Work ethic 'lost' in Aboriginal lands

The Federal Government's Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) have provided activities which help people develop their skills and job readiness.

Jonathan Nicholls, from the welfare organisation, says people are still getting welfare payments but losing their involvement at a community level.

"It's very much a case of taking small steps and building up a momentum, building up an expectation that people turn up first thing in the morning and do particular activities," he said.

"That momentum has been lost because people have been told 'You can no longer do this particular activity and we're not quite sure yet what will be the replacement activities'."

Mr Nicholls says his recent visit to the Lands highlighted a sharp contrast, with communities less active than he observed six months before.

"When I went to the Lands in March, in every community there were CDEP workers out and about involved in activities in their local community," he said.

"On this visit I didn't see any CDEP workers in the communities doing things - people feel like they've lost their involvement at a local community level, people feel like they've lost their jobs."