Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP)
Introduction
Changes to the CDEP programme 2007
CDEP in the Northern Territory - Emergency Response
Participant Supplement
Moving from CDEP to a job
How to become a CDEP
Enquiries
Contact Information
Introduction
The CDEP programme is an Australian Government funded initiative for unemployed Indigenous people.Indigenous community organisations are funded by the Australian Goverment to run CDEPs in rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. CDEPs relate to each community's needs. Activities develop participant's work and employment skills. CDEPs also act as a stepping stone into the mainstream labour market.
The programme provides participation opportunities through activities which develop skills and improve employability of participants in order to assist them to move into employment outside the CDEP programme.
CDEP activities can also lead to the development of business enterprises. The overall aim of CDEP is to support Indigenous Australians to achieve economic independence.
The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs administers the program. FaHCSIA develops and implements strategies and guidelines for the effective delivery of the CDEP programme. It is also responsible for funding and contract management, including monitoring and reporting on the performance of CDEP Service Providers.
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Changes to the CDEP programme 2007
The Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) programme is an Australian Government funded initiative for unemployed Indigenous people in selected locations.Responsibility of CDEP now lies with the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA).
Following the release of a discussion paper and community consultation, changes to the Community Development Employment Projects programme were implemented on1 July 2007. These changes included:
- Funding additional Structured Training Employment Projects (STEP) brokers instead of funding the CDEP programme in urban and major regional area.
- The closure of all Indigenous Employment Centres (IECs) because of the strengthened link between Job Network and CDEP organisations.
- The introduction of a 26 week CDEP placement incentive payment for CDEP service providers who place participants into long term work.
CDEP in the Northern Territory - Emergency Response
To support the Northern Territory emergency response, CDEP in the Northern Territory will progressively be replaced with real jobs, training and mainstream employment programs such as Structured Training and Employment Projects (STEP) and Work for the Dole.CDEP participants are being assisted with moving from the CDEP program and into work or onto income support. The changes are being implemented on a community-by-community basis from September 2007.
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Participant Supplement
Community Development Employment Project (CDEP) is helping Indigenous people develop work and employment skills. Participants receive a Community Participant Supplement (CPS) for taking part in the programme.CDEP participants can qualify for the $20.80 CDEP Participant Supplement (CPS). Allowee and pensioner recipients remain qualified for income support when they join a CDEP scheme and become a CDEP scheme participant. Allowees need to claim the CPS to ensure they do not lose qualification.
For more information read the CDEP payment rates fact sheet.
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Moving from CDEP to a job
Your Community Development Employment Project (CDEP) programme experience is valuable. By participating in CDEP, you have been working on an activity that contributes to your community and develops your skills, such as team work, punctuality and communication. These skills are very valuable to employers.Why look for a job outside CDEP?
CDEP provides a stepping stone to employment by helping you develop your skills and increase your employability. By getting a job off CDEP, you will improve your ability to support yourself and your family in the future, while providing you with the opportunity to engage in the wider community.How to find a job
Speak to your CDEP manager or supervisor and let them know you want to find work off CDEP. 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 résumé, apply for a job and find work outside of CDEP.
Work experience and on-the-job training could get you a full-time job. Your CDEP may also be able to arrange work experience or a host employment arrangement with a local employer to further increase your chance of getting a job. You can work with a host employer for up to 12 months.
If you can access the Internet, you can 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:- your skills are important to employers looking for workers
- a job outside CDEP will give you more skills
- talk to your CDEP manager or supervisor about work outside of CDEP or Job Network
- getting a Wage Assistance card may make it easier for you to get a job.
Case study - CDEP in action
This case study is about a Jay, a job seeker who used CDEP as a stepping stone to get work outside of CDEP and a chance to earn a better wage. He learned important job skills through CDEP and really enjoys his work. Jay started on CDEP in 2000. He had a very good driving record and his CDEP organisation got him a job as a bus driver at the local Aboriginal health clinic.Jay liked his job but he really wanted to be a bricklayer. In February 2003 his CDEP manager helped him start in a construction apprenticeship. The following year, Jay won the Construction and Training Council Encouragement award for his good efforts.
Jay has overcome the cultural barriers that can exist and is respected as a leader. His supervisors and work mates think a lot of him and he now helps other apprentices with their work. Jay said CDEP helped him a lot. They gave me an important start in my bricklaying apprenticeship. I am now in the final year of my apprenticeship and once I finish, I would like to start my own business and help out other Koori fellas.
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Information for CDEP organisations
How to become a CDEP
Submissions to provide CDEP services in 2008-09 will be called in late 2007.Details on how to make a submission will be made available shortly.
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Enquiries
To contact your nearest Indigenous Coordination Centre (ICC) phone 1800 079 098.For the following locations call:
- Nhulunbuy 1800 089 148
- Kalgoorlie 1800 193 357
- Kununurra 1800 193 348
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