Work and Income Cadet Programme

The Work and Income Cadet Programme was introduced in 2004 to support young people to make the transition from school to work and into sustainable long-term careers. The programme is run in partnership with Learning State, the industry training organisation for the State sector, and comes under the umbrella of the Modern Apprenticeship scheme.

The programme provides a way for school leavers with few or no formal qualifications to gain work, training and a career path. During the two-year long programme the cadets are usually placed in case manager roles in Work and Income service centres. They are also encouraged to study towards two national certificates in public sector services that teach an understanding of the role of government and the public service, client service, effective communications, cultural diversity and career advice.

Cadets are given the opportunity to bring their own unique perspectives to the skills they learn and then move into more senior roles in Work and Income and throughout the broader Ministry of Social Development.

Work and Income employs more apprentices than any other state sector organisation. Since 2004, there have been 258 cadets, most aged between 19 and 21; 31 per cent are Māori and 22 per cent Pacific peoples.

The cadetship programme is an excellent example of an opportunity to develop new programmes and initiatives to help create broader diversity within MSD staff; thereby strengthening the skills and experience needed to deal with the immediate needs of New Zealanders and develop the types of assistance they may need in the future.

Existing staff benefit from the cadets’ enthusiasm and eagerness to learn, and the fresh ideas they bring to the organisation. The cadets themselves are excited by the opportunities at Work and Income. To quote one of them, “If you have the chance to be a cadet, take it. It’s a truly awesome way to build yourself as a person and also to build partnerships within the Ministry.”

In 2010 Work and Income will revise the cadetship scheme with Learning State. The Ministry is now looking at ways to create pathway opportunities for the cadets across the wider organisation with, for example, leadership programmes. This innovative cadet programme has already been recognised with a Work Place Diversity Award from the Equal Employment Opportunities Trust.

WEBSITE: www.learningstate.govt.nz