foundation strategy ~ keepit aboriginal community employment strategy

8/3/2019 Foundation Strategy ~ Keepit Aboriginal Community Employment Strategy

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Foundation Strategy Keepit Region ACES: Aboriginal

Community Employment Strategy



Foundation StrategyKeepit Aboriginal Community Employment Strategy (ACES)

Table of Contents

Preamble......................................................................................................................................................................3Purpose........................................................................................................................................................................4Principles.....................................................................................................................................................................4Position and Programs..............................................................................................................................................5

NIRDB Auspice......................................................................................................................................... ..........5 Whole of Region Approach.......................................................................................................................... .....6 Aboriginal Employment......................................................................................................................................7 ACES Consortium...................................................................................................................................... .........7

Emerging Strategies...................................................................................................................................................9Participation..............................................................................................................................................................13Precautions................................................................................................................................................................14Next Steps.................................................................................................................................................................15

Reporting to DEEWR.......................................................................................................................................15Distribution and Promotion of Foundation Strategy..................................................................................15Gunnedah Shire Council STEP Initiative......................................................................................................15

ACES Consortium and the Indigenous Employment Program............................................................ ....17Maintaining the Momentum.............................................................................................................................17Business & Employer Forums.........................................................................................................................17Completing the Strategy....................................................................................................................................17

Appendices.................................................................................................................................................... ...........19

R i l F Li t f Att d 19




Preamble

The Keepit Aboriginal1 Community Employment Strategy (ACES) 'Foundation Strategy' summarises the

outcomes and developments from six months of work by the Northern Inland Regional Development Board

(NIRDB) on the Gunnedah Indigenous Skills Development Project. This work has been funded by the

Australian Government Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).

The 'Foundation Strategy' is simply that – the 'foundations' for the strategy. While further work is required to

complete the strategic planning, especially to ensure involvement of the wider region and different key

stakeholder groups, the Foundation Strategy still provides a clear basis for initiatives and actions to take place

across the regional addressing the clear priorities identified already.

The regional strategic planning done to date culminated with the Regional Aboriginal Community Employment

Strategy (ACES) Forum held in Gunnedah on 19 May 2009. It was attended by more than 50 representatives

from key stakeholders in Aboriginal employment from Gunnedah, Quirindi, Walhallow, Narrabri and Wee Waa,

plus representatives from stakeholders in the greater region including Tamworth, Sydney and Armidale. These

participants also reflected a wide cross section of stakeholders including employers and employment service

providers; training organisations and schools; Aboriginal and other community organisations; media; and local,

state and federal government bodies and agencies.




Purpose

The purpose of the Keepit Aboriginal Community Employment Strategy (ACES) is to improve the economic

participation and wellbeing of Aboriginal people by increasing number and quality of Aboriginal jobs in the

Keepit Region5 and help “close the gap” on Aboriginal economic participation and wellbeing.

“We can develop a pathway that we can both understand and walk on together... we want action as well as a

strategic plan.”

– Janelle Speed, Facilitator

This vision is to be achieved through collaborative initiatives by key stakeholders which address regional priority

issues and opportunities. The key stakeholders reflect the wide range of interests in Aboriginal employment

including employers and employment service providers; training organisations and schools; Aboriginal and othercommunity organisations; media; and local, state and federal government bodies and agencies.

Principles

While it is relatively early in the

development of the Strategy there are

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• Identifying strategies and priorities for action through processes that involve the many key stakeholders

relevant to Aboriginal employment and economic wellbeing – local, regional and national;

• Strong communication, providing mechanisms and forums for the views of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal

stakeholders to be heard and better understood by each other and the many key stakeholders involved.

Position and Programs

Detailed below are the key qualities of the Keepit ACES that define its unique and compimentary position and

role in the Keepit Region. The specific programs and mechanisms utilised to complete and implement the

Keepit ACES will need to be further defined, including an appropriate governance structure.

