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Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

Indigenous

Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP)

Introduction
Reforms to the CDEP program
CDEP in the Northern Territory
Information for CDEP Participants
Information for CDEP Organisations
Enquiries

Introduction

The Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) Program is an Australian Government-funded initiative for unemployed Indigenous people, mainly available in remote Australia.

It provides CDEP activities which develop participants' skills and employability to assist the move into employment outside CDEP. These activities also make a valuable contribution to the community, and can lead to the development of business enterprises.

The overall aim of the CDEP Program is to support Indigenous Australians to achieve economic independence.

The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs develops and implements strategies and guidelines for the effective delivery of the CDEP Program. It is also responsible for funding and contract management, including monitoring and reporting on the performance of CDEP Service Providers.

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Reforms to the CDEP Program

The Australian Government has committed to deliver a reformed CDEP Program in remote Australia, with a continued focus on training, employment and business incubation. The reforms to the CDEP Program are part of a broader range of commitments to increase Indigenous economic development.

On 18 May 2008 the Government released Increasing Indigenous Economic Opportunity: A Discussion Paper on the Future of the CDEP and Indigenous Employment Programs, and subsequently held consultations based on the discussion paper.

More than 200 people provided feedback on the future of the program, mostly during 40 public consultation sessions and 18 remote community visits around Australia. In addition, more than 120 written submissions were received in response to the discussion paper.

This feedback is assisting the Government to consider the best possible ways to reform CDEP and the Indigenous Employment Program (IEP).

Further consultations will be undertaken later in 2008.

It is anticipated that reforms to CDEP and the IEP will be implemented from July 2009 and will form part of a broader Indigenous Economic Development Strategy. The reformed programs will also complement the Government's new universal employment services model.
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CDEP in the Northern Territory

As part of the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) initiated by the former Australian Government in June 2007, it was intended to phase out CDEP in the Northern Territory.

In April 2008, the current Australian Government announced the reintroduction of CDEP to all Northern Territory communities as part of its election commitments.

Most CDEP activities in the Northern Territory will now be provided through the Northern Territory shire councils, established from 1 July 2008. Others will be provided by community organisations.

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Information for CDEP Participants

Why CDEP?

Your CDEP experience is valuable. Participating in CDEP provides you with the skills needed for employment while allowing you to make an important contribution to your community through CDEP activities.

Why look for a job outside CDEP?

While CDEP provides a stepping stone to employment through skills and training, participation in CDEP limits the income you can earn and does not provide the benefits of full-time employment such as superannuation. By getting a job outside CDEP, you will improve your ability to support yourself and your family into the future and at the same time engage with the wider community.

How CDEP can help you find employment

Speak to your CDEP manager or supervisor and let them know you want to find work outside CDEP. An important role of CDEP providers is to help participants get work outside the program.

They can put you in touch with a local employer or help you make contact with a Job Network member. Your Job Network member can help you write a resumé, apply for a job and find work outside CDEP.

Work experience and on-the-job training help in finding a full-time job. Your CDEP may be able to arrange work experience or a host employment arrangement with a local employer to increase your chance of getting a job. You can work with a host employer for up to 12 months. At the end of this period the employer should provide you a position within their organisation.

If you can access the Internet, you can also go to JobSearch to find a job in your local area.

Get a Wage Assistance card

Employers who employ Indigenous job seekers may get Wage Assistance which means that for the first 26 weeks that you are in a job, they will get help with paying some of your wages. Speak to your Job Network member about getting a Wage Assistance card because it may make it easier for you to find work.

Don't forget:
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Information for CDEP organisations

How to become a CDEP

Submissions to provide CDEP services in 2009-10 will be called in early 2009.

Details on how to make a submission will be made available before this date.

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Enquiries

Contact your nearest Indigenous Coordination Centre (ICC) by telephoning 1800 079 098.

For the following locations call: