Aboriginal career development program

Who can apply

Plan your career development and take your next step.

We’re looking for Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people:

• in roles equal to a VPS 4, 5 or 6
• who’ve had limited career development opportunities
• in any role across the sector
• are committed to building their careers.

Get in touch if you’re in a role equal to a VPS 3 and want to apply, as in some cases you can.

If you’re equal to a VPS 6, also look at our Barring Djinang Leadership Program.

Manager support

The program runs during work hours so you need approval from your manager.

When you apply, you’ll need to email us a signed statement from your manager explaining:

• what they hope you’ll get out of the program
• why you’d be perfect for it.

It must also include the commitment statement below:

“As [applicant’s name]’s manager, I:

• understand how the program works, costs and timelines
• approve of their participation during work hours
• commit to playing an active role in supporting them throughout the program and its activities
• will contact the Victorian Public Sector Commission if I have any questions about the program.”

Please email your supporting statement to aboriginal.employment@vpsc.vic.gov.au once you’ve completed the EOI form.

If your manager plays an active supporting role, you will get more out of the program. Their committed, ongoing support is essential.

Please contact the Aboriginal Employment Unit if you would like us to provide program information to your manager.

What’s included

Over 8 months, you’ll progress through a career plan tailored to your individual needs.

The program includes:

• a group welcome event
• a manager Q&A session
• a Saville Wave® assessment of your preferred workstyle
• 5.5 hours working with your career coach
• 2 catch-ups with your manager and career coach
• 2 half-day group coaching workshops
• a development plan that’s tailored to your career
• coaching support with your development plan
• group work and opportunities to network with other Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander employees
• self-directed activities and videos to help you develop your personal brand (who you are, your values and how that guides your working life).

Program costs

There are 16 spots available, at the cost of $4,550 per participant, including GST.

The program doesn’t cover:

• extra professional development activities a participant needs during or after the program
• costs to cover an employees’ absence during the program, for example, backfilling a role or secondments
• travel or accommodation
• any other costs a participant needs to participate in the program.

If you can’t make a session

We need at least 48 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule a coaching session.

If you don’t give us notice, you’ll likely lose the session.

How the program works

We run this program in partnership with coaches from People Measures and Burbangana who give cultural supervision to our coaches.

Meet your coach: First week of September 2023

You’ll book a time to meet your coach over Zoom and schedule your first 2 coaching sessions.

It’s important you feel a connection with your coach.

If you don’t feel a connection, you can let us know and we’ll see if we can find you a better fit.

Welcome event: 6 September 2023

You’ll meet your peers, other coaches and facilitators at a welcome event.

You’ll:

• learn how the program works
• get a coaching demonstration
• break into groups to do your first group coaching session.

Please note this welcome event will be conducted in-person and attendance is mandatory.

Saville Wave® assessment: Third week of September 2023

After the welcome event, you’ll do a Saville Wave® assessment to understand your working style on 4 areas:

1. Thought
2. Influence
3. Adaptability
4. Delivery

This as a work-styles profile. It is a starting point for talking about your future career. There aren’t any right or wrong answers.

You’ll discuss this assessment with your career coach.

1-on-1 coaching: 6 December 2023 to 28 March 2024

Over 8 months, you’ll spend a total of 5.5 hours working with your career coach.

Your first session is 1.5 hours and each session after that is 1 hour.

How coaching works

In the first session you’ll:

• discuss your Saville Wave® assessment
• start on your career development plan
• agree on what you are your coach what to get out of each session.

In the following sessions, you’ll:

• work on your career goals and development plan
• lead the discussion with a topic of your choice
• gain new insights and tasks.

Personal brand activities and videos: 14 or 21 November 2023

Your personal brand is who you are and what you value. Having a clear personal brand can help to guide your career choices and help you navigate your working life.

You’ll watch a series of videos and do activities to help you develop your personal brand.

2 catch-ups with your manager and career coach: November 2023 to May 2024

You’ll meet with your career coach and manager to discuss your progress and how they can support you.

Personal brand workshop: 15 November 2023

You’ll work on:

• your personal brand
• your presentation skills
• how to communicate with impact
• finding your voice.

Please note this workshop will be conducted in-person and attendance is mandatory. Lunch will be provided.

Small group catch-ups: December 2023 to May 2024

You’ll meet in small groups to yarn about the program and work through a development task.

Catch-ups last for around 1.5 hours. A career coach will attend briefly to set the scene.

Attendance at these sessions is mandatory as part of completing the program.

Thriving through change workshop: 12 March 2024

Career change is challenging for most of us. In this workshop, you’ll develop new skills to help you thrive through change.

You’ll reflect on your values and purpose to increase your confidence, build resilience and excel in your career.

Please note this workshop will be conducted in-person and attendance is mandatory. Lunch will be provided.

Final small group catch-up: 1 May 2024

You’ll meet in your small group to yarn about your progress in the program.

Your manager’s role

Your manager is expected to play an active role.

They’ll need to:

• set up monthly meetings to discuss your progress
• give you time to prepare for your coaching and group sessions
• let you travel to in-person workshops, this depends on restrictions
• act as a point of contact for us
• support your career development.

Your privacy

We handle all information in line with:

• the Data and Privacy Protection Act 2014
• the Health Records Act 2001
• other applicable Victorian and Commonwealth legislation.

What you discuss and write in your coaching sessions is confidential.

We only get reports on how many sessions our provider runs and a status update on if they’re going well or not.

Our coaches work to a code of ethics.

Read our privacy policy to find out more.