The Indigenous Skills and Employment Program (ISEP) is a First Nations specific employment and skills program that uses a place-based approach. ISEP aims to connect First Nations people to jobs, career advancement opportunities, and to new training and job-ready activities. The ISEP model is flexible and placed based with projects designed from the ground up to respond to service gaps within communities. This approach supports partnership with First Nations communities and stakeholders to design and deliver ISEP activities together that address local needs, gaps or barriers in employment support and respond to regional priorities.
ISEP seeks to complement, not duplicate, mainstream employment services. In this way, ISEP funded activities will make an impact where they are needed most.
ISEP participants can be any First Nations person, aged 15-years or older. ISEP supports a wide range of participants, including young people looking for a pathway to training and employment, job seekers, long-term unemployed and employees looking to advance in their career.
ISEP is consistent with the aims of the Closing the Gap Agreement and directly contributes towards Targets 7 (Youth are engaged in employment or education) and 8 (Strong economic participation and development of people and their communities).
ISEP is consistent with the aims of the Closing the Gap Agreement and especially Priority Reforms 3 (Transforming Government Organisations) and 4 (Shared Access to Data and Information at a Regional Level), including by delivering services in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Organisations supported through ISEP funding are supported to design projects and activities with the local community that will benefit from them.
ISEP Service Locations
The below ISEP activities are funded to deliver services over a 4-year period. These activities will end in 2028.
New South Wales NIAA regions
Eastern New South Wales NIAA region
| ISEP Provider & Project name | Project description | Service areas | Activity value |
|---|---|---|---|
Aboriginal Employment Strategy Ltd Project name: The Local Career Hubs | The Project establishes 8 Local Career Hubs to deliver a suite of employment, training, mentoring, and career related supports for First Nations youth (aged 15-30) who require additional support to secure, retain, or advance in employment opportunities. Activities include industry training, school-based traineeships, full-time traineeships, and apprenticeships. Participants also have access to support services through a referral process. Mentoring is provided to employers to support career retention and cultural safety in workplaces. | Penrith, Tamworth, Newcastle, Kempsey, Coffs Harbour, Redfern, Moree | $13,675,540 |
Project name: Make Tomorrow in Manufacturing | The Project supports First Nations youth (aged 15–30) in Eastern by providing technical and interpersonal skills to obtain employment in the manufacturing sector. Support includes referrals to industry members, coaching, interview support, certification on equipment, and any other professional supports required by the participant. The Project embraces a consortium model, working with industry, business, vocational training, employment services, and community partners. | Gosford | $4,684,052 |
Project name: The Northern Rivers Co-Lab | This Project is a First Nations youth employment initiative in the NSW Northern Rivers Region. It aims to foster leadership opportunities and support self-sufficiency. The Project delivers work-readiness, skills development, school-to-work pathway planning, support community and business development. It also seeks to address local barriers to employment. The Project will take an innovative approach to addressing each participant’s needs by creating community-based hubs in two locations in the region. | Lismore, Woodenbong | $4,059,774 |
Twofold Aboriginal Corporation Project name: The Aboriginal Career Choice Exposure | The Project supports and empowers disengaged First Nations youth (aged 15-30) in the Bega Valley Shire to explore and pursue meaningful career pathways aligned with their interests and aspirations. Participants will receive six months mentoring from First Nations elders, work experience, accredited and non-accredited training, work readiness, individual case management and tailored support leading to skills and building their confidence to succeed in their chosen career paths. | Broadwater, Eden | $3,433,670 |
Youth Express Association Inc. Project name: The Youth Express Building Local Opportunity for our Mob (BLOOM) | This Project provides skills development and employment placements for First Nations youth (aged 15-30). It provides access to meaningful employment within the industries of infrastructure, development, mining, construction, renewables, services, hospitality, health care and support, agribusiness, education and training and arts and culture. The services are delivered in three phases: identifying and addressing current skills needs and barriers; training; and continued engagement throughout employment. Case managers apply participant-centric data models to support participants success throughout the Project. | Maitland | $8,710,796 |
Western New South Wales NIAA region
ISEP Provider & Project name | Project description | Service areas | Activity value |
|---|---|---|---|
