Local Indigenous traineeship scheme goes national
New South Wales media release
Monday, 1 March 2010
A valuable Indigenous Apprenticeship Program that won Centrelink’s Port Macquarie Call Centre a Ministerial Award 2 years ago will now go national.
In addition, the program in Port Macquarie continues with 6 new apprenticeships announced for this year.
This year the Minister for Human Services, Chris Bowen MP, recognised Centrelink’s Cairns Call Centre for its own local version of the program that won Port Macquarie the award in 2008.
"In 2010 this program will expand across 6 Centrelink Call Centres," said Port Macquarie Call Centre Manager, Graeme McLauchlan.
"Between them, our Call Centres at Port Macquarie, Cairns, Bunbury, Coffs Harbour, Tweed Heads and La Trobe will employ 35 Indigenous apprentices, building on the success of this important program."
"Word is starting to spread about these apprenticeships. Successful apprentices from previous years have promoted the program within their local communities and this has resulted in an increase in the number of applicants interested in these positions in 2010."
"At Port Macquarie Call Centre we are very happy to have had a strong field of applicants and the successful 2010 applicants are Julianne Holland, Aaron Case, Tamie Donovan, Allyson Stone, Ellen Coskerie, Nathan Dalton.
"Under their Team Leader, Sheryl Turner, the group are now focused on developing their careers within Centrelink.
"We look forward to another great year in what is proving to be a valuable program."
For more information, telephone the relevant Centrelink Media Contact.