The Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) is a scheme where working age Indigenous people forgo their welfare payments to take up employment in their local Aboriginal community organisation. This case study discusses a corporate or regional CEDP scheme called Worn Gundidj, located in Warrnambool, Victoria. Attitudes of participants and staff towards CDEP, the work programs offered and the role of Worn Gundidj as a training and education institution are discussed. Conducted during May 2000, the research addresses issues of: unemployment in south west Victoria; ABSTUDY, training and CDEP; relations with Centrelink; and regional interdependence and inter organisational alliances.