A Wiradjuri man from Cowra is one of three cadets who participated in the NSW government’s inaugural First Nations Cadetship program which has helped him launch his legal career.

Oliver John Williams recently completed his cadetship at the Seniors Rights Service and is now in his fourth year of a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice/Law at the University of NSW.

“The First Nations Cadetship program led me to an opportunity for employment and elevated my career in the direction I wanted it to go,” he said. “I’ve learnt a lot about how to seek and achieve justice not only for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients but also non-Indigenous clients.

“I’ve developed so much passion and drive to work towards justice, to study harder and to learn all different types of law. The level of support and mentoring I have received has been invaluable, helping me secure a research role at the Public Interest Advocacy Centre.”

The First Nations Cadetship statewide program works with community legal centres in regional NSW, western Sydney and south-western Sydney. Cadets work two days per week and receive training and mentoring from First Nations staff.

The program, which aims to address the under-representation of Aboriginal people in the state’s legal sector, is being extended after a successful first year.

NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman has this week announced additional funding for another 12 students to take part in the program through Community Legal Centres NSW.

The program, launched in 2021, is open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in the final two years of a degree in law, social work or communications.

Speakman said the cadetship program provides valuable experience in the legal sector and helps community legal centres provide greater access to justice and employment opportunities.