Indigenous Employment program (IEP)

IEP supports activities that are needed by employers, Aboriginal people and their communities. Support is available for activities that help to achieve the objective of the IEP (halving the gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal employment outcomes within a decade) and that offer value for money.

These could include activities that will:

• Encourage and support employers to provide long-term employment opportunities for Aboriginal people
• Encourage and support Aboriginal people to take up training and employment and stay in jobs
• Assist Aboriginal communities, industry bodies and groups of employers to work together to an Aboriginal workforce and economic growth in their region
• Assist Aboriginal people to open sustainable businesses in urban, regional and remote areas.

Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) program

This program helps Aboriginal job seekers to gain the skills, training and capabilities needed as a stepping stone to employment and through activities and projects that improve the economic and social well-being of communities.

The CDEP program provides employment opportunities through its work readiness stream.

Work Readiness 

Work Readiness services help job seekers to develop their skills, improve their chances of getting a job and move to work in jobs and roles outside of those created in the CDEP program. Work Readiness services include job-focused training and work experience.

• People in continuing work experience placements receive wages for the number of hours required to earn the APP rate.
• The work experience employer is responsible for paying wages to continuing work experience workers for hours worked above what is required to earn the APP rate.
• Employers providing work experience for new workers (those in receipt of income support payments) are responsible for paying wages for all hours worked.
• Employers providing work experience to new workers have access to the CDEP Work Experience Subsidy (CWES), administered by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. This subsidy encourages employers to offer work experience placements and pay wages directly to workers.