Over to you WESTERN ROADS FEDERATION by Cam Dumesny, CEO
WA Transport Industry Supports Waste to Wages
L
ast month, myself representing Western Roads Federation and the Shadow Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Labor Senator for Western Australia, Glenn Sterle took a full road train of pre-loved and unwanted furniture from Perth to Kununurra to support local families in the East Kimberley. I don’t think too many Australian Federal Senators can drive a road train, let alone drive one up and back to Kununurra. To make this possible, the support and contribution from our West Australian transport industry was incredible.
As was the reception we received once we got there.
About the Waste to Wages Program Established in mid-2017 by East Kimberley Job Pathways (EKJP) which is owned in partnership by Wunan Aboriginal Corporation and the Kununurra Region Economic Aboriginal Corporation - Revive operates as a ‘Waste to Wages’ social enterprise. While on wages with Revive, job seekers are supported to gain skills and experience in order to obtain sustainable Shadow Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Labor Senator for Western Australia, Glenn Sterle and Western Roads Federation CEO Cam Dumesny
employment in the open labour market - which in turn creates opportunities for successive job seekers. The ‘Waste to Wages’ program trains and employs Aboriginal youth to collect and repair recyclable items for their recycling store. The workers repair old furniture and push bikes as well as create art out of used materials which are then sold on to the local community at an affordable price. Families come from as far away as Balgo, Halls Creek and Kalumburu to purchase these much-needed items. EKJP underpins all costs associated with operating the enterprise and utilises funds derived through the sale of products, namely furniture, to directly employ vulnerable Aboriginal job seekers on a supported wage.
Look out for the ACFS Indigenous Truck Arthur Tzaneros at ACFS Port Logistics donated a brand new 2653 Mercedes Benz Prime Mover with fuel, a trailer and dolly for the journey. The Prime Mover is covered at the front in artwork designed by a young aboriginal artist from the Kimberley. You can now see the truck running around Perth and Fremantle port.
Keys Got Us Moving Nick D’Adamo and his team at Keys – The Moving Solution in Canning Vale assisted with 16
WATM • December 2020
