ON-Q is committed to working within Indigenous communities to ensure that the first Australians get access to the employment opportunities available to other citizens.

Since 2003 ON-Q’s Start Smart has had an Indigenous Employment Program addressing the under-representation of Indigenous people in the Australian workforce. 

Start Smart is proud to be able to offer Traineeship and Apprenticeship opportunities to Indigenous people.

Our Indigenous Employment Service:

• Supplies advice and guidance in training and employment options.
• Establishes links between businesses and Indigenous communities.
• Provides pre-vocational training to develop the skills of Indigenous applicants and provide preparation for a Traineeship or Apprenticeship.
• Implements strategies to increase retention, participation and successful completion rates of ON-Q Indigenous Trainees and Apprentices.

At ON-Q we always believe in putting our money where our mouth is; we employ a range of Indigenous support staff:

Indigenous Employment Consultant

The Consultant works with both the Host Employer and their own colleagues within ON-Q to:

• Develop culturally appropriate work practices and 
• Help place Indigenous Apprentices and Trainees into employment.

Indigenous Mentor

The mentor is an additional support to Indigenous Trainees and Apprentices and:

• Provides culturally appropriate mentoring and educational support to achieve the best possible outcomes for Indigenous Apprentices and Trainees.
• Assists with the transition from school or unemployment to the workforce.
• Prevents problems in the workplace as well as enabling an effective conflict resolution strategy if problems arise.

Our Goal

Our commitment to provide Indigenous job opportunities is in partnership with the Australian Government’s Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). Our partnership focuses on pre-vocational training, mentoring and retention of Indigenous Trainees Apprentices.

Partnerships for Indigenous Employment

In collaboration with a major financial institution in the NSW North Coast region (Forster-Tweed Heads), ON-Q provides the opportunity for Indigenous applicants to apply for positions when they become available.
The successful applicants are employed as Trainee through ON-Q’s Start Smart and there is often the possibility of continuing employment once the Trainee has finished their qualification.

Major educational institutions have also provided support to the Indigenous community from Tweed Heads to Coffs Harbour, employing Indigenous Trainees throughout the campuses.

These institutions are currently researching avenues to increase the number of Indigenous Trainee placements.