Corporate Partners for Change

Holroyd Council is a Lead Corporate Partner with Corporate Partners for Change (CPC), in both Childrens Services and the Business Administration programs.

CPC is a free program coordinated by the Office of the Minister for Western Sydney that provides job seekers with training to allow them to fill industry-identified staff shortages. The program is very successful with over 700 graduates.

If you would like to receive skills in aged care work, electrical trades, business services, disability work or children's services, or if your organisation is involved in one of the above and would like the opportunity to be involved in developing your local area, then please visit the Corporate Partner for Change website.

Holroyd Success Story 

This is the story of a CPC graduate who is now working for Holroyd Council as part of Children's Services...

"I am a single mother of 4 and I was out of the workforce for 25 years. I was born in Cyprus and grew up in a culture where my role as a mother was to stay home and look after the family, and I never really explored what I could achieve as an independent woman. When I migrated to Australia, I left the majority of my family behind. I tried to make a living and raise my children alone, with limited support networks. My time was spent looking after my friends and neighbours children or cooking and cleaning for them!

"I first found out about the CPC program through the IPC Employment Agency, which is part of the Job Network. I attended the orientation sessions and learned about how the program works and what was expected of all the participants. Even though I had done a course in Business Administration and Finance, I thought that the CPC program may open some more doors for me.

"I joined the CPC Children’s Services program earlier this year, and what a fantastic experience it was! The YWCA and their Learning and Development team really knew how to put together a learning plan that catered for everyone’s needs and that gave us the skills that employers are looking for.

"I had the chance to meet some wonderful people from many different nationalities and backgrounds and I was really interested to learn about their culture and help out in any way I could. Some of us had not studied for many years… even decades!

"Some of my classmates already had a degree from their country but found the CPC program helped them to break through those hidden barriers. For some people like me, it was the first time we had done work experience in Australia. The program also gave me and my classmates the opportunity to secure a traineeship with Holroyd City Council which works in a partnership with Macquarie Education and Training Service.

"This means I will be able to complete my Certificate III in Children’s Services which I began through CPC. I am now working as a permanent staff member for Holroyd City Council at The Sometime Centre Friend Park and I consider myself very lucky. All the other staff have been so supportive and encouraging throughout my journey.

"When I look back at CPC it has given so much more than the skills and work experience to get a job. It has built my confidence and my independence and allowed me to reach my goals.

"My children are so proud of me and I am an inspiration to my friends. It has also improved my financial situation and I am even thinking about planning a trip to Cyprus to visit my parents who I have not seen in so many years.

"CPC’s motto of “creating opportunities” is really true for me! I really want to thank all of the people and organisation involved with CPC for contributing so much."