Community Development Program
Community Development Program
The Kalano Community Association’s Community Development Program (CDP) prides itself in exceeding the standard client service delivery. The CDP is an Australian Government initiative that engages and assists Job Seekers that enable skills development, training, overcome barriers and contribute to communities through various activities. It is designed to address the unique social and labour market conditions in remote Australian communities. It aims to increase employment and break the cycle of welfare dependency.
Aboriginal People Working For Aboriginal People
Kalano’s CDP has become a leader in the Northern Territory as it uniquely maintains an average of about a 90% Aboriginal caseload and a 70% Aboriginal workforce. Our Case Managers are trusted by our clients as our approach is individually-service based and culturally-appropriate by nature. We understand the barriers facing our clients and work collaboratively with them to implement solutions suited to their needs to ensure their sustainability.
A year of new pathways for jobseekers
The past year has been a challenging but rewarding time, where we participated in the Trialing Pathways to Real Jobs (TPRJ) from November 2022 – June 2023. This Trial allowed us to explore different strategies to transition job seekers into real jobs. As we have a high labour market in Katherine, we used the TPRJ trial to focus on establishing two training centres situated at Kalano. These centres were in preparation to provide LLN training, Driver licensing, and to host visiting services to support our participants with non-vocational needs.
These programs will feed into future Community Projects by ensuring participants are job ready when they move into skills-based training and then onto real paid work opportunities.
Client Services
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
Our program hosts a wide range of activities and capacity-building workshops that nourish our client’s professional interests, education, skills development, and are related to Katherine’s primary industries in preparation for entering its workforce. Some of our activities are in partnership with other community organisations and corporations such as: Catholic NT Care, NT Drive Safe and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
PLACEMENT
Case Managers work closely with our clients prior to placement to understand their long-term goals in an effort to find a suitable placement. During this process, Case Managers review the barriers that may impact the client’s success so that they may overcome them.
POST-PLACEMENT SUPPORT
Kalano’s CDP Case Managers are trained to offer our clients post placement support and follow-up to determine the fit and success of their employer placements; the impact of their training and skills development; health care maintenance; and future opportunities for both the CDP participant and employer.