Reconciliation Week 2020 – All in this together

AATIS would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land from which we are all currently working. We would also like to pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

Did you know that Indigenous Australians make up approximately 2.4% of the Australian population and 1.4% of the Australian workforce?[1] Incredibly,

Incredibly, Indigenous Australians make up 7.3% of current Australian Apprentices.

For National Reconciliation Week 2020 Reconciliation Australia are celebrating ‘All in this together’, and this year we would like to celebrate the various individuals and organisations who are working together to secure sustainable employment with Australia’s first people whilst working with them to retain their connection to Country.

In Victoria, Charcoal Lane (a Mission Australia social enterprise restaurant) provides “guidance and opportunity to young Aboriginal people who are in need of a fresh start in life.” Charcoal Lane train Indigenous Australians to work in the hospitality industry, extending the experience by creating their menu from native Australian cuisine.

“We are passionate about telling the story of native ingredients and paying respect to Australian culture, land and environment. Just like our people, there’s a fascinating story behind every taste that will tantalise you from the first mouthful to the last.”

In NSW, the Aboriginal Employment Strategy (AES) “is a national Aboriginal recruitment and group training company that empowers Indigenous people through brokering employment opportunities and supporting candidates to have successful careers through mentoring, coaching, training and specialist support.”

Upon celebrating their 20-year anniversary in 2018, AES also celebrated their 20,000^th work placement and 2000^th Australian Apprenticeship commencement.

“The success of the AES model sends a strong message about the power of harnessing the abilities and investing in the talents, expertise and passion of local Aboriginal people themselves to create positive outcomes for their communities,” says AES CEO, Kristy Masella.

In the regional town of Bundaberg, QLD, the Gidarjil Development Corporation is an indigenous-owned enterprise run by a Board of eight Directors made up of representatives from the Gurang and the Gooreng Gooreng peoples that develops opportunities for Indigenous Australians.

Gidarjil work with Skilling Queensland for Work and offer the Cert l in Conservation & Land Management and the Cert l in Construction to Indigenous trainees.

“Gidarjil’s training and employment programs assist indigenous people in gaining the necessary skills and knowledge to pursue their career pathways. The successful participants gain valuable exposure to a wide range of techniques, skills and qualifications.”

These organisations are just a few examples of how organisations can come together to support young Indigenous Australians. For anyone interested in Indigenous Employment, whether you identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, or are seeking to employ Indigenous Australians, the free resource Everybody’s Business – A handbook for Indigenous Employment, can be downloaded from Reconciliation Australia.