Project name: The Supported Youth Pathways - Indigenous Digital Hub for Transferable IT Skills & Enterprise Development | The Project is a Youth Digital Hub in Bourke that incorporates an integrated approach to skilling and developing a local workforce while addressing key barriers to youth employment. Participants receive support to complete an IT Foundation Skills course and work ready IT skills that provides sustainable employment, needed skillsets and services to the town. The Project is based on an apprenticeship model. | Bourke | $1,761,286 |
Bourke & District. Children’s Services Project name: The Bourke and District Children’s Services Indigenous Employment Strategy | The Project aims to increase Bourke and its surrounding community’s First Nations workforce, retention and develop career aspirations by delivering early childhood sector face to face training, mentoring and providing career related support. Participants can receive school-based traineeships, job-readiness activities, career development opportunities and employment support. The Provider works in partnership with local community organisations Bourke Aboriginal Corporation Health Service, the Bourke Local Aboriginal Land Council, and Elders groups to ensure a comprehensive network of support for participants to identify individual needs and to provide tailored solutions to access job opportunities. | Bourke | $1,950,568 |
Project name: On-Country Pathways Mentoring, Employment and Community Development Program – Riverina Murray Region | The Project provides job placements and mentoring to First Nations youth (aged 15-24 years) in the Riverina Murray region. It seeks to address key barriers to First Nations youth employment and will provide participants with job-readiness training, work experience, and employment support. The Project also facilitates community development activities and partners with community groups, networks, state and federal governments and other relevant organisations across the construction, health and home support sectors. | Albury/Wodonga, Coolamon, Temora, West Wyalong, Cootamundra, Cowra, Deniliquin, Griffith, Leaton, Gundagai, Junee, Harden, Narrandera, Tumut, Wagga Wagga | $7,419,052 |
Northern Territory NIAA regions
Arnhem Land and Groote Eylandt NIAA region
| ISEP Provider & Project name | Project description | Service areas | 4-year contract value |
|---|---|---|---|
Compass Group (Australia) Pty Ltd
Project name: First Nations Closing the Employment Gap (CTEG) Program - Groote Eylandt region | The Project aims to support First Nations youth (15-24 years old) participants enter hospitality industry employment within the mining sector. The Project provides participants with a work experience program, on the job mentoring and support, and post-placement support. The Project will also provide employers with cultural competency training. | Groote Eylandt - Alyangula, Angurugu, Umbakumba | $340,000 |
North East Arnhem Land Aboriginal Corporation (NEAL) Project name: Local Indigenous Employment and Training Initiative | This Project provides a local employment pathways program that seeks to increase the organisations First Nations employment outcomes through culturally sensitive design and delivery. | Melville Bay road | $2,576,836 |
Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation (RAC) Project name: ISEP Career Pathways – Employment Education and Training | The Project supports a Career Pathways Centre for community which will provide wrap-around services and culturally supported pathways for local First Nations job seekers. The Centre is a central point of reference, a training facility, and a culturally based enterprise centre. Provided services include linking participants to individualised case management and mentoring. | Yirrkala | $3,341,904 |
The Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation (ALPA) Project name: Growing our Yolngu Workforce – Indigenous Workforce Capacity Building | This Project provides Yolngu participants with capacity building and support to engage in full-time or higher-level employment opportunities through the provision of language, literacy, numeracy and technology (LLNT) training and support. Participants will be provided with individually tailored learning programs and will be supported through in-person coaching. Culturally and contextually appropriate LLNT training is provided to Yolngu employees already engaged in the workforce. | Galiwin’ku, Gapuwiyak, Milingimbi, Ramingining, Nhulunbuy, Yirrkala, Gunyangara | $3,106,673 |
Central Australia NIAA region
| ISEP Provider & Project name | Project description | Service areas | Activity value |
|---|---|---|---|
Central Desert Training Pty Ltd Project name: Barkly Workforce Core Skills and Employment | The Project provides pre-employment and ongoing-employment support to First Nations youth in the Barkly region. The Project also provides participants with employment-tailored language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) support, targeted workplace professional development and mentoring. | Ali Curung Community, Alpurrurulam community, Ampilatwatja Community, Arlparra community, Elliott community, Wutunugurra community | $3,901,432 |
Group Training Australia Ltd Project name: National Apprentice Employment Network (NAEN) ISEP | This Project provides First Nations youth in Town Camps of Alice Springs with apprenticeships and traineeships. The project provides training and supports participants find and retain employment and supports employers to provide culturally safe workplaces.
