Partnering with new Coles store to provide jobs for five First Nations job seekers

In partnership with Coles, CVGT Employment have worked collaboratively to successfully place four First Nations participants into the brand-new Coles store in Maiden Gully, just outside of Bendigo on the 1st of July 2026.

CVGT Employment were initially approached by Coles, who were looking to attract First Nations participants to the workforce for their new Maiden Gully store, and invited our First Nations participants to attend a group interview. At the Deadly Connections workshop for First Nations participants, Coles Maiden Gully Store Manager Jason Lawrence, gave an informative talk about the recruitment process, the different employment opportunities available with Coles, and the opening of the new Maiden Gully store.

Following this session, the Deadly Connections participants felt very hopeful and were extremely happy with the information they received.  They shared that it made them feel like they mattered, and they weren’t just a number. Two participants who had not previously applied for a position went home and applied that night.

With additional support from CVGT Employment Skills Mentor Cass and Business Development Consultant Stuart, eight First Nations participants progressed to the group interview stage. Our participants were nervous about their group interview, as there was going to be between 60 – 80 applicants in each session. They were worried that they would get lost in the crowd or would be too nervous to speak and didn’t know what to expect.

After receiving extensive advice on the group interview process with Dale Cooper from the Indigenous Affairs, People & Culture team at Coles, Cass and Stuart ran mock interview sessions for participants who were taking part in the group interview, to try and curb some of those nerves and answer some of their questions. With support from the Coles team providing extensive detail regarding the interview process, our participants had a unique opportunity to prepare in a way that no applicant outside of CVGT Employment would have. 

The Coles team have been extremely supportive throughout the entire recruitment process. They were very approachable and made every effort to ensure our participants had the best opportunity to prepare for a successful outcome.
Stuart Craven,
CVGT Employment, Business Development Consultant

Overall, eleven CVGT participants applied for positions at Coles Maiden Gully, with 8 progressing to interview stage, and 4 being successful in gaining employment and looking forward to rewarding careers with Coles.

Our First Nations participants demonstrated strong commitment throughout the Coles recruitment process. I saw significant growth and positive changes leading to a new outlook on life. It has been pleasing to see them successfully transition into employment and begin building their careers with Coles. 
Cass Diprose,
CVGT Employment, Employment Skills Mentor.

We have continued to support the participants with the onboarding process and navigating online training modules. This support has included purchase of a laptop for one participant to continue to study, and manage their roster online schedules. CVGT also supported the purchase of work tops, socks and shoes, to cover the interim period till uniforms arrived, and glasses for one participant.

The recruitment of four First Nations participants for the new Coles Maiden Gully store is a significant achievement. This aligns with the CVGT Employment Reconciliation Action Plan improving employment outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through partnerships with other organisations such as Coles.

CVGT was a valued partner in the recruitment of our new Maiden Gully team members. Their proactive candidate preparation and collaboration with our store leadership team helped create a positive recruitment experience and supported candidates to understand the role and expectations before commencing with Coles.
Dale Cooper,
Coles, Indigenous Affairs, People & Culture team

Connect to CVGT Employment

Looking for work? Our team is here to provide dedicated support every step of the way.
Call 132 848 or visit cvgt.com.au to learn more.

You can also visit into our local CVGT Employment Bendigo office or find an office near you.