Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development Mark Arbib and Linfox Australia congratulated 12 new Indigenous employees as part of the company’s commitment to hire 500 Indigenous Australians by 2013.

The gvernment and Linfox formed the partnership to employ 500 Indigenous Australians last May. Linfox has already employed 102 Indigenous Australians, with a fantastic 93 per cent employee retention rate,” Senator Arbib said.

“The Indigenous employees are provided with accredited training and work placement programs in warehousing, logistics and forklift areas, and have access to ongoing mentoring.

“The staff have an opportunity to work inside one of the Asia Pacific’s largest supply chain companies, with links to many of Australia’s leading business.”

Linfox Logistics chief executive Michael Byrne said the support of the government was essential and the new employees at Linfox were doing a great job.

“Through the program we have identified some very talented employees, from administrators of complex logistics operations to skilled drivers. The Linfox people have grasped the opportunity to make this program a success,” Mr Byrne said.

Senator Arbib said the Linfox National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Workforce Strategy was supported by a $4.5 million grant through the Government’s Indigenous Employment Program.

“Linfox signed up to the Australian Employment Covenant to employ 500 Indigenous Australians by May 2013. This ambitious target is well on the way to being met and I look forward to returning and meeting Linfox’s 500 Indigenous employees during the next two years.

“By working with the Government, organisations like Linfox are helping to Close the Gap on employment between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

“The Government is committed to providing jobs for Indigenous Australians, but we can’t do it without the support of the private sector.

“Companies like Linfox are to be congratulated for their commitment to employing Indigenous Australians and are an example of what we hope all businesses will do.”

The IEP is part of the Australian Government's commitment to close the gap on indigenous employment. The Gillard Government has a target of creating more than 100,000 jobs for Indigenous Australians by 2018.

The government has committed more than $750 million over five years to the Indigenous Employment Program, to assist Indigenous Australians into ongoing, sustainable work.