The Territory Labor Government is strengthening our local workforce and providing employment pathways for Aboriginal Territorians.
The specialised Aboriginal Employment Program, which currently has 17 participants, has been recently revamped to deliver training, skills development and employment opportunities, with the participants able to earn while they learn.
This year’s participants will be commencing their transition to the workplace next week after their initial five weeks training undertaken at the Waterfront Campus of Charles Darwin University.
They will be hosted in a number of public sector agencies, including the Department of Corporate and Digital Development, Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics, Department of Education and Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities.
Increasing Aboriginal workforce participation in the public sector importantly ensures that our workplaces more closely resemble the social fabric of our communities.
The Aboriginal Employment Program has been providing opportunities for Aboriginal Territorians in the NTPS for 14 years.
Upon successful completion of the program, participants are given the opportunity to work with the Department of Corporate and Digital Development’s workforce development team to progress into other early career programs or ongoing positions in various public sector agencies.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Corporate and Digital Development, Ngaree Ah Kit:
“Bringing more Aboriginal people into the workplace and having that workplace more closely resemble the community’s demographic is valuable for cross-cultural awareness, diversity and inclusion.
“The Aboriginal Employment Program offers an intensive 20 week pre-employment course that includes a Certificate II qualification and valuable work experience.
“Participants in the program receive full time training, a gradual introduction to the workplace and a pathway to potential long term employment.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Employment, Paul Kirby:
“Our Government is developing a workforce that reflects the community it serves.
“We support Aboriginal employment and career development initiatives including attraction and retention from entry level through to leadership roles.
“The extension of the Aboriginal Employment Program into regional locations in future intakes will ensure that more opportunities are available for more Territorians right across the Territory.”
Northern Territory Government
