all the questions. You only need to answer the questions you are comfortable to answer. Please note you will not be able to save and return to this survey.
By clicking ‘submit’ you consent to sharing your feedback with the National Indigenous Australians Agency to help the design and implementation of the RJED program.
The survey will close on 30 June 2024.
If you experience any issues when completing the survey please contact remote.jobs@niaa.gov.au.
Consultation resources
To help understand how the program will impact and benefit individual job seekers, communities, employers and its interaction with remote employment services, we have put together a map to help illustrate how the program might work.
Read more about how the program will work for:
You can also see how the RJED program compares to previous employment programs.
This consultation is supported by a Communication Strategy, including using a variety of resources, tools and channels to raise awareness and provide opportunity for people to feedback.
Consultations will be held at national, jurisdictional, regional, local and individual levels.
The NIAA will consult with:
- remote community leaders
- organisations
- jobseekers
- community controlled organisations
- employment and business peak bodies
- employment service providers
- First Nation peak bodies
- unions
- alliances
- land councils
- youth representatives
- research organisations
- Commonwealth agencies
- Local Government, and State and Territory Governments.
Face-to-face and virtual consultation sessions
Face-to-face and virtual consultation sessions are being held with a range of stakeholders, including with remote communities between April and the end of June 2024.
Below is a list of locations where face-to-face consultations with remote communities will be taking place.
Note: All dates and locations for consultations are indicative only and will be continually updated. For exact details, please contact your local NIAA Regional Office on 1800 079 098.
| Communities | Dates (2024) |
|---|---|
| Western Australia | |
| Meekatharra | 15-19 April |
| Nullagine, Marble Bar | 22-24 April |
| Coolgardie, Norseman and Tjuntjuntjara | 2 May 20-24 May |
| Denham, Gascoyne Junction, Mungullah (Carnarvon), Burringurrah | 6-10 May |
| Port Hedland, Warralong | 6-10 May |
| Pia Wajarri, Yalgoo, Northampton, Barrell Well, Dongara, Morawa and Geraldton | 13-17 May |
| Jigalong, Parnngurr, Newman | 13-17 May |
| Warburton | 22 May |
| Tom Price, Paraburdoo | 20-22 May |
| Onslow, Roebourne, Karratha and Ngurrawaana Community | 27-31 May |
| Broome, Ardyaloon, Djarindjin, Beagle Bay, Bidyadanga | 27-31 May |
| Halls Creek communities (Halls Creek, Billiluna, Ringers Soak, Mulan, Warmun, Balgo) | 10-14 June |
| Derby (Budulah, Karmulinunga), Mowanjum, Looma, Pandanus Park, Kupungarri | 10-14 June |
| Kununurra, Kalumburu, Wyndham, Doon Doon, Bow River | 17-21 June |
| Pumnu, Kunwarritji, Kiwirrkurra | TBC |
| Leonora, Laverton, Menzies | TBC |
| Fitzroy communities (Wangkatjungka, Yakanarra, Fitzroy Town inc. Bayulu and Muludja, Yungngora, Yiyili) | TBC - June |
| Northern Territory | |
| Pine Creek, Kybrook | 18 April |
| Gove Peninsula, Nhulunbuy, Gunyangara, Yirrkala, Galupa, Birritjimi | 15-17 April 22-26 April 29-30 April |
| Lajamanu, Kalkarindji, Timber Creek, Yarralin, Daguragu, Walangeri, Nitjpurru, Bulla, Amanbidji | 15-19 April 13-17 May 20 or 21 May 22 May 18 or 20 June 21 June |
