Indigenous Training and Employment

Xceptional Recruitment is publicly committed to supporting Indigenous training and employment for Aboriginal people. This commitment has been demonstrated through the company’s commitment to the successful Prisoner Reintegration Employment Opportunity Program that was established in 2009 and the successful implementation and management of the Aboriginal Youth Employment Opportunity Program and more recently the Regional Indigenous Training Program conducted at Mt Willoughby Station.

Together, Xceptional Recruitment and the Aboriginal groups, representing aboriginal communities in South Australia, have established an ongoing relationship and commitment through the implementation of training and employment programs.

The Regional Indigenous Training Program (RITP) is aimed at the general Indigenous population in the regions of Coober Pedy, Pt. Augusta, Ceduna and Pt. Lincoln with a core focus on selecting individualsfrom the traditional owner groups. Xceptional Recruitment conducts the training program at Mount Willoughby Station, which is located 151km north of Coober Pedy. Mount Willoughby is an Aboriginal owned and operated station of the traditional owner group Antikarinya.

The intent of the program is to provide indigenous participants with the opportunity to gain knowledge and training in the operation of equipment including Front End Loader, Skid Steer, Backhoe, Light Vehicles, oxy and acetylene, welding, animal husbandry, general station and vehicle maintenance.

Having the programs developed in partnership with identified traditional owner groups and on Aboriginal land outside of the usual training locations, has proved to be an important elementin providing for a more culturally appropriate and focussed training course devoid of distractions that may cause candidates to have poor attendance and not complete the course.

Xceptional Recruitment places a large emphasis on cultural awareness training to ensure all participants are aware of the aboriginal traditions and culture.

In 2011, the Regional Indigenous Training Program was selected as a finalist in the Advantage SA Regional Awards and went on to win the Department of Trade and Economic Development Innovation Award. Further to this the program also received a commendation award for the South Australian of the Year 2011 Education Category.