An $80 million commitment to support jobs connected to training in the social housing sector has now changed the lives of more than 300 people, with the first group of cadets graduating to become full-time housing support workers.
The new graduates will today be presented with their Certificate IV in Housing, after completing a cadetship run by the Community Housing Industry Association NSW (CHIA NSW) in partnership with the NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC).
Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes Anthony Roberts said LAHC had partnered with industry bodies to assist in getting more people into work through the NSW Government’s $80 million Apprenticeship, Traineeship and Cadetship program.
“In 2020, we made a massive commitment through stimulus funding to support jobs connected to training in the housing sector by collaborating with industry bodies like CHIA, who have since created a $10 million Cadetship program” Mr Roberts said.
“Since then, we’ve seen the lives of more than 300 people changed – including the graduates of this program. Many of these graduates have had rough starts to their lives and around 75 per cent were unemployed before entering the program.”
Parliamentary Secretary for Planning Tanya Davies said the program, which focuses on providing opportunities for young people, those returning to the workforce, and those in need of housing assistance, provides a rewarding career pathway for graduates.
“Through this cadetship, graduates now have the opportunity to help deliver support services to tenants and the community in the social housing and homelessness sector,” Mrs Davies said.
“The power of their own lived experiences will be immeasurable in supporting families experiencing vulnerability.
“We celebrate them taking their first step in their career as fully qualified housing support workers.”
CHIA NSW Chief Executive Officer Mark Degotardi said he was proud of the students, who had embraced their opportunity to produce outstanding results.
“We can’t wait to see them explore their potential and develop their careers with community housing providers – an industry which values their newly developed skills,” Mr Degotardi said.
“We congratulate the NSW Government on this fantastic initiative.”
