The CDP is targeted towards job seekers living in remote regions and who are in receipt of Newstart Allowance, Parenting Payment or Youth Allowance benefits.

The CDP has two parts; helping people find work, and allowing them to contribute to their communities and gain skills while looking for work. The CDP is flexible and focused on local decision-making and local solutions. Under the CDP, job seekers with activity requirements are expected to do up to 25 hours per week of work-like activities that benefit their community. Activities can take different forms and are suited to the job seeker, their community and the local job market.

Job seekers can undertake formal training, with the opportunity to gain qualifications, or foundational skills training, including language, literacy and numeracy and driver’s training, as part of their activity requirement. Job seekers can also gain up to six months of work experience in a real workplace.

Managed by the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA), the CDP sits within the portfolio responsibilities of the Minister for Indigenous Australians.

A total of 42 providers deliver the CDP programme across 60 regions in more than 1,000 communities. 

Around 37,000 people are supported by CDP providers, more than 80 per cent of whom are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.