NIRDB Auspice Keepit ACES is currently auspiced by the Northern Inland Regional Development Board (NIRDB). This fits

well with the NIRDB's role which includes promoting regional development, developing local leadership,

involving all levels of government and championing key initiatives.

In this way the NIRDB is a facilitator more than a service-delivery agency which reinforces the principle of

i l ti th t t d i it i iti ti i ll b ti ith th k t k h ld




Whole of Region Approach

If we can all get together and really get a good action plan going together, then we can actually get some jobs.

– Jane Bender, Chief Executive Officer, Gunida Gunyah Aboriginal Corporation

The Keepit ACES is a 'whole of region' approach to Aboriginal employment, recognising that government

cannot sufficiently solve this problem by acting alone and strategies are required to better coordinate the efforts

and strengths of all stakeholders.

The defining qualities of this approach are:

1. A focus on strategies and initiatives that are either undertaken region-wide or are of region-wide

significance. The Keepit Region includes the Shires of Gunnedah, Narrabri and Liverpool Plains and

population centres including Quirindi, Walhallow, Gunnedah, Wee Waa and Narrabri;

2. Identifying strategies and priorities for action through processes that involve the many key stakeholders

relevant to Aboriginal employment and economic wellbeing – local, regional and national; and,

It's been needed for well over 20 years. We need to bring black and white cultures together.

– M il Bi C it C ll N b i




Aboriginal Employment

Having adequate employment opportunities for Aboriginal people is absolutely essential.

– Mayor Adam Marshall, Gunnedah Shire Council

The Keepit ACES will solely undertake programs and strategies that clearly contribute to “closing the gap” on

Aboriginal employment and economic participation – which means increasing both the number and the quality

of jobs.

At the same time the strategy is holistic, informed by all relevant key stakeholders to ensure that strategies

address all priority issues and opportunties that affect job outcomes.

ACES Consortium The Keepit ACES Consortium is a formal grouping of key organisations from the Region that was formed and

successfully tendered for the Australian Government Indigenous Employment Program.

The Northern Inland Regional Development

Board (NIRDB) is the designated lead agency

for the Consortium and the other members are:




Emerging Strategies

Six strategies have been identified from the work undertaken to date as the most pressing regional priorities and

opportunities for Aboriginal employment, namely:

1. Motivation and Mentoring;

2. Working together building understanding and

trust (Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal

organisations);

3. Cultural Awareness Programs;

4. Training, Education and Support;

5. Direct opportunities for Employment; and,

6. Business Development.

Priority Actions have also been identified for each of these six strategies (detailed on the following page) and

present a clear basis for initiatives to begin that address regional priorities identified to date. Significantly more

priorities have been identified which are documented for consideration in the next stages of strategic planning.

Working Group, Aboriginal Employment Forum




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The setting of goals and budgets is an important step for the success of the strategies, even though it is

recognised that securing the full budget for total implementation is unlikely.

What is more likely is that that priority initiatives will be implemented as the necessary partnerships, agreements

and resources are confirmed.

Each working group also identified the reasons for why and how each strategy was important to improving the

number and quality of jobs for Aboriginal people. These were:

1. Motivation and Mentoring – to build confidence and self esteem, improve the quality of life and

lifestyles. The setting of goals is especially key to creating employment opportunties and giving

direction.

2. Working together building

understanding and trust

(Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal

organisations) – to build trust,

know the expectations of

different parties involved, better

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4. Training, Education and Support – to get into mainstream employment, build self esteem and

confidence, gain knowledge and experience, further careers while in employment, open up opportunities

and be better able to cope with change.

I believe education is the way of the future for all us people. Learning is a two way street.

– Mark Morgan, Coordinator, Aboriginal Rural Training Program, Murrumbidgee

Rural Studies Centre

5. Direct opportunities for Employment – the working group focussed on the importance of employment

itself for Aboriginal people and identified the following values:

• Self sustainability, to survive and feed ourselves!

