What CareerTrackers Indigenous Internship Program does

CareerTrackers Indigenous Internship Program is an Australian non-profit charitable organisation and social enterprise founded in October 2009, headquartered in Brisbane with state-based teams across NSW/ACT, QLD/NT, SA, VIC/TAS, and WA. The organisation operates a paid multi-year internship pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from Year 12 through university graduation, matching them with corporate employment partners across industries including banking, engineering, law, consulting, healthcare, technology, and energy. Its core offering is the Multi-Year Internship Program, supported by a digital platform (a Student Portal at studentportal.ct.org.au and iOS/Android mobile app) that handles Learning Contracts, weekly progress updates, advisor chat, and employer information. Annual flagship events include the Leadership Development Institute (mandatory for 400+ interns), the National Gala Awards Dinner (1,500+ guests), and the National Alumni Conference (200+ Indigenous professionals).

CareerTrackers runs an ecosystem of 100-150+ employer partners, 41 partner universities, and 27 employers on 10-year partnership commitments, underpinned by formal MOUs, state-based Program Managers, and dedicated advisory staff. The organisation has delivered 8,000-9,000+ internships over 15 years, built an alumni community of 1,600+ First Nations professionals, and reports a 90% six-year graduation rate (vs. 41% national Indigenous average), 95% full-time employment within three months of graduation, a $62,000 median first-year salary, and 68% of alumni rated in the top performance category at their most recent workplace evaluation. Specialised sub-programs include the Young Indigenous Women's STEM Academy (a 10-year Commonwealth Government investment delivered in partnership with CSIRO), the High School Program for Year 12 students, and the Women in Leadership Mentoring Program for alumnae.

The revenue model combines employer sponsorship fees (undisclosed, quoted per intern per annum), Commonwealth Government funding (for the STEM Academy and Indigenous Cadetship Support scholarships), tax-deductible donations, and partner contributions. The organisation is Supply Nation registered, administered under legal entity CareerTrackers First Nations Internship Program Limited (ABN 67 140 287 627), and led by CEO Adam Davids with a Board chaired by Michelle Tierney. Recent strategic activity has centred on formalising university partnerships (Swinburne, RMIT, University of Newcastle, University of Queensland), expanding the 10-year employer partner base, and elevating national visibility through the 2026 hosting of Martin Luther King III at the Leadership Development Institute and Australian Legacy and Leadership Tour.

Name

CareerTrackers Indigenous Internship Program

Legal name

CareerTrackers First Nations Internship Program Limited

Website

https://careertrackers.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CareerTrackers is an Australian non-profit social enterprise operating a paid multi-year internship pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from Year 12 through university, connecting 400+ annual interns with 100-150+ employer partners and 41 universities nationwide. It runs the Young Indigenous Women's STEM Academy with CSIRO and an alumni network of 1,600+ First Nations professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indigenous Workforce Development and Internship Services

NAICS

Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Apprenticeship Training (611513), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Career Coaching, Mentoring & Placement Support Services (EDAAAKAO), Leadership, Service Learning & Volunteer-to-Career Pathways (EDAMAKAJ), Alumni, Peer & Community Networking Programs (EDAMAKAM)

Keywords

• Indigenous internship program
• First nations employment
• Paid internship placement
• Work integrated learning
• Professional mentoring program

Headquarters

HQ city

Brisbane

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Employer Sponsorship Fees: CareerTrackers operates a social enterprise fee-for-service model. Employer partners contribute a sponsorship fee per intern per annum. This fee guarantees year-long support from CareerTrackers to both interns and employers. Not publicly disclosed; quote-based.
2. Commonwealth Government Funding: The Young Indigenous Women's STEM Academy is a 10-year investment funded by the Commonwealth Government, delivered in partnership with CSIRO.
3. Indigenous Cadetship Support (ICS) Scholarships: ICS is an Australian Government initiative (Indigenous Cadetship Support) that provides financial support to eligible CareerTrackers interns who are First Nations tertiary students. Paid directly to students via the ICS program.
4. Donations: The organisation accepts tax-deductible donations from individuals and organisations to support the program. All donations over $2 are tax-deductible.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels16 records

Core offering

CareerTrackers operates a paid multi-year internship program that places Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from Year 12 through university graduation into 12-week annual internships with corporate and government employer partners. The organisation operates a social enterprise fee-for-service model funded by employer sponsorship fees per intern, plus Australian Government funding for specific initiatives. Supporting the core internship are the Student Portal/mobile app, annual flagship events (Leadership Development Institute, National Gala Awards), the High School Program, the Young Indigenous Women's STEM Academy (with CSIRO), the Women in Leadership Mentoring Program, ICS Scholarships, and a lifelong Alumni Network.