| Kalano, Rockhole, Katherine | 24 April 14-15 May |
| Ngukurr, Urapunga, Minyerri, Jilkminggan, Mataranka, Numbulwar | 8-12 April 29-30 April 7 May 13-17 May 20 May 27-28 May 3-7 June 17-21 June 24-28 June |
| Ramingining | 30 April - 3 May |
| East Arnhem Region | May 7 June |
| Mututjulu, Docker River, Imanpa | 7-10 May |
| Wadeye, Palumpa, Peppimenarti | 13-17 May |
| Groote Eylandt | 14-16 May |
| Dajarra | 15 May |
| Weemol, Manyallaluk, Barunga, Beswick, Bulman, Binjari | 23 or 25 April 20-24 May 18-19 June |
| Belyuen, Holtze | 21-22 May |
| Jabiru, West Arnhem Region | 20-24 May |
| Galiwin'ku | 20-24 May 10-14 June |
| Atitjere, Bonya, Ntaria, Areyonga | 21-22 May |
| Tiwi Islands | 23 May |
| Warruwi | 23 May |
| Alice Springs (Empowered Communities NPY Region), Umuwa | 27-31 May |
| Minjilang, Warruwi-Yagbani, Gunbalanya | 30 May 6 June 10-14 June |
| Kakadu | 3-7 June |
| Maningrida | 10-14 June |
| Robinson River, Borroloola | 9 May 17-21 June |
| Gapuwiyak, Bulla Bulla, Milingimbi | 6-10 May 13-17 May 24-28 June |
| Alice Springs, Ntaria | TBC |
| Queensland | |
| Normanton, Karumba | 16-19 April |
| Doomadgee, Wellesley, Normanton | 22 April 21 May 5 June |
| Palm Island | 24 April |
| Lockhart River | 1-3 May |
| Camooweal | 5 May |
| Bamaga, Injinoo | 7-10 May |
| Aurukun | 7-10 May |
| Pormpuraaw | 13-15 May |
| Boulia, Pitta Pitta | 14 May |
| Kowanyama | 20-22 May |
| Coen | 20-23 May |
| Cunnamulla, Charleville, Quilpie and Mitchell | 27-31 May 10-14 June 27-28 June |
| Longreach, Winton and Barcaldine | 20-24 May 10-14 June |
| Kuranda, Mona Mona, Mantaka Mareeba, Dimbulah, Atherton | 7 May 20-24 May 27-31 May 10-14 June |
| Torres Strait | 20-24 May |
| Mornington Island | 21 May |
| Burketown | 22 May |
| Hope Vale, Wujal Wujal, Cooktown, Laura | 6-10 May Other dates TBC in May |
| Cow Bay | May |
| Mapoon, Napranum, Weipa | 3-6 June |
| Cloncurry, Hughenden | 15-18 April 30 April 17-21 June |
| West Isa, Alpurrurulam | 23-24 May 18-19 June |
| South Australia | |
| Streaky Bay | 4 June |
| Port Lincoln, Coffin Bay, Tumby Bay, Cowell, Cummins, Cleve, Wudinna, Kimba, Iron Knob | 27-29 May 11-13 June |
| Coober Pedy, Oodnadatta | 3-4 July |
| Pukatja, Amata, Pipalyatjara, Fregon, Mimili, Indulkana | 20-24 May |
| Andamooka, Roxby Downs, Port Augusta, Quorn, Leigh Creek, Oak Valley, Scotdesco, Ceduna | 30 April - 1 May 15-17 May 23 May 29 May 3-7 June 18 June 24-26 June |
| Koonibba, Yalata | TBC |
| New South Wales | |
| Cobar, Brewarrina, Bourke, Broken Hill | 14-17 May 4-6 June |
Previous consultation
The NIAA held its first stage of community consultations between February and June 2023. We listened and learned from more than 2,250 people and visited over 100 communities. Key messages from communities were that a new program should:
- be planned and led by communities
- recognise roles carried out in the communities
- take a new approach for young people
- support local jobs for local people
- include a form of reciprocity
- be flexible to invest in local priorities
- assist people unable to work right now.
You can read more in the full Replacing the Community Development Program consultation report, the consultation summary on a page or watch the video that follows.
On 31 August 2022 Minister Burney hosted the Remote Employment Roundtable (ahead of the Jobs and Skills Summit on 1–2 September 2022), as a first step towards a new program.
You can read Minister Burney's media release regarding the roundtable.