ACT Government Indigenous Employment Pathway Program

Get Paid While You Study: Applications Open for ACT Government Indigenous Employment Pathway Program

For many students, finishing school comes with one big question: What comes next?

For eligible Year 11 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in the ACT, the answer could be the start of a meaningful and rewarding career with the ACT Government.

Applications are now open for the ACT Government’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment Pathway Program (EPP), an exciting Australian School-based Apprenticeship (ASbA) designed to help students earn, learn, and build a long-term career while still completing school.

This unique program gives students the opportunity to combine their Year 11 and 12 studies with part-time paid employment in the ACT Public Service (ACTPS), while also completing a nationally recognised Certificate II qualification.

That means students won’t need to choose between education and career development—they can do both at the same time.

More Than Work Experience

Unlike traditional work experience placements, the EPP offers something much bigger: a real career pathway.

Participants gain hands-on experience working within the ACT Public Service, developing practical workplace skills, professional confidence, and valuable industry knowledge in a supportive environment.

Throughout the program, students will:

• Earn an income while completing secondary school
• Gain real-world government workplace experience
• Complete a nationally recognised qualification
• Receive mentoring and ongoing support
• Build professional skills for future success.

This is an opportunity to step into a professional workplace early and begin building the foundations of a long-term career.

A Pathway to Ongoing Employment

One of the strongest features of the program is what happens after completion.

Students who successfully complete the Employment Pathway Program may transition into ongoing full-time employment with the ACT Government after finishing school.

That creates a powerful pathway from classroom to career—offering stability, growth, and future opportunities within one of the ACT’s largest employers.

Programs like this are helping create genuine career opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people while supporting greater representation and inclusion across the public sector.

Who Can Apply?

The program is open to students who:

• Are currently enrolled in Year 11
• Attend an ACT Government College
• Identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander

The program begins in September 2026 and runs through to December 2027.

At 1300apprentice, we know how powerful apprenticeships and traineeships can be in shaping futures. School-based pathways like the EPP give young people the chance to gain experience, confidence, qualifications, and career direction—all while still at school.

If you know a student who may benefit from this opportunity, now is the time to encourage them to apply.

Applications are open now through the ACT Government jobs portal. APPLICATIONS CLOSE SOON.

NOTE: This initiative is offered only to ACT Government public schools.

If you are interested in engaging with the EPP team, click on this image for more information and to download the flyer.