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This article was published on Friday, 19 August, 2016. The information contained within may be out of date or inaccurate. News articles and media releases older than 60 days are archived for future reference.

Council signs partnership agreement to improve indigenous employment outcomes

The Algabonyah Employment Partnership Agreement was signed on 15 August and aims to build the prosperity of the Goulburn-Murray region, with a growing inclusive community.

There is a commitment in the agreement to increase the proportion of Aboriginal people employed in the Goulburn-Murray workforce to at least two per cent by 2020, to achieve parity with our working-age population.

Since 2015 Council has participated with a range of stakeholders to identify local organisations’ commitment to improving outcomes for our Aboriginal community, known as the Algabonyah Economic Roundtable.

The discussions were convened by the Kaiela Institute and University of Melbourne in conjunction with Gallery Kaiela, Ganbina, Kaiela Institute, Njernda Aboriginal Corporation, Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative, Rumbalara Football/Netball Club and Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation.

Greater Shepparton City Council Director Community Kaye Thomson says “currently Greater Shepparton City Council has approximately one per cent employment status for Aboriginal staff and our aim is to increase this to two per cent by 2020.”

“As an employer Council will identify specific jobs to be targeted for Aboriginal staff and specify the skills and experience requirements for those jobs,” said Ms Thomson. “We will also provide opportunities for work experience, traineeships and job readiness training for Aboriginal people, particularly young people at school or in training, as a way of enhancing employment pathways into the identified jobs.”

Ms Thomson said “over time Council needs to ensure Aboriginal people are employed across the full spectrum of our workforce and at all levels of seniority and we need to actively support Aboriginal employees to develop their skills and capabilities, so they can fulfil their potential within our workplaces.”

“Whilst we already provide cultural awareness training for staff we need to ensure all leaders, managers and senior staff within our organisation participate,” said Ms Thomson.

Council has now signed two agreements in respect to Aboriginal employment and skill development - Algabonyah Employment Partnership Agreement and the Memorandum of Understanding. The MOU is an agreement with Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-op, Department Health and Human Services, Goulburn Ovens TAFE, Goulburn Valley Primary Care Partnerships, Murray PHN and Shepparton Retirement Villages.