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Recommendation 16
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Recommendation 23
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Initiatives targeting Recommendation 23

Australian Capital Territory

Skills 500

The Skills 500 program is aimed at getting more employers involved in New Apprentice training and improving employment outcomes in the Territory. The ACT Government offers ACT employers a financial incentive for employing out-of-work people as New Apprentices. The objective of the program is to have 500 currently out-of-work people placed into New Apprenticeships. New Apprentices are trained in the latest systems and technologies. They bring these skills back to local businesses helping them to keep up to date with industries.

The program is directed towards students in danger of dropping out of school, people who have been out of work for more than 3 months and people working less than 10 hours per week.

Target Group: Young people aged 14-18

Coverage: Territory wide

Timeframe: Ongoing as funding allows

Responsible Agency: ACT Department of Education and Community Services

Contact Information: Training and Adult Education, (02) 6205 7088,

Website: http://www.decs.act.gov.au/services/skills500.htm

Indigenous Employee Mentoring Program

The ACT Government has taken steps to improve the employment prospects of the ACT's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community by awarding the ACT and Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry a contract to run an Indigenous Employee Mentoring Program.

The Chamber has already conducted a successful three-month pilot program of five Indigenous people with two mentors in the hospitality industry. The pilot showed that the participants gained confidence, and that employers' misconceptions about employing Indigenous people were broken down. After the success of the pilot, the Government has decided to proceed with the program, expanding it to around 15 participants at any time across a broader range of industries. There is no cost to participants, however, participants do need to be in employment. The program is scheduled to begin in early May.

The program will be important in providing positive employment experiences for Indigenous people and will help address possible barriers to ongoing employment, assist participants to overcome feelings of alienation and isolation in the workplace, and provide cultural awareness training and feedback to employers so they can better support Indigenous employees. The program will bring real benefits for Canberra's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Target Group: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

Coverage: Territory wide

Timeframe: Ongoing as funding allows

Responsible Agency: ACT Department of Education and Community Services

Contact Information: Training and Adult Education, (02) 6205 7088

Website: http://www.decs.act.gov.au