Westpac to expand intake of indigenous interns

CareerTrackers is a national non-profit organisation creates cadetship opportunities with the private sector for talented Indigenous Australian university students. The organisation recruits Indigenous university students and place them with private sector employers to participate in multi-year cadetships. This contract with Westpac is the largest commitment to the organisation’s program by an Australian corporate.

Westpac Group Executive Human Resources and Corporate Affairs Christine Parker said this initiative was part of the Group’s plans to create meaningful career opportunities for Indigenous Australians, as outlined in its 2014–17 Reconciliation Action Plan.

“Since becoming a foundation partner of CareerTrackers in 2011, we’ve been impressed by the value it has created for the 45 talented young Indigenous students who have come through Westpac, eager to embark on their careers.

“It’s also given us a great opportunity to tap into some of the best university students in Australia, with some of our interns now full time employees with us.

“Dialling up the number of our interns so significantly over the coming decade will help open doors for many more talented Indigenous students, many of whom we hope will enjoy long successful careers with Westpac Group.”

CareerTrackers CEO Michael Combs said he was thrilled the partnership with Westpac had been extended for a further 10 years.

“The ongoing, long term commitment announced by Westpac today is a reflection of the positive results and great momentum CareerTrackers is continuing to achieve,” Mr Combs said.

“It also provides certainty that a further 400 Indigenous students will benefit from accelerating their professional development, opening doors to careers following their passions, participating in tailored development training and contributing to their communities.

“This agreement puts us well on track to meeting our aim to have 300 ‘alumni’ by 2017 – having both graduated from university and CareerTrackers,” he said.