Central Queensland employers are being urged to join in an innovative program that provides indigenous full-time undergraduate students with the opportunity to undertake workplace cadetships while studying.

Newly appointed Central Queensland University National Indigenous Cadetship Project (NICP) liaison officer Heath Daley said the program provided benefits for students and business through the mutual transfer of knowledge and skills.

“The NICP offers a good incentive for employers and students. Employers get access to the latest styles of work from students and the students get to know the practical side of the industry,’’ Mr Daley said.

Mr Daley, a former indigenous Deakin University graduate, tutor of high school and tertiary students and also a former care worker, said the NICP aligned tertiary students with employers in various fields.

“There are just over 200 indigenous undergraduate students currently studying full-time on our Central Queensland campuses. We have a few aligned (with employers) at the moment but we need to fill 40 cadetships locally in the region,’’ he said.

Mr Daley said the requirement of businesses and industries involved in the project was to provide cadets with 12 weeks full-time employment annually for the duration of their studies.

“The cadets get everything a normal employee would get, including sick leave and superannuation contributions. They are expected to work as any other employee on the same level,’’ he said.

“I know how hard it is to find work and I see this as providing indigenous students with the chance to get ahead of the field. It is also an ideal way of learning professional skills and conducts for students, giving them real life skills and an insight into what life is like at the end of their studies.

Mr Daley said contracts under the NICP were for 40 weeks of study and 12 weeks of full-time employment per annum. The study component is funded by the Federal Government.

“There is an expectation for full-time employment at the end but this remains the discretion of the host employer,’’ he said.

Mr Daley said businesses, large and small, and industries in the region from Bundaberg to Mackay could contact him on 4930 6833 or email h.daley@cqu.edu.au to arrange an appointment.