Indigenous trainees do business with cops

Dandenong police are working side-by-side with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youths through a new traineeship program.
Industry and Employment Minister Wade Noonan and Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams visited the station to meet trainees and police involved in the Skillinvest program.
Through funding from the State Government’s $63 million Jobs Victoria initiative, Skillinvest placed three school-based trainees at Dandenong police station and 29 others at stations around Victoria.
The trainees are involved in filing, paperwork and inventory checks as part of completing a Certificate III in Business Administration.
“By linking trainees with Victoria Police, we’re opening up exciting career pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people,” Mr Noonan said.
“I look forward to seeing this program rolled out to police stations across the state to give students a chance to get important skills and training in administration.”
Aboriginal Affairs Minister Natalie Hutchins said: “The benefit of employment to the Aboriginal community goes beyond having a job – it gives them the ability to give back to the community and become future leaders.”