Seventeen year old, Tyler McMiles and 20 year old Amber Ugle-Hayward (not pictured above) are two of a group of 32 young Aboriginal trainees in the public sector this year.
Tyler, who graduated from secondary school last year, is at the Department of Premier and Cabinet; and Amber, who already has a Certificate III in Business, is at the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage.
“We’re going to follow Tyler and Amber as they work towards the Certificate III in Government (Public Administration) under the State Government’s Aboriginal Traineeship Program,” says Sonja O’Leary, executive director at the Commission.
“This important program gives trainees on-the-job experiences in agencies. They earn a trainee wage over a 12-month period and work towards a nationally recognised qualification. It can also lead to employment in the sector at the end.”
The program supports the sector’s diversity ambitions to have more young people and more Aboriginal people working in agencies.
“A fresh and evolving workforce, with accomplished and innovative people, is central to providing services to Western Australians,” Sonja says.
“And we want that workforce to be representative of the communities we serve.”
The certificate covers 13 competencies made up of four core and nine elective units. They focus on areas such as upholding the values and principles of the public service, working effectively with diversity and correctly using workplace communication strategies.
Last year’s trainees all completed the program, graduating with their certificate. Almost 70 percent stayed working in the sector after finishing their traineeships.
Stay tuned for our conversation with Tyler…
Visit our website for detailed information about the Aboriginal Traineeship Program.
