[Sub ID 4587] Expansion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Supported Traineeships (Mission Australia)

Submission ID: 4587
Organisation name: Mission Australia
State: NSW
Contact email: tenders@missionaustralia.com.au

Which priority group of the Try, Test and Learn Fund does your idea support?
Young students at risk of long-term unemployment

What need or issue are you trying to address?
While many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people attend further education, attendance and retention rates remain lower than those of non-Indigenous young people. Unemployment rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people are also considerably higher than general youth unemployment rates, with 31.8% of 15-24 year old Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people experiencing unemployment. For young people who have left further education, supported traineeships which combine education and employment can support retention while leading to ongoing employment on completion.

Traineeships provide young people with employment skills and experience as well as a nationally recognised qualification. Enterprise skills such as confidence, communication, team work, project management and enthusiasm for learning are also learnt in addition to technical skills and have been found to be a powerful predictor of long-term job success.

In addition, community service providers need to develop stronger culturally informed and culturally responsive practices in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Through recruiting and skilling young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in a community services traineeship, these young people can also enhance the cultural competency of community service organisations while young people gain accredited skills and

What is your idea?
Expansion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Traineeships in the community services sector in Darwin, Alice Springs, Katherine, Townsville and Cairns, with employment at a provider and support to gain TAFE qualifications in community services and/or mental health areas. Traineeships will provide mentoring from senior caseworkers and ongoing opportunities for workplace training, courses and workshops.

This traineeship program would support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people who have exited further education or training to reengage with education and enter employment in the community services sector. Additionally, this traineeship aims to contribute to stronger cultural competency in the sector, which would enhance providers’ effectiveness in assisting young at-risk people with workforce participation.

Mission Australia has so far supported 46 trainees to gain qualifications and employment with the community services sector in the Central and Far West NSW region, with these trainees completing TAFE qualifications in the community services and/or mental health areas as part of the traineeship program. 96% of these trainees have gone onto full time positions within Mission Australia or the sector.