| Alice Springs town camps | $2,600,000 |
Project name: Step-in Step-Up | The Project supports First Nations youth at risk in Tennant Creek to get back on track by reconnecting with employment, education, family, other support services and/or culture. Support is targeted and includes work experience and upskilling aligned to participant employment aspirations through a 4-week participant centric group program.
| Tennant Creek | $3,327,306 |
Top End Tiwi Islands NIAA region
| ISEP Provider & Project name | Project description | Service areas | Activity value |
|---|---|---|---|
Project name: Developing Aboriginal Health Coaches | The Project seeks to develop the local healthcare workforce by providing participants with job matching and training. It responds to community desire to have a local training and workforce solution that builds community capacity to participate in health service delivery and improve health outcomes. It upskills participants via a culturally customised Aboriginal Health Coach course to enter in-demand jobs in the region. This role allows First Nations job seekers to become cultural brokers that support non-Aboriginal clinical staff to perform their role in a culturally safe way. | Katherine, Palmerston, Lajamanu, Darwin inner suburbs, Kalkarindji, Yarralin | $4,837,385 |
Saltbush Social Enterprises Ltd Project name: Strengthening Foundations | This is a job-ready, job-matching, and personal empowerment Project for long-term unemployed First Nations people. Using a mentorship model, the Project embeds a trauma-informed provision of activities. Job seekers participate in workshops that encourage self-esteem, confidence and capacity towards independence. The Provider works to establish a community of supportive employers that offer participants work placements and experience, and advice on jobs. | Darwin, Parap | $5,963,843 |
Queensland NIAA regions
North Queensland NIAA region
| ISEP Provider & Project name | Project description | Service areas | Activity value |
|---|---|---|---|
Jobfind Centres Pty Ltd Project name: The Indigenous Youth Coaches: Empowering Indigenous Youth for work education and success | This Project aims to enhance the skills and employability of First Nations youth (aged 15–24) who are not registered with an Employment Service Provider or Services Australia. The Project assists participants with personal growth, empower leadership through coaching, and provides accredited and non-accredited training. | Cairns City, Croydon, Kowanyama, Kuranda, Pormpuraaw, Yarrabah | $5,329,027 |
Project name: NQ Indigenous Training to Employment Pathways | The Project aims to empower First Nations participants to develop skills towards sustainable employment, by delivering vocational qualifications, enhanced by pre-training preparation and foundation skills, and active referral to specialist support. This is a community-driven project preparing job seekers for education and support into meaningful employment. The Project provides work-readiness, language, literacy, numeracy skills, and in-demand skills development training. It also provides employment placement, mentoring and workforce and workplace development in maximising access to sustainable First Nations employment across the region. | Townsville, Charter Towers, Ingham- Hinchinbrook, Burdekin, Palm Island, Mackay, Proserpine-Whitsunday’s, Mount Isa, Cloncurry McKinley, Carpentaria, Burke Mornington Island, Tully Cardwell, Innisfal Johnstone, Cairns Sth Highlands, Cairns surrounds, Mareeba, Hopevale, Weipa
| $14,724,031 |
South Queensland NIAA region
| ISEP Provider & Project name | Project description | Service areas | Activity value |
|---|---|---|---|
Project name: The Mob BOOST | The Project provides targeted training, mentoring and wrap-around support, using a flexible, outreach and place-based approach to First Nations people. The Provider works in partnership with First Nations participants, supporting their self-determination, and facilitate access to community services to help address their non-vocational barriers. This Project offers training, mentoring and career advancement services by leveraging local growth industries in health and aged care, community and social services, retail, hospitality, manufacturing, renewable energy, childcare, warehousing and construction. | Upper Mount Gravatt, Inala | $2,400,000 |
