The Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) program strengthens Indigenous communities and supports Indigenous people in remote areas through community development and participation opportunities that develop skills, improve capacity, work readiness and employability and link with local priorities.

CDEP is one of the key Indigenous employment programs contributing to the Australian Government’s aim of halving the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous employment within a decade.

The Community Development Employment Programme (CDEP) has been conducted in Woorabinda  since 1987. Following a break, the programme recommenced in 1997 and has been coordinated by CQID since 2005.

Current projects include:

• Upgrade of community stables and rodeo grounds
• Restoration of the football field, including sheds and fencing
• New Beginnings project; including building the community shed
• Refit of the Opal Hall
• CDEP building refit
• School nutrition programme
• Working with 'A Major Force' on fencing projects

By becoming involved in these projects, participants will learn valuable painting, landscaping, fencing, welding, health and hospitality skills.

To enable participants to become work ready, CQID’s Registered Training Organisation offers Certificate 1 in Work Preparation and Certificate 1 in Information Technology. To create greater training and development opportunities, accredited courses have been sourced from other RTO's and partnerships have been developed with companies in Rockhampton to provide work experience. Participants are able to gain practical hands on experience in the trades areas, which  help develop career goals.

Future employment pathway opportunities include providing drug and alcohol rehabilitation training for participants. This will enable graduates to apply for work at the Woorabinda Rehabilitation Centre that will be opened early in 2012.

CDEP is funded by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.