Image: Ricky Dale at work at his local council.

Meet Ricky, in his first full-time job and loving it.

From the sea-side community of Port Germein in South Australia, Ricky was searching for long-term employment and determined to treat every activity and task as an opportunity to learn more and remain engaged in the work place.

“I wasn’t going to be discouraged by self-doubt or someone else’s opinion that I was too inexperienced or too young or too scared to try something new,” Ricky said.

His local CDP provider, Complete Personnel Group, helped Ricky gain full-time employment. Employment Consultant, Christine Benson worked closely with Ricky to help him get the skills he needed to get casual work and then move into permanent employment.

Ricky started casual work at the local Council in 2016 and was then offered a traineeship through the local Government Regional Youth Traineeship Scheme.

"He is a young man with a great attitude. I was pleased to put forward his name to the District Council of Mount Remarkable when they were looking for suitable applicants to work at the Council."

The Community Development Programme (CDP) is the Australian Government’s remote employment and community development service. It supports around 33,000 remote job seekers in more than 1,000 communities to build skills, address barriers and contribute to their communities through a range of flexible activities.

The program is designed around the unique social and labour market conditions found in remote Australia and is an essential part of the Australian Government’s agenda for increasing employment and breaking the cycle of welfare dependency.

CDP participants receive personalised assistance from their provider to help build their skills, get a job and participate to their maximum capacity in activities. CDP providers also help remote-area employers meet their workforce needs by encouraging them to look to the bush for employees.

To find out about CDP activities in your area, contact your local Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Regional Network office.

CDP provider Complete Personnel Group operates in several regions in South Australia.