I begin this paper with some facts which are indisputable. CDEP continues to be Australia’s largest employer of Indigenous people, with over 270 projects involving over 33 000 participants. Of these projects, 95 per cent are located in regional and remote Australia, in places with limited access to viable labour markets. Unemployment trends will deepen unless Australians invest in collaborative, holistic programs.

CDEP is one of the most important programs for Indigenous people. It continues to provide an important focus for communities to undertake a wide range of activities which support the operation of the community, maintain services, and build upon and strengthen Indigenous culture. Most importantly, CDEP is community driven.

ATSIC’s commitment to the further development of the scheme could not be stronger. The ATSIC Board considers that the scheme is one of the most important avenues of opportunity for Indigenous people to work in their communities and to gain skills which may lead to further employment or to developing the capacity of their communities. While the CDEP continues to demonstrate successful social, economic, and community development outcomes, the ATSIC Board does not see it as a substitute for real employment.

The ATSIC Board believes that CDEP should continue to play a major role in the creation of employment and training for participants, and should form the basis for creating enterprises in economically sustainable activities, to strengthen the capacity of their communities. CDEP is something which we can all be proud of, but ATSIC and the CDEP projects must work together, and with other government agencies and the private sector, to continue to develop the scheme into the future.