Information for Employers

The National Indigenous Cadetship Program (NICP) is an initiative of the Department of Employment & Workplace Relations (DEWR). The University of Southern Queensland has joined forces with DEWR to improve the work skills and employment outcomes of indigenous students.

The NICP assists students to enhance the skills required in the workplace and to provide the student with practical industry experience and employment opportunities.

Benefits for employers

• Enhance the employability skills of a USQ indigenous student
• Student cadet working for the company for 12 weeks each year
• $15000 paid to the employer by DEWR for each cadet to go towards wages, administration costs and GST
• Able to assess the abilities of cadets for ongoing positions at the organisation

Financial Assistance:

Employers are responsible for making regular and consistent cadetship related payments to the cadet. They are provided up to $15,400 per annum (including GST) by DEWR to support the cadetship.

The funding consists of the following

• $12,000 to pay the cadet a study allowance (paid as wage-like payments) for the period of full time study
• $1,000 to be paid to the cadet for their books and equipment
• $1,000 for the employer’s administration costs
• $1,400 for the employer to pay GST.

Further information on financial assistance can be obtained from the National Indigenous Cadetship Project Handbook on the NICP website

Paid Work Placement

• The employer must provide the cadet with 12 week paid work placement (or equivalent) for each full year of the cadetship.
• The employer must ensure that work duties complement the cadet’s course of study.
• Work placement is usually undertaken between academic years.
• NICP does not reimburse employers for the cadet’s salary during work placement.

Working with USQ Indigenous Student

USQ has employed an Indigenous Employment Consultant, Katrina Vagg, to liaise with employers and students about the NICP and indigenous employment opportunities. Jacqui can provide information to employers about the NICP and how to be involved, as well as communicating to USQ indigenous students and assisting with the placement process.

Employers interested in participating in the NICP should visit the NICP website for further information and to register the organisation on the NICP database.