News

The sky is the limit for Melissa

Tue, 22 Jul 2014 08:00:00

The first trainee to graduate from the Mallee District Aboriginal Services says her experience has given her higher ambitions for her career and community.

Twenty-year-old trainee Melissa Badenoch has completed her Certificate Three in Business and is now moving on to a Project Officer position within MDAS’s People and Culture Division in Mildura.
MDAS established an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment Strategy last year, which initiated a system of scholarships, traineeships, cadetships and identified (Indigenous-only) positions for the first time.
“We’re proud of Melissa’s commitment and dedication to completing her traineeship – she has delivered all the potential we saw in her when she was selected,” said MDAS’s Manager of People and Culture Debbie Fankhauser.
“One of the aims of our Employment Strategy is to be proactive in succession planning within our workforce.  Melissa’s experience is the Employment Strategy in action – Melissa now moves up within the Organistion, and we are now advertising for another trainee to take her place,” she said.
Ms Fankhauser said two other trainees were undertaking their formal training period – Indi Clarke (Corporate Services) and Simone Philp (Early Years Services) – and another two new trainees had recently been appointed within the Health and Family Services areas.
Miss Badenoch said she was proud to be the first Koori trainee to complete her training through MDAS.
“When I was chosen for the traineeship I had a part-time job and I was doing volunteer work, but what I really wanted was any full-time work to establish a work-life balance, keep me motivated and to try to set myself up financially,” she said.
“I was mainly interested in Community Services or Child Care but I was applying for anything full-time at the time.
“The experience has been fantastic! I’ve been exposed to many experiences and opportunities I just wouldn’t have had elsewhere and everyone is so supportive and helpful – and the Committees and general community participation that I have now, I also wouldn’t have been exposed to if I worked elsewhere.”
Melissa said her career goals were always evolving, and had changed significantly since beginning her traineeship in June 2013.
“Back then, I just wanted to be an office person – now I want to be someone who creates and contributes to positive changes within my Community and hopefully, one day, our whole Nation.
“In my lifetime, I want to see a ‘no gap’ between our Cultures and I’m on the right track as one of many proud employees of MDAS.”