Institute for Urban Indigenous Health Ltd Project name: Deadly Jobs - A One-Stop Shop for Employment Pathways | The Project supports disadvantaged First Nations people into training, jobs and career advancement pathways in Southeast Queensland Health and Social Services sectors. It provides an integrated employment model, including a system-wide training and employment pathway initiative. The Project provides workforce participation opportunities by leveraging the providers existing health workforce partnerships. | Brisbane City, Caboolture, Fraser Coast, Gatton-Laidley, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Pine Rivers, Redcliffe, Redland | $6,467,880 |
Project name: The Signpost | This Project is a community-led initiative to support First Nations peoples to find and remain in sustainable employment. It includes participant centric and intensive case-management model with local and culturally safe referrals, and supports jobseekers’ work readiness through employment, learning and community engagement activities. The Project mentors work with people individually, and community locally, to tailor their personal solution so to gain economic, social and family benefit and ultimately gain sustainable employment. | Caboolture, Sunshine Coast, Gympie/Fraser Coast, Bundaberg, Maroochydore, Caboolture, Caloundra, Cherbourg, Cooloola-Gympie, Fraser Coast, Murgon, Noosa, South Burnett | $6,447,450 |
The Trustee for Port Curtis Coral Coast Aboriginal Peoples Charitable Trust Project name: The Waking Up to a Future of Choice (Ngai Yanjain Ngayunda Ngarlin) | The Project delivers a range of pre-employment and ongoing-employment support, training and mentoring activities. It addresses local employment barriers, influences attitudes towards First Nation employment, and supports industry in creating sustainable outcomes. The Project provides recreation and person-centred activities involving family and community, including outdoor led programs and person-centred case management. It connects participants to suitable services for housing, mental health, or additional supports as needed. | Bundaberg, Woorabinda, North Burnett, Gladstone | $6,876,280 |
South Australia NIAA region
| ISEP Provider & Project name | Project description | Service areas | Activity value |
|---|---|---|---|
Project name: EMU (Employment, Mentoring and Understanding) | The Project supports First Nations youth (aged 15 to 24) transition into and retain employment opportunities by building their foundation and vocational skills. The Project provides a trauma-informed approach to skills development, mentoring and post-employment services in the resources, infrastructure, and care and support industries. | Ceduna, Eyre, Flinders, Coober Pedy – Umoona, Port Augusta, Port Lincoln, Whyalla | $4,895,664 |
Maxima Training Group (Aust) Ltd Project name: Maxima’s First Nations Career Transition | The Project supports First Nations secondary students, school leavers and tertiary students across metro, inner regional and outer regional South Australia. The Project works collaboratively with First Nations businesses, schools, universities and employers. It facilitates school-based traineeships and cadetships for school leavers and tertiary students. The Project also facilitates yarning workshops to build connections between participants and community, enabling access to meaningful employment opportunities. | Barossa, Gawler, Adelaide Hills – Mount Barker, Campbelltown – Norwood, Charles Sturt, Fleurieu – Kangaroo Island, Holdfast Bay – West Torrens, Marion, Murray Bridge, Onkapringa, Playford, Port Adelaide – Enfield, Port Augusta, Salisbury, South-East, Tea Tree Gully, Unley –Burnside – Mitcham, Adelaide – Prospect - Walkerville | $2,135,682 |
Regional Anangu Services Aboriginal Corporation Project name: Jobs for Anangu | This Project works with local employers to build their Anangu workforce development capacity to support the employment, training and development of Anganu workers on the APY Lands. The Project works with four other Anangu owned and led organisations (NPY Women’s Council, the Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Education Committee, Nganampa Health Council, and Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara) to deliver their activity and support the employment of Anangu participants across APY Lands. | Alice Springs, APY Lands – Various Locations. | $1,824,600 |
Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Education Committee Aboriginal Corporation Project name: The PYEC School to Work ISEP | The Project provides supported pathways for Anangu secondary students into employment and/or training and higher education through a supported pathway model. Participants receive job-readiness support and structured work exposure. The Project implements an individualised case management model and provide in-Pitjantjatjara language mentoring. A peer support system also links individuals with family, schools, employers, and training providers. | Indulkana Community, Pipalyatjara, Pukatja, Mimili, Kenmore Park, Amata, Kaltjiti, Murputja | $2,200,000 |
