The Commonwealth Bank Tweed City and Tweed Mall branches have welcomed Brigitte Bondin-Bates and Nicole Lockyer as new trainees under the Indigenous School Based Traineeship (ISBT) program.
This year, the ISBT program has placed a record number of trainees in Commonwealth Bank branches across Australia. The increased number of positions has extended the reach of the program into towns and cities that had not previously participated.
Local Year Eleven students, Brigitte and Nicole commenced their training with the Commonwealth Bank this month, and will be working full time during the school holidays. Once the school term commences in 2012, they will work one day per week whilst they both complete their final two years of high school.
“I am really looking forward to commencing my traineeship at the Tweed City branch and getting some valuable, hands on experience in the workplace,” Brigitte said.
The Commonwealth Bank has been offering traineeships since 2003 to Year 11 and Year 12 students throughout its branches. Manager, Indigenous Employment and Training, Phil Lockyer, said that this year the Commonwealth Bank has increased its commitment to creating opportunities for Indigenous young people by expanding the ISBT program into new areas, and increasing the number of traineeships available.
“It is great to see a record number of students signing up for the program and being proactive in
shaping their career and future development. We are thrilled that we are helping students gain valuable skills and confidence that can lead to permanent employment following their completion of high school,” Mr Lockyer said.
The Commonwealth Bank has 68 new trainees commencing work in December, adding to the 36 trainees currently working within the Bank.
This traineeship program forms part of the Commonwealth Bank’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
The Bank’s RAP is a formalised commitment to Indigenous Australians which was launched in July 2008.
