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For more information contact  Indigenous Employment Programme Branch Page last modified 4 June 2008

Indigenous Programs

The Indigenous Employment Policy focuses on creating opportunitiies for Indigenous people in the private sector and provides a flexible package of assistance including:

Indigenous Employment Program

  • Structured Training and Employment Projects provide flexible funding for projects that lead to lasting employment for Indigenous job seekers. Assistance is tailored to business needs and could, for example, include funding for apprenticeships, mentoring and other innovative approaches.
  • Corporate Leaders for Indigenous Employment Project is a flexible package of funding available to major private sector companies employing Indigenous Australians. 

  • National Indigenous Cadetship Project (NICP) - find a cadet for your business. Indigenous university students can gain professional work experience and financial support.

  • Wage Assistance provides financial assistance to employers who employ Indigenous Australians.
  • The CDEP Placement Incentive is an incentive payment of $3025 to CDEP providers for each participant that is placed in ongoing employment and off CDEP payments.
  • The Aboriginal Employment Strategy (AES) provides individually tailored assistance to help Indigenous job seekers prepare for, gain and retain jobs. The AES currently operates from sites in areas including Moree, Tamworth, Dubbo, Glebe, Blacktown and Maitland.

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Indigenous business incentives and business development programs

  • Indigenous Small Business Fund (ISBF) provides funding for the development and expansion of Indigenous businesses and enterprises.
  • Indigenous Capital Assistance Scheme (ICAS) is intended to stimulate Indigenous business development. The business and financial sector will be encouraged to support Indigenous businesses by providing tailored products and services which will support Indigenous business development. 
  • The Emerging Indigenous Entrepreneurs Initiative (EIEI) - funding to support the strategies underpinning the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy (IEDS). Funding is available to support initiatives which will improve the economic development, business skills and financial literacy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, ultimately leading to enhanced employment and business development opportunities

Measures to improve employment services and outcomes for Indigenous Australians

  • Indigenous Employment Centres (IECs) Indigenous Employment Centres were introduced to bridge the gap between Community Development Employment Projects and Job Network.
  • Job Network is a national network of private and community organisations that help people find jobs. Special measures are in place to help indigenous job seekers.
  • Indigenous Youth Employment Consultants enhance education, training and employment outcomes for disengaged Indigenous young people aged between 15 and 19 years.

Other Indigenous employment and business development programs

  • Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) provide employment and training opportunities for Indigenous Australians, who voluntarily forgo their income support from Centrelink. CDEP also offers opportunities for Indigenous people and communities to establish their own businesses to create employment.
  • Indigenous Business Australia was established to assist and enhance Indigenous self-management and economic self sufficiency. It is also required to advance the commercial and economic interests of Indigenous people by accumulating and using a substantial capital asset base for the benefit of Indigenous Australians.

More information

  • Call 1802 102 (free call).
  • The Australian Public Service Commission's booklet How to Get Yourself a Job is for Indigenous job seekers and school leavers. It has valuable information on finding and applying for jobs, handling interviews and settling successfully into a new job.
  • Indigenous Guide to Job Network (PDF 578KB) is booklet to assist Indigenous job seekers to use Job Network.

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