Former WESP participant Zhenjun and Infrastructure Canberra’s Rebekka Bjarnadottir, who hosted Zhenjun’s work placement in 2024.
07 February 2025
In brief:
- The ACT Government offers the Work Experience and Support Program (WESP) program.
- It is for Canberrans from linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds who do not have meaningful employment.
- WESP includes office skills training and ACT Government work placement.
- Program applications close on Sunday, 16 February 2025.
Have you heard of the ACT Government’s Work Experience and Support Program (WESP)?
The program is to support multicultural Canberrans who have been out of meaningful employment.
While WESP is highly competitive, many people don’t know it’s available, particularly those new to the ACT.
It runs for 12 weeks, and you still have time to apply for a place.
How could WESP help me?
Through WESP, you will receive free office skills training.
You will also complete a work placement in the ACT Government.
This gives you a chance to:
- build your skills and knowledge
- experience an Australian workplace
- improve your job-seeking confidence
- build a network of contacts in the ACT public service.
Former participant Zhenjun says he found the program useful.
“As a new immigrant to Canberra, I found job searching extremely challenging. It was difficult to compete without understanding Australian workplace culture and expectations.”
“WESP has greatly enhanced my employment prospects. It has been a turning point in my career journey in Australia,” he said.
About the program
The program runs full-time over 12 weeks. It includes:
- 4 weeks of free office skills training at the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT)
- 8 weeks of work experience in an ACT Government agency. This is not paid work experience.
Once you finish the program, you will get a Certificate II in Workplace Skills from CIT.
While you will build great contacts, there is no guarantee of a job during or after the program.
Am I eligible?
To apply you must:
- come from a culturally and linguistically diverse background
- be an ACT resident
- be able to commit to the program full-time over the 12 weeks.
- have been unemployed, or not in meaningful employment.
If you are not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you must also have a visa that allows you to:
- work in Australia, and
- study at CIT.
Check your visa eligibility at the Visas for study at CIT page.
Priority is given to applicants who are:
- on a Temporary Protection visa or Safe Haven Enterprise visa
- holders of an ACT Services Access card, and
- able to speak and write English well.
Applications close on Sunday, 16 February 2025.
How do I apply?
To apply, simply complete the form online.
Remember to submit your application by Sunday 16 February 2025.
What happens after I apply?
A panel will assess all applications.
If yours is shortlisted, you will be invited to an interview.
If you are successful at interview, you will be notified.
Unsuccessful applicants will be contacted once the process is complete.
Key dates
Following application, the program will follow the key dates below.
Before you apply, please make sure you can attend the program in a full-time capacity.
Application assessment | Start: 17 February 2025 | End: 7 March 2025 |
CIT course | Start: 17 March 2025 | End: 11 April 2025 |
Program break | Start: 14 April 2025 | End: 21 April 2025 |
Work placement | Start: 22 April 2025 | End: 13 June 2025 |
Where can I find more information?
Find the WESP application form.
Find full details of the program
Contact Multicultural ACT via email: ma@act.gov.au.
Phone the Multicultural ACT Work Experience Support Program: 6207 0150.
If you are not eligible for this program, you can get help to find employment from the Multicultural Employment Service.
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