Building career prospects for Indigenous jobseekers in WA

Sodexo has embarked on delivering a new work-ready program to enable Indigenous jobseekers secure long-term employment within the Western Australian hospitality resources sector.

Sodexo’s remote site operations in Perth has recently embarked on delivering, in collaboration with GenerationOne, Polytechnic West and AtWork Australia, a new hospitality work readiness program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander jobseekers in Western Australia (WA). Through this partnership, Sodexo will deliver a series of job-specific training components to prepare participants for remote life working. As of 30 June 2014, pre-employment training commenced for Sodexo’s first group of 20 students at Perth’s newly established Vocational Training and Employment Centre (VTEC).

Developed as part of the VTEC project in WA to upskill prospective Indigenous employees, the program will see participants graduate with a nationally accredited Certificate II qualification and move into permanent Sodexo employment.

Announced by the Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator the Hon. Nigel Scullion, in March of this year, Perth’s first VTEC will provide guaranteed jobs for up to 200 Indigenous people. Sodexo promises to create employment opportunities for 10% of the project’s commitment. To view Minister Scullion’s comments, please visit http://www.nigelscullion.com/media-hub/indigenous-affairs/200-guaranteed-jobs-indigenous-trainees-perth.

Sodexo’s global vision is twofold: to improve the Quality of Life of our employees, clients and consumers; and to contribute to the development of the communities and regions where the organisation operates. Sodexo’s National Indigenous Diversity Manager, Wendy Dawson, is excited about the value the new VTEC program will bring to the resources hospitality sector.

Wendy comments: “Sodexo is delighted to be the first host employer for Polytechnic West VTEC, in a collaboration that shares our vision to providing real opportunities and quality learning within a culturally safe environment. The VTEC philosophy is aligned with Sodexo’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) ten year journey, and will help us meet our Indigenous employment and retention commitments. We are looking forward to welcoming our first VTEC graduates to the Sodexo family."

Sodexo is regularly recognised for its leadership in corporate responsibility. For more information visit http://au.sodexo.com/auen/corporate-responsibility-v2/diversity-inclusion/diversity-inclusion.aspx.