An Illawarra community services body has helped establish an initiative that aims to create more culturally appropriate workplaces for indigenous people.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Community Industry Group will launch a report, Attract Recognise Value on Monday.
It looks at the disconnect between the need for workers, particularly in the aged and disability sectors, and the unemployment rate for Aboriginal people in Wollongong and the Shoalhaven.
The report is supported by a Toolkit to assist employers to build more culturally safe and culturally appropriate workplaces.
The project has been facilitated by the Illawarra-based Community Industry Group.
"This research has been entirely guided and informed by Aboriginal people," Community Industry Group CEO Nicky Sloan said.
"We have been fortunate to attract highly skilled Aboriginal people to the advisory committee, and this committee led the research component, and has given feedback on the report and the resulting Toolkit."
"Training will be conducted with key managers and HR staff members from community service organisations, who will then be able to take the Toolkit and share their learning with the whole organisation," policy and project officer Joni Braham said.
Aboriginal participants in the research identified a number of barriers to employment in generalist roles within non-Aboriginal organisations, highlighting obstacles at every stage from the way positions are advertised, to the interview process, on-boarding and ongoing employment and demonstrated organisational cultural competency.
Ms Sloan said the resulting Toolkit includes practical elements such as fact sheets on Acknowledgment of Country, how to make a workplace more attractive to Aboriginal people, and the significant events for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
"Participants in the training will also learn how to conduct a cultural survey of their workplace, and how to design short, medium and long-term strategies to become more culturally competent," Ms Braham said.
Community Industry Group (formerly known as Illawarra Forum) is a peak body working for community services and organisations in the South East of NSW.
It supports community organisations, promotes expertise and innovation in community development, fosters industry development and provides advocacy for social justice.