Product overview

CareerTrackers is a national non-profit organization operating a unified community and internship platform for First Nations students. The core offering is a Multi-Year Internship Program that connects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from Year 12 through university with paid professional internships at employment partner organizations. Supporting the core program are integrated digital tools (Student App and Portal), annual flagship events (Leadership Development Institute and National Gala Awards), specialized academies (Young Indigenous Women's STEM Academy in partnership with CSIRO), the High School Program, and an Alumni Network. The ecosystem also includes specialized offerings such as the Women in Leadership Mentoring Program, ICS Scholarships, and Masterclass Series. Together these products form a comprehensive pathway from high school through university to professional employment and leadership for First Nations Australians.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Young Indigenous Women's STEM Academy: A national program delivered in partnership with CSIRO that supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander female-identifying students in high school through higher education and onto graduate employment in STEM careers. The program is a 10-year investment funded by the Commonwealth Government.

Products and services

• Multi-Year Internship Program A paid, multi-year internship program linking First Nations students from Year 12 and throughout university with corporate and government employment partners matched to their field of study. Students complete 12-week internships each year with professional development, Learning Contracts, and mentoring.
• High School Program Pre-university program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Year 12 students providing training, coaching, and exposure to pathways into higher education and professional employment, including a four-week paid internship in STEM, Business or Law.
• Young Indigenous Women's STEM Academy A national program supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander female-identifying students from high school through university and onto graduate employment in STEM careers, with paid internships across 150+ industry partners, mentoring, industry workshops, and a national sisterhood network.
• Leadership Development Institute (LDI) Annual three-day national gathering mandatory for interns where students connect, learn, and grow through workshops, keynote addresses from industry leaders, and networking, with over 400 interns attending annually in Sydney.
• National Gala Awards Dinner Annual signature celebration event bringing together 1,500+ guests including interns, alumni, corporate partners, and university leaders to honour achievements of interns and alumni with ten national awards presented annually.
• Women in Leadership Mentoring Program A 12-month mutual learning program providing CareerTrackers Alumnae with one-on-one senior executive/female mentor relationships, executive leadership training, and resources to accelerate their leadership journey.
• Indigenous Cadetship Support (ICS) Scholarship Australian Government initiative administered by CareerTrackers that improves professional employment prospects of First Nations Australians by enabling tertiary students to gain professional qualifications and experience through paid work-integrated learning.
• Alumni Network A lifelong professional network and community for CareerTrackers graduates providing exclusive leadership development, mentoring, and learning opportunities. Includes the National Alumni Conference (200+ Indigenous professionals annually) and a LinkedIn community with 6,629+ members.
• Work Shadow Week A high school work experience program providing Year 12 students with exposure to professional environments and career pathways prior to university commencement.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of CareerTrackers Alumni graduate university in 6 years or less (vs 41% national Indigenous average and 67% non-Indigenous average)
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• The University of Queensland (UQ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026New MOU signed in May 2026 formalising a partnership to expand career opportunities and strengthen pathways for Indigenous students at UQ. Since 2014, 113 UQ students have participated in CareerTrackers completing 347 paid internships. The partnership was developed in collaboration with UQ's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit (ATSIS Unit). CEO Adam Davids and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Bronwyn Fredericks led the collaboration.
• University of NewcastlecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2026MOU signed with University of Newcastle in April 2026, creating expanded opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to access internships, employment and leadership pathways. The collaboration was launched at the University's Wollotuka Institute. Focus areas include STEM, business, law, and media. Student Hannah Cooper (Anaiwan woman) featured as a success story.
• Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2026CEDA partnered with CareerTrackers to host a landmark panel discussion and luncheon at PwC Australia on 5 February 2026. The event brought together national and global leaders, including Martin Luther King III, to discuss Indigenous representation in Australian economic leadership. CEDA CEO Melinda Cilento highlighted inclusive leadership as critical to Australia's long-term productivity.
• PwC AustraliacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 February 2026PwC Australia hosted the CEDA and CareerTrackers panel discussion and luncheon featuring Martin Luther King III on 5 February 2026. The event convened national and global leaders on Indigenous economic leadership.
• Martin Luther King IIIflagshipOthers · 4 February 2026Martin Luther King III served as keynote speaker and special guest at the 2026 Leadership Development Institute, National Gala Awards Dinner, and Australian Legacy and Leadership Tour (3–6 February 2026, Sydney). His visit connected Dr King's civil rights legacy with the ongoing story of Indigenous leadership in Australia. As the oldest son of Dr Martin Luther King Jr, Mr King's presence amplified First Nations voices and inspired a new generation of Indigenous professionals.
• RMIT UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 August 2025RMIT became the second university to formally sign an MOU with CareerTrackers in August 2025. Announced by Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Education, Research and Engagement Professor Gary Thomas at RMIT's MEGA FLEX space. The partnership opens doors to meaningful internships, builds leadership capacity, and ensures more Indigenous voices in decision-making roles.
