In December, 2009, the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) formed a group to provide advice on the Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) program.
The CDEP Consultative Group (CCG) provides advice on operational improvements to the program, with a particular focus on the delivery of effective and innovative Work Readiness and Community Development Projects.
It also provides an important forum for sharing information about successful approaches to service delivery in remote Indigenous communities.
The Department is pleased to announce the successful applicants for membership of the 2011 CDEP Consultative Group. Please note that in 2011 the format of CCG membership no longer includes professional experts as sitting members. Specialist expertise will be available on an as-needs basis.
The 12 successful CDEP provider representatives are:
- Mr Alex Barker
Director, Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council, Far North Queensland
- Ms Janet Brown
Chief Executive Officer, Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation, Pilbara region, Western Australia
- Mr Adrian Donovan
Chief Executive Officer, Midwest Aboriginal Empoyment & Economic Development Incroporated, Western Australia
- Ms Suzanah Kuzio
Chief Executive Officer, Community Enterprises Australia Ltd, Far North Queensland, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, East Kimberley Western Australia and Torres Strait
- Mr Robert Larking
Community Manager, Scotdesco Aboriginal Corporation, Ceduna region, South Australia
- Ms Sharon MacKenzie
Director CDEP APY Lands, Bungala Aboriginal Corporation, South Australia
- Mr David Pearce
Chief Executive Officer, Bungala Aboriginal Corporation, South Australia
- Mr Simon Rodgers
Northern Queensland Regional Manager, Jobfind Centres Australia, Far North Queensland and Wadeye community Northern Territory
- Mr John Thain
Managing Director, Emu Services, Carnarvon and Shark Bay region, Western Australia
- Mr John Vos
Chief Executive Officer, East Kimberley CDEP Pty Ltd, Western Australia
- Ms Janelle Whitehead
Chief Executive Officer, Murdi Paaki Regional Enterprises Corporation, Far Western New South Wales
The first meeting of the 2011 Consultative Group was held on 4 – 5 April 2011 in Alice Springs, Northern Territory. Chair of the CCG is the FAHCSIA Group Manager of the Indigenous Economic and Community Development Group.
Background
The CCG is an important forum that provides valuable information to the Department and contributes to better practice and operational adjustments for the CDEP program.
CDEP provider members of the Group were refreshed through an Expression of Interest (EOI) process open to all CDEP provider senior staff. A total of 24 providers responded to the EOI request. Applications were of a high calibre. Final decisions took into consideration the need to achieve a mix of provider types, locations and experience.
Applicants were assessed against their responses to selection criteria.
Membership selection reflected the diversity of the CDEP sector providing services across:
- multiple jurisdictions
- remote to very remote service delivery locations, including out-stations
- multiple and single sites
- providers servicing Job Australia Services and CDEP agreements and
- CDEP only agreements.
2011
2009/10