The Australian Government will replace the Community Development Program (CDP) and is committed to working in partnership with First Nations People as the replacement program is developed.
As a first step towards a new program, on 31 August 2022 the Minister for Indigenous Australians the Hon Linda Burney MP hosted the Remote Employment Roundtable, leading into the Jobs and Skills Summit on 1-2 September 2022. Minister Burney's media release regarding the roundtable is available here.
At the Roundtable, the Minister announced that CDP providers can re-direct around 25 per cent of their funding to work with remote communities to trial new approaches to securing real jobs for participants.
In addition, in the October 2022-23 Budget, the Government announced the New Jobs Program Trial to support additional trials in selected communities. This includes grant funding available for 200 jobs at the minimum wage rate. Grant applications to participate in the Trial are now open. Further information including eligibility criteria and how to apply is available on GrantConnect. Applications close on 30 October 2024, or when the Trial is fully allocated, whichever is sooner.
Further information on the remote job trials is available here: www.niaa.gov.au/job-trials
Consultation Opportunities
The Government is conducting consultations to seek views on the design of a program to replace the Community Development Program. We want to hear from CDP participants, former participants, community leaders, service providers, employers and others on ways the new program can best help those in remote communities.
- CDP participants and other individuals are invited to complete the Replacing CDP survey.
- Detailed responses can be submitted through the Have your Say webform.
For updates on the Government's work to replace CDP with a new jobs program, including additional opportunities to provide feedback, register your interest in receiving email updates.
Remote Employment Roundtable Summary
On 31 August 2022, the Hon Linda Burney MP Minister for Indigenous Australians hosted the Remote Employment Roundtable at National Indigenous Australians Agency in Canberra, ahead of the National Jobs and Skills Summit. Experts from unions, business, and First Nations representatives met to discuss key employment issues and opportunities in remote Australia.
Participants identified six key messages to share with the Jobs and Skills summit:
- The importance of real jobs, with proper wages and decent conditions.
- One size does not fit all. The new program needs to be community led, meeting community needs.
- Pathways to work, including access to appropriate training, to ensure that people are job ready.
- Unlocking the barriers for entry to jobs, in particular police checks and licensing.
- Mapping of job opportunities within communities will be an important element in helping connect people to work.
- The engagement and contribution of other government portfolios, all levels of government and industry will be important.
More information
- Contact us: remotejobsprogram@official.niaa.gov.au
- For enquires about the CDP in your region, contact your local provider or the NIAA Regional Offices.
