The Program

Karen Sheldon Training, with the assistance of the Department of Employment, Education and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), has developed the Future Stars Training Program, which is aimed at providing work ready skills to indigenous jobseekers in the hospitality and retail sectors. 

It is tailored to the needs of indigenous Australians and is based on many years of practical experience.  Trainees begin to develop the motivation, practical expertise and social skills to allow them to enter the mainstream workforce and become productive and motivated employees.

Trainees may be referred to us by a Job Services Australia provider or individuals may register directly.  The course runs for four-weeks and after successful completion graduates are rewarded with a certificate and are then placed into work.

During the intensive four- week course a variety of modules are completed:

Participants will also obtain their Responsible Service of Alcohol certificate during the course.

The Benefits of Hiring Indigenous Australians

The average size of Australian families is in decline and the flow on effect is the overall decline in the working age population.  In contrast, Australia’s indigenous population is growing at a faster rate than that of the non-indigenous population.

Indigenous Australians have often been overlooked as potential employees.  Now an increasing number of organisations are recognising that a commitment to employing indigenous Australians makes good business sense.  The current skills shortages in most industries and the growth in the number of young working age people who are of indigenous decent makes for an untapped and valuable employment source.

It is a fact in Darwin that there is a shortage of suitably trained hospitality professionals, with local businesses relying heavily on backpackers during the peak and non peak seasons.  It makes sense to train indigenous people for businesses to have access to local staff year round and at the same time offering sustainable employment opportunities to local people who are unemployed. 

There are also benefits from a tourism perspective.  Many visitors to the Top End pay top dollar to interact with indigenous people via a cultural experience, why not give visitors the opportunity to interact with indigenous people at their accommodation venue by being welcomed by an indigenous person working the front desk or perhaps have their meal delivered by an indigenous person when dining out.

Is Your Business Ready?

Every business is different, in that each has a unique internal culture, differing communication streams and previous experiences with indigenous workers.

It is imperative to gain a whole of workplace commitment to employing indigenous Australian’s to promote a fair, equitable and understanding environment.  A commitment from the top is essential; this message must then be communicated to the shop floor to ensure everyone is onboard and to iron out people’s concerns.  The reality is that it will not be easy – there is likely to be challenges and it will take time.  However if you are flexible and willing to persevere, the ongoing rewards of your investment will far outweigh the hurdles.

Karen Sheldon Training can provide assistance in cross cultural education for your organisation to ensure smooth transition of indigenous employees into the workplace.  These education sessions can be tailored to your organisation and often explanation of cultural behaviour can assist non-indigenous employees to deal with situations that may arise.   

Depending on the size of your organisation you may choose to develop an Indigenous Employment Strategy outlining your commitment to hiring Indigenous Australian’s over a short to long term period.  Karen Sheldon Training recently assisted McDonalds in the Darwin to seek funding to implement their own indigenous strategy, which within 3 years will see over 100 indigenous people working across the Stuart Park, Ludmilla, Darwin City and Casuarina stores.

Mentoring

Karen Sheldon Training understands that hiring indigenous people may be challenging and may disrupt your business.  To make things as easy as possible for your organisation, Karen Sheldon Training offer six months of ongoing mentoring to each Future Star placed into your organisation. 

Our mentors will visit future stars placed into your organisation regularly and will be available to deal with issues or concerns as they happen.  They can also work with you to highlight areas of further up-skilling required and are on hand to support you, your staff and the future stars.  This service is of no additional cost to you.

Wage Subsidies

In addition to having access to mentoring your organisation may also be eligible to obtain Indigenous Wage Subsidies for future stars employed in your business.  An Indigenous Wage Subsidy is a payment given to Australian employers as an incentive to provide an ongoing job to an unemployed Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

The subsidy is worth up to $6600 over 26 weeks for a full-time ongoing job of at least 35 hours per week, or up to $3300 for a part-time job of at least 15 hours per week, over 26 weeks.

Indigenous job seekers who are registered with Centrelink as unemployed and actively looking for work, and receiving an income support payment are eligible for employers to seek an Indigenous Wage Subsidy.  If they are under 21 they do not need to be receiving an income support payment.

Employers of eligible Indigenous job seekers may be entitled to reimbursement of up to $550. Career Development Assistance can be paid to employers who pay for accredited training, licences or tickets within 26 weeks of commencement for the new employee.

Find out more information about Indigenous Wage Subsidies...