Maddie Ward has been working in the Defence Assistance Program (DAP) at RAAF Base Amberley since 2016. In June 2023, she began an inclusive traineeship through Community Solutions and Endeavour Foundation that she will complete in her role at DAP.
Through the traineeship, Maddie is working towards a Certificate III in Business Administration. This is a great step forward for Maddie towards her goal of mainstream employment with the Australian Public Service in an administration role potentially at the Defence base.
Maddie is grateful to have the opportunity of the traineeship, and also the increase in her pay. Maddie says working at a Defence base is cool.
“It is better than other jobs as I get to see different things I wouldn’t see in a normal job. I also like working with the Defence team,” she said
Maddie had been working three days a week for the last six years at DAP and in early 2023 was given the opportunity to progressively increase her work days to five. She now works independently each day within one of the Defence units where she has become a valuable member of the team.
Maddie returns to the DAP office on a Friday afternoon when Defence have finished for the week and Maddie uses the last 3 hours of her week for her studies. This includes a monthly call from her Registered Training Organisation and works with DAP Defence Support Officer Amanda Carkeet to complete her modules.
DAP Defence Support Officer, Amanda Carkeet, said:
“Maddie has really grown a lot as a person in the last 12 months, she takes on the guidance she is given in the workplace and if she has any issues she will come and talk to me to find the best solution for herself moving forward.”
With the support of the DAP team, and Maddie’s co-workers in Defence, Endeavour Foundation and Community Solutions, Maddie is well on her way to her goal of mainstream employment.
DAP Vacancies for staff and people we support
We have new vacancies in the Defence Assistance Program (DAP) for a Team Coordinator in Canberra; Defence Support Officers in Sydney, Canberra and Townsville and Defence Service Assistants at a number of Defence bases across Australia. Read more about the vacancies on the intranet or our Careers page.
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