Career support for Aboriginal students and Torres Strait Islander students

Ready to kick-start your career? There are several pathways that combine paid work and training.

Apprenticeships are paid, long-term training in skilled trades (e.g. plumbing, electrical etc) leading to a qualification.

Traineeships are paid, shorter-term training in a diverse range of industries (e.g. business, health, IT etc) resulting in a qualification.

Cadetships are paid work opportunities for current university or TAFE students. Some cadetships provide additional financial support for study.

Internships provide short-term practical work experience and can be paid or unpaid.

• The Aboriginal Employment Strategy offers mentoring support and apprenticeship and traineeship services to students.
• The Indigenous Apprenticeships Program by Services Australia offers a pathway for Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples to start their career in the Australian Public Service.
• AFL SportsReady is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to helping young Australians develop careers through traineeships, cadetships, direct employment and educational opportunities.
• The School based traineeships program by yourtown helps students find apprenticeships or traineeships so they can gain work skills while completing school.
• The CSIRO offers employment opportunities, including traineeships, cadetships and postgraduate scholarships.
• The Evergreen Program with the Australian Tax Office offers jobs for Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples including training and a certified qualification.
• CareerTrackers links First Nations students from Year 12 and throughout university with employers related to their aspirations for paid, multi-year internships.

• ANZ Bank offers school-based and full-time traineeships for Year 10-12 students and adult part or full time traineeships.
• CommBank provides opportunities through traineeships, internships, and graduate programs.
• NAB offers school based and adult traineeships and internship programs for university students.
• Westpac provides various opportunities, including direct employment, graduate programs, traineeships, internships and cadetships.

• The Deadly Start Program, in partnership with Queensland Health’s Equity Strategy, aims to provide culturally supportive pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander high school students to kickstart their career in healthcare in roles including nursing, midwifery, oral health and allied health.
• The Australian Indigenous Doctors' Association website contains information and answers frequently asked questions about becoming a doctor.
• ATSICHS Brisbane  has an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traineeship program for school leavers in business administration, information technology, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care or dentistry.
• The Australian Government Department of Health provides opportunities for students to complete their studies and join the health workforce.

• The Australian Public Service Commission offers an Indigenous graduate program for recent tertiary graduates. The program recruits on behalf of a large number of Australian Government agencies
• The  Australian Taxation Office Evergreen program provides opportunities for combined work experience and formal training, with a permanent job on completion.
• The Queensland Police Service Indigenous entry pathway offers positions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through a direct entry recruit training program.
• The Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department offers Indigenous development and graduate recruitment programs.
• The Department of Transport and Main Roads offers employment programs and opportunities, including graduate programs, cadetships and scholarships, and apprenticeships and traineeships.

• Indigenous Business Australia provides information, loans and support for Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people starting their own business.
• The Queensland Indigenous Youth Leadership Program is a leadership and professional development program run by the Queensland Government. It involves a fully-funded 7-day residential stay with leadership workshops and funding opportunities for further professional development or implementing your own community project at the end of the program.
• Business Queensland provides a range of contacts, support and resources to support Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people start, run and grow their own business.