Media release

28 September 2022

Community Housing Industry Association NSW (CHIA NSW) has recently celebrated the graduation of the first cohort of Cadets from its Cadetship Program.

Developed in partnership with the NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC), the program offers Cadets a 12-month paid employment contract with a community housing provider (CHP) and enrolment in nationally accredited training course, Certificate IV in Housing.

Out of the 20 Cadets who undertook the program in 2021:

– 80% have graduated and a further three will graduate with the 2022 cohort

– 75% of those have found a job in community housing and one in community services

– Three of those Cadets have already been promoted by their employer

– 9 live in social housing while another has previously lived in social housing.

CHIA NSW congratulated the graduates and the NSW Government on the program’s success.

“I’m excited to acknowledge our first cohort of Cadets who deserve all the credit for their hard work as they graduate,” said CHIA NSW CEO, Mark Degotardi.

“The NSW community housing workforce is now a little bit stronger because of the amazing people it has gained through the Cadetship Program.”

“CHIA NSW congratulates the NSW Government on such a valuable initiative which would not be possible without its support and funding,” said Mr Degotardi.

The 2021 Graduation Ceremony was held at the Museum of Sydney on Friday 23 September where the Cadets were presented with their Certificates by Parliamentary Secretary for Planning and MP for Mulgoa, Tanya Davies.

Walbunja woman, Iesha Simon was one of the graduates and is now a Housing Officer with SEARMS Aboriginal Corporation. Iesha spoke about her experience in the Cadetship Program.

“The cadetship program gave me the opportunity to get back into the workforce and full-time work… I got my license and studied for the first time in 9 years, when I thought I was not competent,” Ms Simon said.

“When being out of the workforce for 7 years, I doubted myself and what I was capable of. I had never worked in an office job and did not think I was going to make it through the 12 months. Working whilst studying, was hard but also the most rewarding.”

“This is the best thing I have done, and I would not be doing anything like this in the last year and a half if it were not for the cadetship,” Ms Simon said.

Applications for the 2023 Cadetship round are now open. For more information, head to our website.

RELEASE ENDS

Media contact: Josh Appleton [email protected]