Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) program

Remote Jobs and Communities Program

On 26 April 2012, the Australian Government announced the  Remote Jobs and Communities Program (RJCP) will commence on 1 July 2013. The CDEP Program will transition into this new program. For more information, go to www.deewr.gov.au/rjcp

Capacity strengthening and support services

To support the new RJCP, the Australian Government is providing capacity strengthening and support services to assist potential RJCP providers to successfully deliver the RJCP. In order to meet all of the requirements of the RJCP model in all regions, the Government will work with RJCP Applicants to form consortia and/or develop specialised expertise required for the delivery of the RJCP model.

For more detailed information on the capacity strengthening process, please consult the Program Guideline Suite:

For an updated list of questions we have answered about the capacity strengthening application process, please see the Questions and Answers document below:

Organisations who meet the requirements specified within the program guidelines may apply for inclusion on the list of potential agencies who will be made available to provide capacity strengthening and support services to potential RJCP applicants.

Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) program

The Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) program helps Indigenous job seekers to gain the skills, training and capabilities needed to find sustainable employment and improves the economic and social well-being of communities. CDEP is one of the key Indigenous employment programs contributing to the Australian Government’s aim of halving the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous employment within a decade. The CDEP program provides services and projects through two streams: the Work Readiness Stream and the Community Development Stream.

From 1 October 2011, CDEP participants in receipt of income support payments such as Newstart Allowance, Youth Allowance as a Job Seeker, Parenting Payment (Partnered or Single) or Disability Support Pension will receive an Approved Program of Work Supplement of $20.80 per fortnight, for each fortnight they participate in the CDEP program.

CDEP Participants in receipt of CDEP wages receive a CDEP Participant Supplement (CPS) of $20.80 per fortnight for taking part in the program.  The CPS will continue to be available post 1 October 2011 to CDEP participants on CDEP wages.

Work Readiness

Work Readiness services help job seekers to develop their skills, improve their chances of getting a job and move to work outside of the CDEP program. Work Readiness services include pre-vocational and vocational training and work experience.

Continuing Participants in Work Experience placements continue to receive wages for the number of hours required to earn the APP rate. The Work Experience Employer is responsible for paying wages to Continuing Participants for hours worked above what is required to earn the APP rate. Employers providing work experience placements for New Participants (those in receipt of income support payments) are responsible for paying wages to New Participants for all hours worked. Employers providing Work Experience placements to New Participants have access to the CDEP Work Experience Subsidy (CWES), administered by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. This subsidy encourages employers to offer Work Experience placements and pay wages directly to CDEP participants.

Community Development

Community Development focuses on supporting and developing Indigenous communities and organisations.

CDEP providers are resourced to ensure community work is consistent with local job opportunities and builds skills through practical experience. Community Development Projects should meet community and individual needs and link to community priorities. Priorities are identified in Community Action Plans that have been developed by providers in consultation with the community.  The plans support the needs and aspirations of the community and set goals, actions and targets to improve the quality of community life.

This helps strengthen Indigenous communities through increased individual involvement in community projects and employment opportunities. Community Action Plans are reviewed and updated annually, to reflect changing community priorities. Progress against goals is also monitored regularly.

CDEP providers work closely with community members and other relevant providers to ensure services are best targeted to individual needs. CDEP providers can enter into Memorandums of Understanding with other service providers to ensure CDEP participants are able to obtain services that will improve training and employment outcomes. This can include supporting families to access other support services available in their region and addressing barriers to employment and training.

CDEP providers are supported to build their own skills and capacity to deliver Work Readiness Services and Community Development Projects, and to develop organisational plans and strategies to enable them to take advantage of emerging opportunities.  Providers can also engage experts to provide specialised skills that help strengthen their organisations.

The Minister has approved $172.4 million over three years for full implementation of the three year community action plans developed in consultation with CDEP participants and their communities.

Further information:

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How can I access CDEP?

Indigenous job seekers who are interested in participating in CDEP should visit their local CDEP provider.  The job seeker will also need to contact Centrelink to apply for an appropriate income support payment, the CDEP provider can assist with this. Centrelink will refer the jobseeker to an appropriate Job Services Australia provider if eligible for CDEP.

Job Services Australia will work with job seekers to develop individual Employment Pathway Plans that set out the services and projects that will help job seekers to find and keep a job.

If CDEP Work Readiness services or Community Development Projects can assist the jobseeker in achieving their work and training goals, they will be referred to a CDEP provider.

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Who is my local CDEP provider?

On 1 July 2009, Minister Macklin announced the successful organisations that will deliver the CDEP program until 2012.

Find your local CDEP provider
 

CDEP Consultative Group

The CDEP Consultative Group provides advice to FaHCSIA on the Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) program.

The Group:

  • identifies areas of improvement for the CDEP program
  • addresses significant operational issues as they arise
  • provides a forum for sharing information about innovative and successful approaches to service delivery.

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Background to the CDEP reforms

On 18 May 2008, the Australian Government released a discussion paper that proposed changes to CDEP and the Indigenous Employment Program. Consultations on the proposed changes were held in many locations throughout Australia, including several remote communities, and submissions were invited.

After considering feedback received, a further discussion paper, Increasing Indigenous Employment Opportunity: Proposed reforms to the CDEP and Indigenous Employment Programs,  was released in October 2008.

Additional consultations were held in 55 communities in urban, regional and remote areas in October and November 2008.  Over 3500 people attended the two consultation rounds and in excess of 200 written submissions were received.

On 19 December 2008, the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the Hon Jenny Macklin MP, and the Minister for Workforce Participation, the Hon Brendan O'Connor MP, announced reforms to the CDEP program and Indigenous Employment Program which were implemented on 1 July 2009.

The reforms to CDEP formed part of an integrated approach to employment services for Indigenous Australians which commenced with the introduction of Job Services Australia on 1 July 2009.

The reforms included a recognition that employment support needs often differ between remote and non-remote locations, and that solutions must be adapted to local needs and to local economies. The reforms are a key element in making progress on the Government's aim of halving the gap in employment between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a decade.

The following reforms were made to the program.

  • CDEP was removed from locations with established economies on 30 June 2009, and replaced by Job Services Australia as the main provider of employment services for Indigenous people.
  • A new Community Support Service was introduced to support Indigenous community members and their families by providing links and referrals to a range of mainstream and Indigenous services.
  • The focus of the CDEP program in remote Indigenous communities was changed from directly providing employment to building the skills of participants to find jobs outside of CDEP.
  • The CDEP funding model and program deliverables were changed to focus on outcomes in the specific areas of Work Readiness services and Community Development projects.
  • The reforms included a new requirement for CDEP, Job Services Australia and Indigenous Employment Program (IEP) providers to work in partnership to provide greater support to Indigenous Australians in finding sustainable employment.
  • The reforms were supported by a jobs package, which allowed for the creation of around 2,000 jobs in government funded service delivery and the establishment of 400 new traineeships and 60 ranger positions.
  • CDEP participants who were receiving CDEP wages at 30 June 2009 can continue receiving CDEP wages until at least 1 April 2012, as long as they remain eligible.
  • New CDEP participants from 1 July 2009 need to apply for income support payments.

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CDEP enquiries

For more information about the CDEP program, please contact your nearest Indigenous Coordination Centre (ICC) by calling toll free on 1800 079 098.

For the following locations call toll free:

  • Nhulunbuy - 1800 089 148
  • Kalgoorlie - 1800 193 357
  • Kununurra - 1800 193 348

TTY users: phone 1800 555 677 then ask for the 1800 number listed above that you want to contact.

Related information

Information for CDEP providers

CDEP providers

Content Updated: 8 May 2013