Cook Shire Council has thrown its full support behind Aurukun Shire Council in the fight to overturn a recent Federal Government decision to remove existing employment providers My Pathway from Aurukun and JobFind from Coen, replacing them with Noel Pearson’s Cape York Institute (CYI).
Cook Shire Mayor Peter Scott and Aurukun Shire Mayor Dereck Walpo have said they are extremely dissatisfied by the decision, and they are adamant that My Pathway and JobFind are the most appropriate agencies to deliver employment services to the Coen and Aurukun Communities.
Councillor Walpo said an excellent working relationship had been established with JobFind and My Pathway, with many Coen and Aurukun residents finding steady employment, rather than ‘training for training’s sake’.
After a Remote Jobs and Communities Program (RJCP) meeting in Coen, Councillor Scott reported a majority rejection of the appointment of CYI.
Councillor Scott said a recurring theme at the meeting was that Cape York Institute was seen as a policy and strategy body with no practical experience in job provider services.
“The economies of scale and network capabilities of existing providers across the Cape are obvious.
“I urge the Federal Government to reconsider this blatantly uninformed decision which will be a backwards step for job placement and industry growth in the Coen and Aukrukun communities.”
