First Nations Cadetship Program

 

The Community Legal Centres NSW First Nations Cadetship Program enables Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander university students to gain valuable work experience in community legal centres across New South Wales.

First Nations cadets July 2023 - Aimee Lawson, Keely-Che Cain and Jai McGaw

(Pictured: First Nations Cadets of 2023 — Aimee Lawson, Keely-Che Cain and Jai McGaw.)

Our First Nations Cadetship Program aims to address the underrepresentation of First Nations peoples in the legal sector, support students’ professional development, boost the representation of First Nations people in the community legal sector, and increase access to justice in New South Wales.

It is open to Aboriginal students in the final two years of a degree in law, social work, communications, or community development. Cadets gain practical experience that complements their study, and they participate in a range of professionally and socially meaningful work, as well as training and mentoring opportunities.

    The cadetship is for 90 days of paid work. It includes structured mentoring and networking opportunities, including opportunities to meet and greet members of the judiciary, attend Aboriginal court models, participate in training at law firms in the Sydney CBD, and receive mentoring.

    After a successful first year, NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman extended funding to enable another 12 students to participate in the First Nations Cadetship Program.

    Rolling applications are open for the CLCNSW First Nations cadetship. We encourage First Nations students to apply:

    Apply here!

      Meet the 2023 cadets

      Keely Che-Cain

      Aimee Lawson

      Jai McGaw

      Meet graduated cadets

      2022 CLCNSW First Nations Cadets

      Cadetship in the media

      Where can cadets work?

      Eligible community legal centres must have an active Reconciliation Action Plan (or similar) and already employ at least one First Nations staff member who can provide cadets with mentoring support. Community Legal Centres NSW employs one part-time Aboriginal staff member, First Nations Cadetship Administrator Bobbi Murray, to support the scheme. Cadets receive training and mentoring from the Community Legal Centres NSW Aboriginal Advisory Group.

      Community legal centre

      Location  

      Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC)

      Sydney  

      Welfare Rights Centre  

      Surry Hills 

      Ability Rights Centre  – Intellectual Disability Rights Service  

      Sydney 

      Arts Law Centre of Australia & Artists in the Black

      Sydney 

      Financial Rights Legal Centre & Mob Strong Debt Help

      Surry Hills 

      Hunter Community Legal Centre

      Newcastle 

      Mid North Coast Legal Centre  

      Port Macquarie  

      The University of Newcastle Legal Clinic

      Newcastle  

      Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre  

      Lismore 

      Redfern Legal Centre  

      Redfern 

      Seniors Rights Service  

      Surry Hills  

      Tenants Union of NSW 

      Sydney 

      Women’s Legal Service NSW

      Lidcombe  

      Western Sydney Community Legal Centre  

      Rooty Hill  

      Justice Support Centre  

      Bankstown  

      Background

      Find more information on the CLCNSW First Nations cadetship program here.