Located 55 kilometres south west of Sydney, Campbelltown City Council is one of the Macarthur region’s highest employers of local residents. Council is set to provide further career opportunities, through a renewed agreement with the Aboriginal Employment Strategy (AES).
The AES is an employment service funded by the Federal Government’s Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. It was developed to assist Aboriginal Australians to gain positions with local business and industry, while receiving ongoing mentoring and support.
Campbelltown currently has 35 traineeship positions across a range of areas in Local Government, five of which are part of the AES.
Council adopted the AES in December 2006, taking on five Aboriginal school based traineeship positions, which go for the duration of Years 11 and 12. The trainees are employed in Business Administration traineeships, which involve learning and using computer skills, general office duties, customer service and so forth. Participating students attend school three days per week, TAFE one day per week and work one day per week with Council.
Campbelltown Mayor, Councillor Aaron Rule, said the program has been immensely successful, and the experience participating students gain at Council will prove invaluable when they seek full time employment.
“Council resolved to extend its trainee program to involve the AES to ensure it is proactive in providing opportunities for a range of people from various backgrounds and interests,” Mayor Rule said. “Apart from being one of the highest employers of local residents, Council provides numerous opportunities for students and interns and helps nurture local talent.
“Council’s philosophy on the traineeship program is to provide as many young people as possible with the opportunity to gain skills, via the traineeship, that are transferable to future jobs. Trainees are welcome to apply for vacancies at Council once they have completed their traineeship, and a number of trainees have in the past been successful in competing against the open market for permanent positions.”
For further information contact Campbelltown’s Human Resources Department on (02) 4645 4379.
