National Indigenous Cadetship Project (NICP) for students
What is the National Indigenous Cadetship Project? : Who is eligible for NICP? : Financial help : How to apply : NICP at a glance : NICP in action : Further information
What is the National Indigenous Cadetship Project?
The National Indigenous Cadetship Project (NICP) links Indigenous Australian students with employers in cadetship arrangements involving full-time study and work placements. This enables students to get professional qualifications and experience in a range of jobs and move into ongoing employment when they complete their studies.
Students undertake a 12-week paid work placement (or equivalent) for each year of their cadetship, usually between academic years.
Who is eligible for NICP?
Indigenous Australians studying full-time (or enrolled to study full-time) at an Australian Tafe college, registered training organisation or university in a diploma, advanced diploma or their first undergraduate degree.
Financial help
Cadets receive:
- a study allowance while undertaking full-time study
- help with the cost of books and equipment
- paid work placements that are relevant to their studies.
Cadets who are studying away from home may also be eligible for limited travel assistance.
Note: Study allowance payments and wages for work placements may vary between employers.
How to apply
You can register online on the National Indigenous Cadetship Project website, or call the Indigenous employment line on 1802 102 to get a registration form.
NICP at a glance
- Links Indigenous tertiary students with employers in cadetships involving full-time study and work placements.
- Cadets undertake a 12-week paid work placement (or equivalent) for each year of their cadetship.
- Cadets get a study allowance and help with the cost of books and equipment.
- Cadets get professional qualifications and relevant work experience.
NICP in action
David Hill
David Hill is an engineering cadet with Woodside in Western Australia. He studies engineering and technology at the University of NSW, and spends his summer holidays working for Woodside. He gets a fortnightly living allowance, money at the beginning of the semester for books and other expenses and gets paid for his work with Woodside.
"The cadetship has made it possible for me to gain valuable, hands-on experience, said David. Because I work over the summer I get to learn so much more than they teach in the class room. The financial assistance means I can spend more time studying instead of having to work part-time to support myself.”
Anita Conte
Anita Conte applied for NICP in her second year of a business degree at the University of Technology in Sydney. She got information about the cadetship project through the university and searched through a list of possible employers.
Anita was interviewed by Deloitte Touché Tohmatsu—one of the world’s most recognised professional services companies—and began two months of paid work within the company’s employment and recruitment arm, Deloitte Resources.
Deloitte Resources recruits accounting, financial and tax professionals for Deloitte clients.
When I first started at Deloitte, there was a really sharp learning curve,
said Anita. In the short time I was doing my cadetship, I learnt so much.
It was my first chance to see how a large corporation operates and the
whole experience was very exciting.
The cadetship was vital because it acted as my introduction to Deloitte, she said. If it wasn’t for the cadetship project I wouldn’t have got my foot in the door.
A lot of people wait for things to fall in their lap. I once thought that work after university would just be there, but it isn’t and you can’t afford to be naïve about it. You have to take responsibility for your own future.
Further information
You can get further information on NICP from the Indigenous employment line on 1802 102, by visiting the National Indigenous Cadetship Project website or emailing nicp@deewr.gov.au.
Download the NICP Students Fact Sheet (PDF 434 KB)
See the NICP Guide to finding yourself a cadetship