Victoria and Tasmania NIAA region
| ISEP Provider & Project name | Project description | Service areas | Activity value |
|---|---|---|---|
Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-Operative Ltd Project name: BDAC Employment Project | The Project delivers a central liaison and connection service between community, mainstream employment services and employers as part of a holistic and culturally safe employment support service for the local community. The Project assists all First Nations people seeking employment with a focus on jobseekers, early school leavers, people in the justice system, and parents looking to enter/ re-enter the workforce. | Bendigo | $3,987,210 |
Goal Indigenous Services Vic Pty Ltd Project name: Soar Strong Indigenous Future Program | The Project seeks to break down barriers that limit First Nations people to succeed in long-term and meaningful employment in a culturally safe environment. Itaddresses vocational and non-vocational barriers of participants, including career development and employment retention. Participants receive wrap around support such as; mentoring, training and development, employment opportunities, health and wellbeing services, transport, and financial guidance and support. | Melbourne | $1,766,778 |
Land and Sea Aboriginal Corporation Tasmania (LSACT) Project name: Wave to Plate | This Project provides participants with employment, education and training opportunities in the fisheries, maritime, hospitality, tourism, land and sea country industries for First Nations people. Participants receive training, employment pathways and wrap-around guidance through brokerage services. The Project’s Employment Support Officers connects participants with networks that will cultivate career development. | Hobart, Dynnyme suburb, coastal locations: - north-east, south-east and west coast | $1,200,000 |
Project name: Steps to the Future | This Project aims to improve employment outcomes by increasing First Nations recruitment, retention and professional development in Gippsland. This Project helps participants become ‘work ready’ through occupational skills development, training, mentoring services, career path planning, and work experience activities. The Project also works with employers to understand cultural safety. The Project links participants with services delivered by Gunaikurnai Lands and Waters Corporation, local ACCOs and local employment providers. | Morwell | $3,299,169 |
Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation Project name: Palawa Employment Service | The Project delivers training and career guidance project that incorporates social and emotional wellbeing into its support services to First Nations people. The employment services include skills acquisition, job-matching, and career development activities. The Project also supports employers to be more culturally safe and provides advice on improving First Nations employment outcomes. | Launceston, Burnie, Hobart | $2,500,000 |
Western Australia NIAA regions
Greater Western Australia NIAA region
| ISEP Provider & Project name | Project description | Service areas | Activity value |
|---|---|---|---|
Ebenezer Aboriginal Corporation Project name: Ebenezer Yirra Maar | The Project focusses on assisting First Nations people who are ex-offenders or at risk of ongoing engagement with the criminal justice system. The Project assists participants to overcome personal barriers, be job-ready, and to find work. Services are delivered through a culturally safe and trauma-informed participant-centred case management model. Following placement into employment, participants are provided ongoing mentor support. | Wanneroo – North East, Stirling, Swan, Perth, Joondalup, Belmont, Bayswater, Bassendean and surrounds. | $3,857,260 |
