Brian Dowd – Black on Track-NSW
Brian Dowd and ‘Black on Track’ is all about creating opportunities for all Indigenous Australians to identify, accept and self-heal by taking responsibility for their life choices, and becoming empowered through self-worth. Black on Track works closely in communities with such organisations as Mission Australia, FaHCSIA and Joblink Plus, to provide job-readiness programs for Indigenous job seekers. Over the past six years, owner and founder of Black on Track Brian Dowd, has grown this program to a nationally and internationally recognised organisation. Black on Track operates on a 91-per-cent program-completion success rate.
Charles Williams – Crown Ltd – NSW
Crown is one of Australia’s largest entertainment groups and wholly owns/operates two of Australia’s leading integrated resorts, Crown Entertainment Complex in Melbourne and Burswood Entertainment Complex in Perth. Crown Limited was the first company to sign the Australian Employment Covenant in 2008, a commitment to providing 300 careers for Indigenous Australians. Via an internal Indigenous Employment Program, 114 Indigenous Australians have been employed across many areas of the business. The key to Crown’s success is a holistic approach that focuses on all aspects of Indigenous employment and a clear aim of providing long-term sustainable careers for Indigenous Australians.
MEGT, Indigenous Apprenticeship & Trainee Network – NSW
MEGT (Australia) Ltd is a not-for-profit organisation that specialises in employing apprentices and trainees. MEGT employs over 1000 apprentices and trainees and has been in operation for 27 years. MEGT has a significant commitment to Indigenous employment and has established a separate “Indigenous Apprenticeship and Traineeship Network” (IATN) division, which specialises in the employment of Indigenous people. In the two years IATN has been operating, over 150 Indigenous people have been employed with a 70-per-cent retention rate. IATN currently services NSW, Southern QLD and North Eastern Victoria with plans for WA and SA.
NSW Health – Nursing and Midwifery – NSW
The NSW Aboriginal Nursing and Midwifery Strategy was developed as a result of the NSW State Government’s commitment in 2001 to increase the number of Aboriginal nurses and midwives in rural and remote NSW. The program involves Aboriginal students undertaking full-time study in an undergraduate nursing/midwifery degree or a Diploma/Certificate IV in enrolled nursing, while being employed in a NSW Public Health facility. So far, 30 participants have graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing/Midwifery Undergraduate degree and two participants with a Diploma of Nursing. There are currently 42 students on the cadetship program with another 17 graduating at the end of 2011.
Andrew Jackomos – Justice Department – VIC
The Koori Justice Department has committed to targets of recruiting Indigenous cadets within each of its eight divisions. The first four cadets commenced in 2009. Another four cadetships were filled in 2010. Under the program, Indigenous tertiary students interested in a career in Justice are linked with business units within the Department in a cadetship arrangement involving full-time study and work-experience placements. Upon completion, cadets are offered ongoing employment in the department. This is an exciting new program for Justice that not only enables Indigenous students to gain professional qualifications and experience, but also secures cadets an ongoing position.
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