• Swinburne University of TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 August 2025Swinburne became the first university to formalise its commitment to supporting First Nations students via MOU signing in August 2025. Led by Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Engagement Professor John Evans at Swinburne Hawthorn Campus' MTC Hub. CEO Adam Davids stated the partnership would 'enable the vision of First Nations professionals leading with excellence and purpose in industries and communities across Australia.'
• CPB ContractorsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016CPB Contractors was the first employer to make a 10-year partnership commitment to CareerTrackers in 2016, founding the 10×10 partner model. Since then, 25 employers have joined. Student Jack Boyd completed his Pre-University internship and five successive internships with CPB, working on the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project in Brisbane.
• CSIROcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSIRO is a core partner in the Young Indigenous Women's STEM Academy, a national program supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander female-identifying students from Year 8–12 (CSIRO-led) through to university and early career (CareerTrackers-led). CSIRO leads the high school component while CareerTrackers leads the tertiary program. The STEM Academy is a 10-year investment funded by the Commonwealth Government.
• Sydney Opera HousecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Sydney Opera House hosted the formal welcome event for Martin Luther King III on 3 February 2026, marking the launch of the Australian Legacy and Leadership Tour. Chair Michael McDaniel delivered formal remarks. The event brought together Indigenous leaders, alumni, students, and business and government representatives at the Opera House's Gadigal Country.
• Goodstart Early LearningminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoodstart Early Learning hosted multiple internships for CareerTrackers student Hannah Cooper (Anaiwan woman, Bachelor of Social Work Honours, University of Newcastle), who was recognised at the 2026 National Gala Awards. Example of employment partner providing work-integrated learning in the early childhood education sector.
• QantascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQantas provided a hands-on internship to Tully Mahr (2026 Intern of the Year), a Gundungurra woman studying Master of Engineering at University of Melbourne. Tully worked on innovative ways to repurpose parts from decommissioned aircraft to support Indigenous communities in Alice Springs. Qantas created meaningful opportunities where First Nations students can thrive.
• WestpaccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWestpac is a long-standing employment partner hosting CareerTrackers interns across multiple disciplines including IT, HR, and finance. Featured in the masterclass series (Senior Consultant Richard Ridge, IT Project Manager Michael Mieni, HR Manager Dominic Corbett, Finance Manager Ben Eisikovich). Alan Docherty (CFO) is Executive Sponsor of CBA's Yana Budjari employee network.
• Supply NationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareerTrackers is Supply Nation registered. Supply Nation is Australia's leading directory of verified Indigenous businesses, transforming Indigenous procurement by connecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses with corporate and government buyers. Founder Michael McLeod was instrumental in establishing Supply Nation.
• International Convention Centre SydneyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe National Gala Awards Dinner (5 February 2026) was held at the International Convention Centre, Darling Harbour, Sydney (Gadigal Country), bringing together over 1,500 guests for the landmark event.
• South EveleighminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe National Alumni Conference (5–6 February 2026) was held at South Eveleigh, Sydney (Gadigal Country), bringing together over 200 Indigenous professionals for leadership development and peer connection.
• Walter and Elizabeth Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWEHI hosted Tahnee Towers (Bundjalung woman, Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Victoria University) in their Brain Cancer Research Laboratory since summer 2021/2022. Tahnee was awarded 2023 Intern of the Year at the CareerTrackers Gala Awards, and delivered a keynote speech at the 2023 Program Day.
• GHDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGHD is an engineering and architecture advisory firm that provides internships to CareerTrackers students. Featured in the Engineering Masterclass series with Principal Engineer Jon Williams and Senior Engineer – Dams Jack Kafoa.
• EY (Ernst & Young)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEY employed CareerTrackers alumnus Kyran Dixon (2018 Young Australian of the Year for South Australia) as a consultant in the Risk and Internal Audit Practice. Kyran's journey with CareerTrackers included overcoming personal adversity including cancer.
• Herbert Smith FreehillsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHerbert Smith Freehills is featured in the Law Masterclass series with Partner Dan Dragovic and Solicitor Ashleigh Lindsay, and provides internships to CareerTrackers law students.
• Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBA is an employment partner with Alan Docherty (CFO and Group Executive Financial Services) as Executive Sponsor of CBA's Yana Budjari employee network, fostering a culturally capable and inclusive environment where First Nations voices and cultures are celebrated.
• Cape York PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCape York Partnership, led by Group CEO Fiona Jose (KuKu Yalanji and Torres Strait Islander woman), is a key partner in the CareerTrackers ecosystem. Fiona Jose is a keynote speaker at LDI 2026 and a member of the Paul Ramsay Foundation's First Nations Advisory Council.
• Message Stick / Message Stick FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded by Michael McLeod (Ngarrindjeri, Monaro and Yorta Yorta man), Message Stick is a pioneering Indigenous-owned telecommunications business. Michael McLeod is Co-Founder and Chairman of Message Stick Communications and a keynote speaker at LDI 2026. He was instrumental in establishing Supply Nation and continues to empower Indigenous youth through the Message Stick Foundation.
• Nous GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNous Group featured in the Consulting Masterclass series with Senior Consultant Julian Jeffries and Consultant Eamon Ritchie, sharing insights on life as a consultant and contributing to CareerTrackers' professional development programming.

