Indigenous employment program heads to New South Wales

Local employment service provider Employment Services Group (ESG), with support from MatchWorks, launched the successful Deadly Yakka program in Mount Druitt today for Indigenous job seekers in the region.

The initiative, specifically designed for Indigenous job seekers, focuses on real employment outcomes and assists people to find a job they will be passionate about.

Indigenous job seekers from the Mount Druitt, NSW region with Employment Services Group and MatchWorks team members.

Indigenous job seekers from the Mount Druitt, NSW region with Employment Services Group and MatchWorks team members.

The week-long course has delivered successful programs at Victorian, Queensland and South Australian locations, with job seekers gaining and maintaining employment after working with Indigenous mentors and trainers.

The Deadly Yakka program covers goal setting and personal development, life skills for work, interview skills, cultural awareness training, presentation advice, workplace expectations and job search skills; while also addressing personal barriers to understand what has been holding participants back in their journey to work.

MatchWorks Executive Director Renae Lowry said the Deadly Yakka aims to help Indigenous job seekers find sustainable employment by preparing career pathways and also assists employers in the local area to recruit staff.

“We’ve seen a lot of successful outcomes from this program and it’s proven to be a life-changing experience for the job seekers,” she said.

“The program will commence with traditional cultural activities where the job seekers will have the opportunity to meet staff and access various support services, such as employers, trainers and mentors who will assist them throughout the initiative. Once the formal training period is complete, job seekers will continue to workshop activities with their mentors and marketers to help increase their chances of gaining ongoing employment.”

Deadly Yakka launched in Victoria in 2014 and has run at locations including Bendigo, Sunshine, Bacchus Marsh, Noarlunga in South Australia, Caboolture in Queensland and now Mount Druitt in New South Wales. ESG and MatchWorks will continue to roll out the initiative at more locations in the future.