Indigenous employment program launches in Kwinana
Employment Services Group (ESG), with support from MatchWorks, launched the successful Deadly Yakka program in Kwinana today for Indigenous job seekers in the region.
Aboriginal elders Charles Kickett and Lindsay Calyun conducted a traditional Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony at the launch, which was held at Zone Youth Space.
Participants gather for the Smoking Ceremony at the Deadly Yakka launch in Kwinana, WA.
The two-week 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 initiative has also been recently delivered across locations in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia.
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 purpose of Deadly is to bring communities together and to give Indigenous job seekers a supportive network to make the transition into stable, ongoing employment.
“The Deadly Yakka program commences with traditional cultural activities where job seekers will have the opportunity to meet staff and various support services, such as employers, trainers and mentors who will assist them throughout the initiative,” she said.
“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. We have already seen a lot of successful outcomes from this program.”
MatchWorks and ESG will continue to roll out the initiative at more locations in the future.