Project name: | The Project supports First Nations youth, women, school-to-work transitioners, and long-term unemployed in several regions across Greater Western Australia. It assists First Nations people seeking to transition from incarceration back into community and employment through intensive case management, training and job placement activities. The Project collaborates with a broad range of industry and employment partners across the mining, hospitality, construction, resources, security, and local government sectors. The Project will closely collaborate with First Nations organisations, traditional owners, Elders, employers and service providers to support participants to support long-term participant employment outcomes. | Joondalup, South Perth, Victoria Park, Belmont, Gosnells, Fremantle, Kwlnana, Rockingham, Armadale, Mandurah, Geraldton, Carnarvon, Karratha, Roebourne, Port Hedland, Newman, Leonora, Bunbury. | $7,272,275 |
Southern Aboriginal Corporation Project name: Southern Aboriginal Corporation Prevention and Prison to Work | This Project focuses on supporting First Nations people who have encountered the criminal justice system. Participants will receive culturally responsive skills development activities, on Country transition and healing activities, case management and community advocacy. A Project steering and advocacy committee is in place to ensure community engagement during the Project’s delivery. | Albany | $9,185,993 |
Kimberley NIAA region
| ISEP Provider & Project name | Project description | Service areas | Activity value |
|---|---|---|---|
East Kimberley Job Pathways Pty Ltd Project name: Hire Local Mentoring Strategy | This Project is a 4-year workforce development project. It seeks to provide employment opportunities that are supported by employee mentoring; encourage partnership and co-investments between project partners and employers; and provide digital toolbox resources and information to promote culturally appropriate and safe workplaces. | Kununurra, Halls Creek | $3,675,831 |
Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Ltd Project name: The Health Pathways | The Project aims to produce a skilled First Nations health workforce and sustainable model of training and employment from entry level to leadership development, targeting areas with documented skill shortages. The Project targets key areas for improvement in the health industry employment, retention and development pathways for First Nations people across the Kimberley. | Broome, Broome Surrounds, Derby and Surrounds, Fitzroy crossing, Halls Creek and Tjurabalan, Wyndham, Kununurra | $4,997,234 |
Partnerships
ISEP is about partnership: participating organisations stand to benefit from sharing local knowledge, while jobseekers will be better off because the activities that ISEP will support will better fit their circumstances.
For opportunities to partner with ISEP organisations to support First Nations employment outcomes please reach out to your local ISEP organisation to see if there are any opportunities. To discuss other NIAA initiatives, please reach out to your local NIAA Regional Office.
ISEP Design
The ISEP’s design draws on thorough consultations with community that took place in August and September 2021 – as well as Australian and international research. You can read more about the work that went into designing ISEP in the ISEP Consultation Outcomes Report.
ISEP Grant selection process
The ISEP grant opportunity is a two-stage competitive process. Stage One was an open competitive process which closed in April 2022. Applications for ISEP Stage Two was a closed competitive process to successful Stage One applicants only. This closed on 12 July 2023, with several NIAA regions granted extensions due to adverse weather events and to allow for cultural business.
Empowered Communities
The Australian Government is committed to a partnership approach to regional planning and investment with the Empowered Communities (ECs) regions of East and West Kimberley, Central Coast NSW, Cape York, Inner Sydney, North East Arnhem Land, Ngarrindjeri in SA, Far West Coast of South Australia, the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, and Goulburn-Murray.
Where an ISEP application targeted or included an Empowered Communities region, Empowered Community representatives were invited to participate in the assessment process with NIAA. In addition, ISEP applicants looking to service an Empowered Communities location needed to demonstrate how they engaged with them to design the ISEP activities and continue to engage throughout the project duration.
The Empowered Communities model is a First Nations designed and led shared decision-making initiative that places Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in true partnership with the Australian Government. For more information on the Empowered Communities initiative, please see the NIAA’s Empowered Communities webpage as well as empoweredcommunities.org.au.
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