By Paul Hemsley

A private not-for-profit health care provider has pledged jobs as part of the 50000 Sustainable Indigenous Jobs campaign.

St John of God Health Care will offer jobs to Indigenous Australians through the Australian Employment Covenant.

The program will create “real jobs” for Indigenous employees, supported by pre-employment training, job placement and on-the-job mentoring.

St John of God Health Care’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr Michael Stanford said Indigenous jobs will be delivered in the mainstream sector where they are “significantly underrepresented”.

“We plan initially to offer development pathways and employment to Indigenous people in areas such as enrolled nursing and patient care,” Dr Stanford said.

Indigenous Australians will be offered jobs in nursing, allied health and hospitality across the group’s facilities in Western Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.

According to a St John of God Health Care spokesperson, funding will come from a range of sources, but the group will fund the majority of costs.

“We will be discussing our programs in more detail with the Department of Employment, Education and Workplace Relations as our plans firm up with a view to accessing funding for individual participants as well as program coordination,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said this is an undertaking on their part to engage, train and employ Indigenous people within their organisation.