IEC Closing the Gap
18 May 2010
Key community businesses and organisations have been publicly recognised in an awards ceremony focused on "closing the gap" and celebrating effective Indigenous employment within the Australian business community.
The event, which was held at Kangan Institute's Indigenous Education Centre in Broadmeadows, was attended by community members including local businesses, service providers and government representatives. Topics discussed at the event focused on challenges faced in employment by Indigenous Australians, and the positive steps made by businesses towards recruiting and training Indigenous employees.
Ian Hamm, executive director of Aboriginal Affairs Victoria and guest speaker at the event, said that while we are seeing a key opportunity for Indigenous Australians to be a key part of Victoria's workforce, there are still unnerving statistics that need to be overcome.
"Whatever the unemployment rate is for Australia, triple it to see the average unemployment rate for Aboriginals," he said, "The Victorian government sees that this is an active opportunity to participate in and improve. They recognise that instead of an employment strategy, we need a comprehensive economy strategy.
"By working together, building with each other and creating a foundation of hope, we will see Indigenous Australians as equals not just in quality and quantity of life, but also through participating as equals in the national economy."
"We all want the same thing," Ian said, "A roof over our heads, food on the table and a bright future for our kids."
The Business Recognition Awards were distributed by Auntie Maureen Simpson and Karen Lovett to winners that included Parks Victoria, High Rise Scaffolding, VicRoads, DESA, Austin Health, and North Yarra Community Health. Recipients received traditional Koori artwork as acknowledgement of their contribution towards providing ongoing employment opportunities to Indigenous Australians.
Other VIP guest speakers at the event included Emma Bamblett and Nigel D'Souza from the HR Division of the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA), who explained strategies and techniques used to ensure Indigenous Australians receive adequate training and education for rewarding careers.
For information on how to increase Indigenous employment in your workforce, or provide a more culturally-appropriate service to your Indigenous clients, contact Greg Kennedy from the Indigenous Education Centre at Kangan Institute on 03 9279 2354, or email gkennedy@kangan.edu.au.
