Have you ever wondered how you can make your workplace safe for all employees from cultural backgrounds, particularly Indigenous employees? Whilst there are many organisations out there that are taking the right steps to implement cultural awareness in the workplace, sometimes it can be challenging to know where to start.
Maxima is a not-for-profit, community-oriented organisation that has supporting people in their pursuit of meaningful work for 35+ years.
Maxima places Indigenous trainees and apprentices with a variety of host employers across the country, including national organisations such as Australia Post, Qantas and major banks and local government.
Maxima is also a leading provider of specialist training and employment programs for Indigenous jobseekers.
Adam Jennings and Tina Pelucchi from Maxima join the MyGain with AATIS Podcast to share with us why it is so important to support Indigenous employment pathways, particularly when working with trainees and apprentices.
“Helping encourage our young to gain meaningful employment is a really valuable way to provide them with skills-based experience,” Tina said.
“From my experience, I’ve seen it as a platform to go on to bigger and bigger things – more often than not ongoing and meaningful employment. This employment also provides education, and just to see the confidence that they development, even our more mature trainees, is really important.”
“We’ve seen it change the lives of individuals, also for themselves, their families and their communities.”
So, what are some ways you can make your workplace more inclusive and safer for Indigenous Australians? The most important thing, according to Adam, is to be ready to learn and adapt your workplace to be culturally safe.
“To maintain a diverse workforce and a safe workplace for all it just has to be part of the business strategic plans, it has to be seen as core business.” Adam said. “And really, it’s only education and information that can help with that.”
However, there are some simple things your business can implement to start the shift to a diverse workplace.
“Some simple things you can do, whilst working on your longer term plans, that will make your workplace more inviting and a safe workplace for Indigenous staff can be; displaying the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flag; introducing the acknowledgement of country to general meetings; and displaying an acknowledgment of country on your workplaces entry.”
Listen to the full podcast episode here.
