House Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs
Inquiry into Indigenous employment
June 2007
Canberra
© Commonwealth of Australia 2007
ISBN 978-0-642-78958-7 (Printed Version)
ISBN 978-0-642-78959-4 (HTML Version)
Contents
Foreword
Membership of the Committee
Terms of reference
List of abbreviations
Recommendations
Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 The positives
Chapter 3 Economic independence
Chapter 4 Leading by example
Chapter 5 Education and training
Chapter 6 The impediments
Chapter 7 Role of government
Minority Report
Appendix A - Submissions
Appendix B - Public Hearings
Appendix C - Exhibits
Foreword
The Positives
The Aboriginal face on the Australian $50 note is David Unaipon, author, inventor and sometimes thought of as "Australia's Leonardo". As a remarkable example of the capacity of Indigenous people, I am sure that there are many David Unaipons across Australia and I dedicate this foreword to his memory and the future creativity of every Indigenous Australian.
In discussing our request to the Minister of the need for a positive approach to Indigenous matters, employment was an area where progress could be demonstrated. At a time of strong economic performance at the national level and with workforce shortages a growing reality, the opportunities for further development of Indigenous employment appeared to be significant.
|
Over the past two years we were fortunate to share the views and better understand the outcomes for many individuals, companies and the wider community in this vital human activity.
The central role of work and the workplace in most Australian's lives is something that we perhaps take for granted - but the lessons of the past two years remind all of us that the variation in workforce participation by Indigenous people is very much a result of a complex set of factors which some achieve with significant success and others have a more limited result.
The above is very much a two way street with some employers leading the way with many employees open to opportunities and both able to achieve great results.
The recurring theme of many people who presented before the Committee was the overwhelming impact of welfare policies as a deterrent to sustainable employment. The need for Government policies to strike a better balance between the incentives for work and the incentives to be distracted by welfare is vital.
Our inquiry attempted to seek out the committed employers and employees and understand their views and what motivated them to achieve and these experiences are documented from that perspective. Their views are the basis of current progress and I thank them for their willingness to share with the Parliament their experiences in the hope that policy makers will better understand the value that employers and employees found for their general and economic well-being.
I acknowledge and thank my fellow Committee Members, all staff for their patience and tolerance and all members of the Australian community who participated in our inquiry to offer not only a better employment outcome for more Australians but to further unlock the economic future for Indigenous people.
Mr Barry Wakelin MP
Chairman
Membership of the Committee
Chairman |
Mr Barry Wakelin MP |
Deputy Chair |
The Hon Dr Carmen Lawrence MP |
Members |
Ms Annette Ellis MP |
|
Mr Peter Garrett MP |
|
Mr Andrew Laming MP (from 28 February 2006) |
|
Mr Andrew Robb MP (until 28 February 2006) |
| |
The Hon Peter Slipper MP |
| |
The Hon Warren Snowdon MP |
| |
Dr Andrew Southcott MP |
| |
The Hon Wilson Tuckey MP |
|
The Hon Danna Vale MP |
Committee Secretariat
Secretary |
Ms Joanne Towner |
Inquiry Secretary |
Ms Cheryl Scarlett |
| Research Officers |
Ms Kate Tubridy (8/9/2005 - 16/5/2006) |
| |
Ms Samantha Mannette (from 8/9/2005 to 26/5/2006) |
| |
Ms Zoe Smith (from 8/8/2006 to 11/11/2006) |
| |
Ms Kylie Weston-Scheuber (from 28/11/2005 to 24/2/2006) |
| Administrative Officers |
Ms Kate Tremble (from 27/6/2005 to 15/10/2006) |
| |
Ms Jazmine De Roza (from 1/2/2005 to 6/11/2006) |
| |
Ms Melita Caulfield (from 19/10/2006) |
| |
Ms Isabella Johnston (from 27/11/2006 to 20/5/2007) |
Terms of Reference
That the Committee inquire into positive factors and examples amongst Indigenous communities and individuals, which have improved employment outcomes in both the public and private sectors; and
- recommend to the government ways this can inform future policy development; and
- assess what significant factors have contributed to those positive outcomes identified, including what contribution practical reconciliation has made.