Scale indicators22 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Stars Foundation: Australian non-profit that supports First Nations young people through education, health, and cultural programs with intensive year-round engagement. Stars overlaps with CareerTrackers' mission of improving Indigenous educational and employment outcomes and operates with similar school-to-career pathway intent.
• AIME (Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience): Australian non-profit that delivers mentoring and educational support programs for Indigenous students. AIME overlaps with CareerTrackers on the First Nations student segment, university partnerships, and corporate sponsorship model, though AIME emphasises mentoring over multi-year paid internships.
• Yalari Foundation: Australian non-profit providing private school and university scholarships for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Yalari shares CareerTrackers' First Nations student focus, donor-funded and corporate-sponsored model, and longitudinal educational pathway approach from school through to university.
• CareerSeekers: Australian non-profit that runs paid internship programs for refugees and asylum seekers, also operating a corporate-funded fee-for-service sponsorship model. CareerSeekers is structurally analogous to CareerTrackers in its employer-paid internship model, year-round student support, and focus on marginalised talent pools.
• Aurora Education Foundation: Australian non-profit that supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students through scholarships, mentoring, and career pathway programs. Aurora targets a similar student demographic, works with corporate sponsors and universities, and operates in the same First Nations education-to-employment space as CareerTrackers.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: Large U.S.-based nonprofit that operates workforce development, job placement, and training programs for disadvantaged populations. Goodwill shares CareerTrackers' model of placing marginalised candidates into paid employment with wraparound support, though it operates at much greater scale and across a broader population than First Nations students.
• INROADS: U.S.-based nonprofit founded after Dr Martin Luther King Jr's 'I Have a Dream' speech that pioneered the multi-year paid internship model for underrepresented students. CareerTrackers' model traces directly to INROADS, and the two organisations share the same foundational theory of change, employer-paid internship structure, and longitudinal student support framework.

Emerging players

• Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre (AILC): Australian organisation providing leadership development programs for Indigenous Australians across remote, regional, and urban communities. AILC shares CareerTrackers' focus on Indigenous leadership capacity building and corporate/government engagement, but is structured around short-course leadership programs rather than multi-year paid internships.
• Indigital: Australian Indigenous-led company delivering digital and STEM skills programs to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Indigital overlaps with CareerTrackers' STEM Academy mission and First Nations student focus, but specialises in digital skills training rather than multi-year paid corporate internships.

Others

• UNSW Indigenous Programs / Wollotuka Institute (University of Newcastle): University-based Indigenous student support units that provide scholarship, mentoring, and pathway programs. These units serve as both CareerTrackers' university partners and partial substitutes, offering First Nations students alternative institutional support pathways that compete for the same cohort and corporate Indigenous funding pool.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@careertrackersindigenousin5233
• Facebookfacebook.com/CareerTrackers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/careertrackers-indigenous-internship-program
• Instagraminstagram.com/careertrackers

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles26 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CareerTrackers Indigenous Internship Program