Aboriginal traineeship program

Application pack

Aboriginal traineeship program

In October 2011, the Public Sector Commission (the Commission) launched the Aboriginal Employment Strategy 2011-2015 - Building a diverse public sector workforce. The Public Sector Commission’s (the Commission) commitment to sustainable employment opportunities and career pathways for Aboriginal people in the WA Public Sector continues despite the Aboriginal Employment Strategy 2011-2015 coming to an end.

The commitment will continue to provide long term, sustainable employment opportunities and career pathways for Aboriginal people across thepublic sector.

An initiative of the strategy was the establishment of the Aboriginal1traineeship program – an integrated employment, training, mentoring and support service that is centrally coordinated and funded by the Commission.

The program is an employment-based training initiative which provides Aboriginal youth, 24 years and under, an opportunity to undertake a government traineeship in a Western Australia public sector agency.

The program provides a unique and valuable opportunity for Aboriginal people to develop the skills, experience and knowledge to embark on a career in the public sector. On successful completion of the 12 month traineeship, participants will receive a nationally recognised qualification (Certificate III in Government).

The Commission has also engaged a registered training organisation (RTO), on behalf of your agency, to monitor the trainee’s progress and assess the units of competence acquired.

Public sector agencies interested in taking advantage of this fully funded employment-based training opportunity must be able to:

  • host the trainee, via a secondment arrangement with the Commission, for the duration of the traineeship
  • provide a supportive working environment
  • provide suitable work tasks for the trainee to complete
  • offer ongoing employment upon successful completion of the traineeship.

The term Aboriginal is inclusive of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Program outline

The Centre for Public Sector Excellence within the Commission is responsible for coordinating the program, including organising training workshops, providing ongoing advice and mentoring support, regularly liaising with both trainees and agency supervisors and meeting all ongoing costs.

The program comprises of a series of phases as outlined below:

Phase 1: Attraction, selection and recruitment

The Commission will interview applicants and select candidates for the program. The Commission will seek expressions of interest from agencies and select those agencies which meet specific criteria and can provide ongoing employment after successful completion of the traineeship.

Phase 2: Inductionprogram

Successful candidates will complete a traineeship inductionprogram focusing on workplace readiness and preparing trainees to work in a public sector environment.

Phase 3: Traineeship appointment

Upon successful completion of the traineeship induction, candidates will be matched to an agency based on location requirements and career aspirations. It is proposed that trainees will commence their traineeships in July 2016 pending the end to the current recruitment freeze. Traineeships are approximately 12 months in duration.

Phase 4: Traineeship completion

Upon successful completion of the traineeship, trainees will be presented with a Certificate in Government and supported to secure ongoing employment. If the host agency is unable to offer ongoing employment the Commission the trainees will be referred to the Trainee Transition to Employment Program (TTEP).

Learning outcomes

Selected agencies must be able to provide trainees with on-the-job learning opportunities that allow trainees to:

  • work effectively within a public sector environment
  • use workplace communication techniques and strategies
  • deliver services to clients
  • follow and contribute to workplace safety procedures
  • contribute to workgroup activities
  • work effectively with diversity
  • comply with legislation and code of ethics of the public service
  • support policy implementation
  • apply government processes

Learning and assessment

The Commission will engage a RTO whose role is to assess units of competency acquired by the trainee throughout the duration of their Traineeship. The RTO will:

  • complete the training plan outline, which specifies the competencies the trainee will complete during the traineeship
  • assist in deciding which qualification is suitable for the trainee to complete (Certificate III in Government)
  • monitor the trainee’s progress in the workplace
  • assess units of competency gained in the workplace
  • issue the qualification upon completion of the traineeship
  • offer advice and support about the traineeship to both the agency and the trainee.

Agency investment and commitment

As part of the Commission’s commitment to providing sustainable employment opportunities for Aboriginal people across the public sector, the Commission will meet all costs of the Program, including trainee wages and training delivery.

Agencies hosting a trainee must be able to allocate the time and resources necessary to continually support, guide and develop the trainee throughout the traineeship. It is essential that agencies also provide:

  • suitable work related tasks for the trainee to complete
  • a comprehensive agency orientation and induction
  • a dedicated Trainee Supervisor
  • ongoing employment on successful completion of the traineeship
  • quarterly feedback to the Commission on trainee progress.

Application and selection process

The 2015 intake is open to metropolitan and regional-basedWestern Australian public sector agencies that can demonstrate:

  • ability to provide ongoing employment upon successful completion of the traineeship (if possible)
  • agree to host a trainee, via a secondment arrangement with the Commission, for the duration of the traineeship
  • previous experience in successfully training and retaining trainees/Aboriginal trainees
  • ability to provide a culturally appropriate workplace
  • provision of a dedicated Trainee Supervisor
  • ability to provide work suitable for the trainee to meet their units of competence

Closing date

Applications close at 5.00pm Friday 13 May2016. Late applications will not be accepted.

Application submission

All applications must be submitted to the Commission or by fax (08)6552 8710

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Application form

Aboriginal traineeship program

Completed applications to be submitted to the Public Sector Commission via

by COB13 May2016

Section 1

Agency details

Agency name
Locations of trainee placements / Metropolitan Locations: How many trainees can your agency host
1 2 3 4 5+
Name of the division the trainee will be placed / If your agency seeks to host a traineeat multiple office locations please list these here:
Office location 1:
Office location 2:
Office location 3:
(add more lines if needed)
Locations of trainee placements / Regional Locations How many trainees can your agency host
Broome: 1 2 3 4 5+
Port Hedland: 1 2 3 4 5+
Geraldton: 1 2 3 4 5+
Kalgoorlie: 1 2 3 4 5+
Albany: 1 2 3 4 5+
Bunbury: 1 2 3 4 5+
Northam: 1 2 3 4 5+
Other:
Name of the division the trainee will be placed
Has your agency identified an ongoing position for the trainee, subject to their successful completion of the traineeship? / Yes
If yes, what type
Permanent – entry level Fixed-term – entrylevel
Higher level traineeship No
NB Priority will be given to agencies who can offer ongoing employment.
If no, what prevents your agency from offering ongoing employment?
Please outline your agency’s previous experience in training and retaining trainees/Aboriginal trainees
(For example, number of trainees currently employed, strategies in place to retain, retention rates)
Does your agency provide cultural awareness training? / Yes No Planning to deliver
Please indicate if your agency requires the following checks to be in place prior to the trainee commencing:
Working With Children Check
Federal Police Clearance
Other:
Agency funds available to pay for checks (if not, the Commission will negotiate payment with the trainee)

Section 2

Human Resource Director/Manager

Title / Dr Mr Ms Mrs Miss Other
Given name
Surname
Position title
Division
Street address
Postal address
Telephone work
Email
Signature
Date

Section 3

Agency Contact - Trainee Supervisor detailsIf known, please provide the contact details for the Trainee Supervisor

Title / Dr Mr Ms Mrs Miss Other
Given name
Surname
Position title
Division
Street address
Postal address
Telephone work
Email
*Supervisor named here will be invited to attend a Traineeship Induction Session.

Section 4

Statement of commitment - Chief Executive Officer

In my capacity as the Chief Executive Officer, I confirm that my agency:
will provide suitable work for the trainee/s to complete units of competency for a Certificate in Government
will provide ongoing employment to the trainee on successful completion of the Traineeship, and satisfactory performance
cannot offer ongoing employment to the trainee at this stage, yet will investigate options during the duration of the traineeship
Name
Title
Signature
Date

Office use only

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