List of abbreviations
ABS |
Australian Bureau of Statistics |
ACCI |
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry |
AEC |
Aboriginal Education Council |
AES |
Aboriginal Employment Strategy |
AFL |
Australian Football League |
ALPA |
Arnhemland Progress Association |
ALTA-1 |
Altering Lives One at a Time Program |
ANZ |
Australian and New Zealand Banking Group |
APS |
Australian Public Service |
AQF |
Australian Qualifications Framework |
BAC |
Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation |
BCC |
Brisbane City Council |
BUC |
Breaking the Unemployment Cycle |
CAAMA |
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association |
CAEPR |
Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research |
CDEP |
Community Development and Employment Projects |
CDRHC |
Cairns and District Regional Housing Corporation |
CEO |
Chief Executive Officer |
COAG |
Council of Australian Governments |
DEST |
Department of Education, Science and Training |
DEWR |
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations |
DFAT |
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade |
FaCS |
Department of Family and Community Services |
HECS |
Higher Education Contribution Scheme |
HOP |
Home Ownership Program |
IBA |
Indigenous Business Australia |
ICC |
Indigenous Coordination Centre |
IEC |
Indigenous Employment Centre |
IEP |
Indigenous Enterprise Partnerships |
IHANT |
Indigenous Housing Authority Northern Territory |
ILC |
Indigenous Land Corporation |
ILUA |
Indigenous Land Use Agreement |
IPP |
Indigenous Pastoral Program |
JYP |
Jobs for Young People |
KBN |
Koori Business Network |
LDC |
Larrakia Development Corporation |
MATES |
Mentoring Aboriginal Training and Employment Scheme |
MCA |
Minerals Council of Australia |
MOU |
Memoranda of Understanding |
NATSISS |
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey |
NGO |
Non-government organisation |
NLC |
Northern Land Council |
NORFORCE |
North West Mobile Force |
NTEU |
National Tertiary Education Union |
NTPS |
Northern Territory Public Service |
OAM |
Order of Australia |
OIPC |
Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination |
PM&C |
Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet |
RTO |
Registered Training Organisation |
SACOME |
South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy |
SRA |
Shared Responsibility Agreement |
STEP |
Structured Training and Employment Programme |
TAFE |
Technical and Further Education |
TIC |
Tasmanian Investment Corporation |
VET |
Vocational Education and Training |
WELL |
Workplace English Language and Literacy Program |
YES |
Youth Employment Scheme |
List of recommendations
Construction and maintenance programs
Recommendation 1
The Committee recommends that the Minister propose that the corporate governance procedures and the sound business principles under which the current Board of the Cairns and District Regional Housing Corporation are operating (noting the average of 70 per cent local Indigenous labour component in their maintenance and building programs) be considered as a model practice for other Indigenous housing and tenancy corporations (paragraph 3.13).
Recommendation 2
The Committee recommends that all Federal Government construction contracts in regional areas give due recognition to aspirational imperatives for Indigenous employment outcomes (paragraph 3.22).
Tender requirements
Recommendation 3
The Committee recommends that the Federal Government amend government service delivery tender requirements and contracting processes to recognise and encourage Indigenous involvement (paragraph 3.23).
Indigenous employment by small businesses
Recommendation 4
The Committee recommends that the Federal Government ensure that small businesses employing Indigenous people receive comparable support to that received by the large business sector (paragraph 3.63).
Micro-finance
Recommendation 5
The Committee recommends that the relevant Government departments that administer programs providing micro-finance and small business assistance to Indigenous people, actively promote such programs and facilitate better access to that support (paragraph 3.85)
Funding for mentors
Recommendation 6
The Committee recommends that the Federal Government provide adequate resources for mentoring in addition to the funding provided for training and employment of Indigenous Australians (paragraph 4.39).
Education
Recommendation 7
The Committee recommends that given the importance of education to future employment possibilities, the Government consider requests from Indigenous communities in relation to their preferred options for stronger incentives to encourage school attendance (paragraph 5.32).
Recommendation 8
The Committee recommends that the Federal Government evaluate and fund a range of options to improve educational outcomes including but not limited to, Indigenous
teaching aides, tutors and individualised learning plans (paragraph 5.41).
National Indigenous Cadet Scheme
Recommendation 9
The Committee recommends that the Government:
- review the National Indigenous Cadet Scheme to identify the most productive avenues for its expansion;
- actively promote cadetships to Indigenous students at the matriculation level as a means of continuing their education; and
- provide public service rotational opportunities for Indigenous cadets in Indigenous organisations and in the private sector (paragraph 5.89).
Work experience
Recommendation 10
The Committee recommends that the Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination develop a model which allows Indigenous employees of non-government organisations to experience work within the public sector (paragraph 5.93).
Public servants in regional and remote areas
Recommendation 11
The Committee recommends that the terms and conditions offered to all Government employees in communities not disadvantage local employees compared to those recruited from elsewhere (paragraph 6.24).
Private sector Indigenous employment
Recommendation 12
The Committee recommends that the best practice models within industries like the mining industry be understood, promoted and encouraged by Government as one of the best models to achieve greater Indigenous participation in the workforce (paragraph 7.128).
Recommendation 13
The Committee recommends that the Government promote the Memorandum of Understanding of the Minerals Council of Australia and the Indigenous Land Corporation models as best practice which could be adopted by other sectors (paragraph 7.130).
Recommendation 14
The Committee recommends that the Government disseminate innovative strategies with respect to Indigenous employment within and between public and private sectors and the implementation of best practice within the public service where appropriate (paragraph 7.131).
Back to top