Increasing Indigenous public sector employment

The Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG) National Partnership Agreement on Indigenous Economic Participation commits to increase Indigenous employment across the public sector to 2.6 per cent by 2015 to reflect the national Indigenous working age population share. Each jurisdiction party to the Agreement, including the Commonwealth, has set a public sector Indigenous employment target that contributes toward achieving the national 2.6 per cent target.

Increasing Indigenous employment in the Commonwealth Public Sector

As party to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) National Partnership on Indigenous Economic Participation, the Commonwealth has agreed to increase Indigenous employment across the Commonwealth public sector to 2.7% by 2015.

The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) is working with the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) on strategies to:

increase Indigenous employment in the Commonwealth public sector;
translate the national target to organisational-level actions; and,
ensure agency accountability.

The APS Commission supports the recruitment, development and career progression of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the APS by implementing Public Calling - The APS Indigenous Employment Strategy.

Indigenous Employment Exchange – Canberra, 17 May 2011

The Indigenous Employment Exchange has been developed as a forum for Human Resource Practitioners and Senior Managers to exchange information, learn and share ideas on improving Indigenous employment outcomes in the Commonwealth public sector.

The Exchange will cover a range of topics including the development of effective Reconciliation Action Plans and Indigenous employment strategies, planning and implementing employment initiatives for improved outcomes and influencing cultural change within organisations. It will also provide a showcase of Indigenous employment tools and services from leading providers in the field.

An online Indigenous Employment Exchange Community has also been established for public sector agencies to share ideas and strategies around Indigenous employment. For further information, or to subscribe to the Community, email iepnp@deewr.gov.au.

Indigenous employment support services (non-APS)

As part of the support available to Commonwealth agencies (non-APS) under the Indigenous Employment Program an Indigenous employment service provider has been engaged to deliver a range of services to build organisational capability to recruit and retain Indigenous staff. Eligible Commonwealth public sector organisations can utilise a range of Indigenous employment services under this arrangement including recruitment support, mentoring, workforce development and cultural awareness training.

Resources

A series of Commonwealth Public Sector Indigenous Employment Case Studies have been developed by the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) and the Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). The Case Studies highlight the different Indigenous employment practices being put in place to support the Commonwealth Indigenous employment target of 2.7 per cent.

Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Case Study Fact Sheet
( PDF 161KB | RTF 46KB)
Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research Case Study Fact Sheet
( PDF 134KB | RTF 37KB)
Department of Health and Ageing Case Study Fact Sheet ( PDF 136KB | RTF 37KB)
Indigenous Australian Government Development Program IEP Case Study Fact Sheet
( PDF 133KB | RTF 43KB)

Contact

For further information on any of the Commonwealth public sector employment initiatives listed email iepnp@deewr.gov.au.

Increasing Indigenous employment in state and territory public sectors

Please contact your relevant state or territory government directly for information about initiatives to increase Indigenous public sector employment in your state or territory.

Australian Capital Territory