No. 16

PUBLIC-SERVICE TRAINEESHIPS FOR INDIGENOUS YOUTH

The ACT Government will unlock a total government investment of up to $500,000 in the future of Indigenous youth in the ACT through an innovative new traineeship program. 

Chief Minister and Minister for Indigenous Affairs Jon Stanhope said the program would provide practical work experience and job opportunities in the ACT Public Service for 15 young Indigenous men and women. 

“This program, to be delivered by the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services in collaboration with a local training provider, will allow the ACT Government, through the ACT Public Service, to take practical steps to help young Indigenous Canberrans build their skills and get valuable work experience, with a permanent job at the end of the process,” Mr Stanhope said.

“As part of the 2007-08 ACT Budget we will make a direct investment of $20,000 to this program, placing 15 participants into an initial 3-month traineeship in the ACT Public Service.

“During this time participants will gain workplace experience, and have access to a range of agency programs, including formal administrative training and extensive mentoring. They will also receive IT training to Certificate II level in a structured program over two phases in formal ACT Government workplace settings. The total value of this training will be in the order of $500,000.

“The participants will be placed in permanent positions in an ACT Government agency once they have successfully completed the 12-month program.

“As part of the program ACT Government Agencies will be required to provide the work colleagues of program participants with training in cultural awareness. By building administrative capacity in our Indigenous community and a stronger understanding of Indigenous issues amongst the broader ACT Public Service, we will, over time, make a real and practical contribution to the prospects of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.”

Mr Stanhope said the hard decisions taken in last year’s budget were helping to keep the ACT’s books in the black and providing the funds required to invest in further skills development within the ACT’s Indigenous communities.