• Self esteem, pride, equity, self worth and recognition

• Wellbeing and empowerment

6. Business Development – to better recognise and promote succesful Aboriginal enterprises, enhance

their success and create pathways for others to follow.

I d f i h b k i f h i h h d f h l 150 l '




Participation

There has been significant participation in the

development of the Keepit ACES to date and further

involvement will be key to its completion and

successful implementation.

The next stage of participation though will need to

take a more formal focus on identifying key

participants for the purpose of undertaking initiatives

and implementation.

In addition to the direct participants in this work todate, the ACES Consortium brings an extensive network of partnerships and other organisations to this need

including:

• Training Organisations: TAFE New England Institute, Australian Defence, NewTrain, Northern Inland

Community Colleges, UNE Partnerships

•E l d I d G P i S BHP Whi h C l Mi R i l T i

CDEP Transition Workshop




Precautions

As with any significant new endeavour there are challenges to maintain interest, involvement and support,

generating sufficient funding and resources as well as moving into to the critical pursuit of meaningful action

and outcomes.

We've had all this stuff before and it hasn't gone anywhere.

– Aunty Gwen Griffen, Chair Min Min Aboriginal Corporation &

Councillor, Gunnedah Shire Council

Many of the key stakeholders involved through this work remarked that they had 'seen and heard this all before'.

This reflects the experience of Aboriginal people nationally, not just the Keepit Region, and so there is an

especially significant challenge for the Keepit ACES to demonstrate meaningful action and outcomes. Over time

these efforts would ideally start to affect the prevailing cynicism and despair which in turn will improve the

quality of stakeholder engagement and efforts.

Reinforcing this, there is also a need to demonstrate – through meaningful action, visible progress and valuable

change – that this Foundation Strategy can, is and will make a difference to the quality and quantity of

Ab A b d d b




Next Steps

The mapping on the following page details the complete details of next steps and actions that were identified at

the Region Forum, though more details are provided below of the most pressing priorities to be undertaken.

With motivation and mentoring they have the goals, will take the opportunies and will head in the right

direction.

– Jack McCaw, Defence Force Recruitment

Reporting to DEEWR

This Foundation Strategy, together with a Final Report and recommendations, will be prepared for the Australian

Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. A short video documentary will

also be presented including footage and interviews from the Regional Forum and a complete package of

photographs and written documentation.

Distribution and Promotion of Foundation Strategy

Following the presentation to DEEWR (above) the Foundation Strategy will be circulated to key stakeholders




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ACES Consortium and the Indigenous Employment Program

The succesful tender by the ACES Consortium for the Indigenous Employment Program (IEP) provides a key

opportunity to seek financial and other support where implementation of priority initiatives and completion of

this strategy is aligned with Australian Government objectives under the IEP.

Discussions are underway to arrange meetings with relevant representatives from the IEP in this regard.

Maintaining the Momentum

There is an immediate need to provide meaningful support to maintain the momentum, communication and

networks achieved in the work undertaken to date. While the NIRDB has agreed to host the regional email

network this is not sufficient alone.

It is believed that this support would maintain a clear focus on progressing, and potentially implementing, the

priority initiatives identified. In this way the support would take an active and proactive stance.

Business & Employer Forums

The NIRDB is concurrently working on a Northern Inland Aboriginal Jobs Roadshow in partnership with

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that need to be identified and invited to become involved;

• Commence formal negotiations with key stakeholders to build agreements for participation,

partnerships, support, funding and resources;

• While these steps are being undertaken the Strategy itself need to be refined and completed, particularly

in regards to creating an appropriate governance structure and expanding on the priority initiatives into

an action plan with S.M.A.R.T. targets and goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and

timebound) supported by a budget.




Appendices

Regional Forum: List of Attendees




Briefing for Regional Forum – Emerging Priorities

The below map summarises the priorities for Aboriginal employment that were identified during stakeholder meetings and discussions over six months prior to the

Regional Forum. This mapping was provided as a background briefing to inform stakeholder discussions at the Regional Forum.

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