This evaluation of the former Indigenous Cadetship Support (ICS) and Tailored Assistance Employment Grants (TAEG) Cadetships programs aimed to provide evidence-based advice on the effectiveness of the program in meeting its objectives and to highlight possible future program improvements. The Australian Government has supported Indigenous Cadetships since 1999. The ICS program was designed to support Indigenous tertiary students to complete their undergraduate degrees and progress onto ongoing employment. The progression of Indigenous undergraduates to professional employment aims to both ‘close the gap’ between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and contribute to Australia’s national wellbeing and economic prosperity more broadly. 

The evaluation is a theory-based evaluation drawing upon program logic and theory of change to inform understanding of program improvements and impacts within a development evaluation approach. Overall, the evaluation found Commonwealth support for Indigenous Cadetships is an effective and worthwhile policy, however there are areas in which the Cadetships programs, and their future impact, could be improved. The evaluation makes findings on areas where there was need for program design improvements. The report makes 19 recommendations and details the findings of the evaluation, including relating to the experience of cadets, providers, universities and employers; and implications for future program design and implementation.