Aboriginal cadets working in disability

21 July 2009

Seven young Aboriginal people are working with community support teams from the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (DADHC) in Sydney under a NSW Government cadetship program.

Minister for Disability Services Paul Lynch said the young people were the first to be enrolled by DADHC under Indigenous Cadetship Program.

Mr Lynch said the seven young people would spend 12 weeks working with the community support teams in Fairfield, Burwood, Rosebery and Hurstville to gain hands-on experience in their fields of study.

The six women and one man are also undertaking full-time tertiary study.

Five are enrolled in social work courses at the University of NSW, one is studying speech therapy at the University of Sydney and the other physiotherapy at Newcastle University.

"As part of their structured induction program, they are working with a work place buddy, or mentor, who is a member of the Aboriginal Network and are participating in Aboriginal Network training and team building events," Mr Lynch said.

Mr Lynch said that under the NSW Government's Indigenous Cadetship Program, the trainees also receive a study allowance.

"After successfully completing their cadetship and workplace components of their study, they will be offered a permanent job with the Department," he said.

Mr Lynch said that by working with providers of disability services, the cadets were gaining a better understanding of how such services were provided.

"They are developing their skills and knowledge of their intended field of work and developing professional and personal self-confidence," he said.

MEDIA CONTACT: Andrew Williams 0408 602 936

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