Indigenous Apprenticeship Program graduate Kelly Ali at work.
Camera IconIndigenous Apprenticeship Program graduate Kelly Ali at work. Credit: Supplied/Andrew Ritchie d481859

Osborne Park: Indigenous Apprenticeship Program helps on path to career in public service

Laura PondStirling Times

AN apprenticeship program saw Kelly Ali go from working at a supermarket to being a Federal Government employee within a couple of years.

Ms Ali was part of the Department of Human Services’ Indigenous Apprenticeships Program, which aims to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians to start their public service career.

“I’d been looking for a really long time to do something else,” she said.

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The 12-month program provided Ms Ali with a Certificate IV in Government and fulltime position at the Department’s service centre in Osborne Park.

“It’s really interesting and really challenging; it’s different every day,” she said.

“I’m loving it and I’m really looking forward to all opportunities.

“I definitely didn’t think it was something I would be able to do.”

She believed it was a valuable opportunity for indigenous people.

“We really need to get out there and represent us,” she said.

The program has been running for four years and recruits apprentices for 13 government agencies.

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