Indigenous Youth Employment

Connect supports Indigenous young people to establish meaningful and sustainable employment pathways through all of our programs. We also provide dedicated support for Indigenous young people in Lismore and Muli Muli through the ISEP project.

The Indigenous Skills and Employment Program (ISEP) is a community-driven program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in Lismore and Muli Muli based on the principles of Leadership, Sustainment, and Self-Sufficiency.

Young people aged 15-24 have access to one-on-one support, training and skills building, engagement with community projects, and aspiration building excursions. The project also seeks to highlight the achievements of participants and local Indigenous businesses in order to grow employment pathways for Indigenous young people in the local region.

Connect delivers the ISEP project in consortium with Agency in Design in Lismore and Border Rangers Contractors in Muli Muli.

Please use the link below to refer young people to the ISEP project:

Online Referral Form

Indigenous School-based Traineeship Program for young people

The Indigenous School-based Traneeship Program is designed to support students into viable career pathways. Students may undertake a School-based Traineeship during Year 11 and 12 or participate in part-time work while they’re still at school.

What Connect will do to support you:

Provide work-readiness workshops and support to prepare you for work
Identify part-time employment, Traineeship or Apprenticeship opportunities with a local employer
Support you to balance work, TAFE, and keeping up with school assignments (for part-time employment or School-based Traineeships)
Provide ongoing mentoring to address any issues which may create obstacles for your successful engagement with employment and training

Indigenous School-based Traineeship Program for employers

The Indigenous School-based Traineeship Program is designed to support students into viable career pathways. Students may participate in part-time work while they’re still at school, undertake a School-based Traineeship during Year 11 and 12, or commence a post-school Traineeship or Apprenticeship when they complete Year 12.

“Since 2009 McDonalds Pharmacy has hosted Indigenous School based trainees to complete their HSC studies, and gain Certificate II in Community Pharmacy. Another two young people have gone on to complete Certificate III in Community Pharmacy with McDonalds Pharmacy. This has been a very successful pathway for these 8 young Aboriginal people who have successfully completed their traineeships and then utilised the learned skills to further their careers not only in pharmacy but also in Enrolled Nursing, Aboriginal Health Services, as Dispensary Technicians and in Business Services Administration. McDonalds Pharmacy is indeed proud of the results of this program where trainees increase their skill levels, gain confidence and grow as people, all which benefits them for the rest of their lives.”

What Connect will do to support employers:

Identify students who are work-ready and a good fit for part-time work, school-based traineeships or apprenticeships
Organize work experience with prospective employers
Facilitate pre-employment training as necessary, such as White card, to prepare students for the workplace
Ensure students and families understand the commitment and expectations involved in the student’s employment
Maintain communication with employers, training providers, young people and their families to ensure young employees are keeping up with their training and adjusting to the work-place
Support employers and students to communicate effectively about any workplace issues that may arise
Provide cultural-awareness training to employers as requested

What Connect will do to support young employees:

Provide work-readiness workshops and support to ensure young people are ready for work
Provide ongoing mentoring to help young employees balance work and training and address any issues which may create obstacles for successful engagement with employment

Connect Northern Rivers Inc. has 15 years’ experience providing structured work placement and managing career and transition programs for young people throughout the Northern Rivers region.

Indigenous School-based Traineeship Program for Parents

The Indigenous School-based Traineeship Program is designed to support students into viable career pathways. Students may participate in part-time work while they’re still at school, undertake a School-based Traineeship during Year 11 and 12, or commence a post-school Apprenticeship or Traineeship when they finish Year 12.

What Connect will do to support your child:

Provide work-readiness workshops and support to prepare your child for work
Identify part-time employment, Traineeship or Apprenticeship opportunities with a local employer
Support your child to balance work, TAFE, and keeping up with school assignments (for part-time employment or School-based Traineeships)
Provide ongoing mentoring to address any issues which may create obstacles for your child’s successful engagement with employment and training