Indigenous Programs Australia
Indigenous Programs Australia
Program 1: Aboriginal Work Readiness Program (AWRP)
Strategic Objective
To provide the life skills, motivation, learning, training and vocational options that will allow disadvantaged young people to confidently and successfully establish their place within and contribute to society.
Program 2: Youth Development Program (YDP)
Strategic Objective
To provide the life skills, motivation, learning, training and vocational options that will allow youths at risk to confidently and successfully establish their place within, and contribute to, society.
Program 3: Fresh start program (FSP)
Strategic Objective
Youth Justice Initiative, this program contributes to the reduction of Youth offending by providing an alternative to youth imprisonment via a variety of opportunity orientated programmes based on current research and best practice.
How does education solve unemployment and social issues within indigenous communities?
Indigenous employment in Australia
A gap in employment opportunities between indigenous and nonindigenous Australians still exists:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait people make about 3% of the total Australian population with an estimated number of 761,300
- The average rate of unemployment among the indigenous Australians was 16%, significantly higher than that of nonindigenous people
- The gap between the two groups in labour force was 55% and 65% in favour of nonindigenous Australians
- Nonindigenous Australians were 1.4 times more likely to be employed compared to Indigenous Australians
Education plays a significant role in employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples
- Unemployment gap between the two groups is reflected in the rates of educational attainment that also favours nonindigenous citizens
- Improvement in education achievement yields better outcomes and higher rates of employment
- With enhanced rates of employment, indigenous Australians are given more freedom to explore opportunities within their main regions and nationally, and the outcome is improved livelihood
CIS’s Indigenous Employment Program

Education
The positive effects of education are numerous and can impact entire communities. Our programs are tailor-made and designed by specialists to improve educational outcomes, build self-esteem and develop career opportunities.

Training
Our indigenous employment program is based on the pillars of education and vocational training. With comprehensive programs, young community members acquire foundational skills and training to prepare for the Australian job market.
Criteria for indigenous members eligible for assistance:
- Experiencing financial and/or personal hardship
- At risk of engagement in or already be engaged with the Youth Justice system
- Currently experience hardship or lack of employment?