Economic Development

In this section Information on recent Job Compact funding here Tansfield Indigenous Participation Strategy 2007-2009

The Department of Aboriginal Affairs plays a leading role in promoting economic development for Aboriginal people. Economic Development is one of the seven priority areas identified under Two Ways Together , the NSW Government's 10 year Aboriginal Affairs plan.

An economic Development Cluster Group was formed under Two Ways Together to develop cross agency initiatives to improve economic opportunities for Aboriginal People in NSW. The Cluster Group finalised its work in June 2007 and its achievements include

• Aboriginal Participation in Construction Guidelines

The Aboriginal participation in Construction Guidelines were re-published in a simplified format to promote their greater use. Through these guidelines the NSW Government is creating employment opportunities for Aboriginal people in the private sector. Under the Guidelines, NSW Government agencies can require construction companies engaged on government-funded construction activities to include Aboriginal people in those projects by employing Aboriginal staff, or by sub-contracting to Aboriginal enterprises.

The Guidelines have been instrumental in enabling the Aboriginal Communities Development Program to employ 222 apprentices and contract work to 11 Aboriginal owned and operated construction companies.

To view the Aboriginal participation in Construction Guidelines visit Construction Guidelines

Support Information is available on the Department of Commerce website to assist agencies and contractors to apply the Construction Guidelines".

Here is the link to the website.

• Making It Our Business, the NSW Government Employment Strategy

Making It Our Business is the NSW Government's Aboriginal employment strategy that aims to increase Aboriginal employment, professional learning and career development opportunities within the NSW public sector. The strategy also aims to develop partnerships between agencies and Aboriginal organisations and communities, as well as build an environment that affirms and respects Aboriginal heritage and cultural values. The NSW public sector is the largest employer of Aboriginal people in NSW, and the aim of this strategy is to further increase the number of Aboriginal people represented in its workforce. At the time of the 2006 NSW Government Workforce Profile there were an estimated 5,593 Aboriginal people employed in the NSW Public Sector, representing 1.9% of the total NSW Public Sector workforce.

The NSW Government recognises that the employment of Aboriginal people in the public sector is crucial to design and deliver effective programs and services to meet the needs of Aboriginal people and communities in NSW.

The aim of Making It Our Business is to establish agency specific Aboriginal employment targets based on agency size, its roles and responsibilities, location and the agency's Aboriginal client base. For example, if the Aboriginal population in the area is 7%, this should be reflected in the agency's workforce. Where there is less than 2% Aboriginal people in the community, it will still be a requirement of an agency to achieve a minimum of 2% representation. A further aim of Making It Our Business is to promote professional learning and career development within the NSW Public Sector by:

• Providing professional learning and career development plans, mentoring and support arrangements, access to training courses, work experience in mainstream positions, offering higher duties and secondments and shadowing Managers and Directors;

• Increasing Aboriginal participation in the Public Sector Management Program; and

• Increasing Aboriginal participation leadership programs.

The development of recruitment strategies is another key area of Making It Our Business. The recruitment strategies acknowledge the following as critical to increasing Aboriginal employment in the NSW Public Sector:

• Establishing and maintaining Aboriginal identified positions;

• Targeting mainstream positions to Aboriginal applicants; and

• Establishing and maintaining entry-level recruitment programs such as apprenticeships, traineeships, cadetships and school-based traineeships.

Increasing Aboriginal employment through the State Plan

Increasing Aboriginal employment is now a priority project being implemented through the State Plan Priority F1 - Strengthening Aboriginal Communities. This work includes:

• Job Compacts

The NSW Government is establishing twelve Job Compacts in large regional and urban centres with significant Aboriginal populations to encourage employment of Aboriginal people.

Job Compacts are agreements between employers, service providers, Aboriginal community organisations and NSW and Australian Government agencies. Job Compacts will develop strategies to overcome barriers restricting Aborignal people from accessing employment opportunities and directly assist in the employment of Aborignal people locally. The aim of Job Compacts is to:

1. work with industries and employers which may be able to provide training and employment for Aboriginal people in regional and urban centres; and
   
2. build trust and goodwill between local businesses, government agencies and Aboriginal people.
   • Overarching MOU on Job Compacts

   To support the development of Job Compacts, an Overarching MOU has been established between the NSW Government, NSW Business Chamber, Local Government and Shires Association, NSW Aboriginal Land Council and Unions NSW. The MOU Provides a basis for signatories to work together to support Aboriginal people to access job opportunities in location and industries targeted under Job Compacts.

   Download more info:
   For further information on Job Compacts click here [doc File]

   Download File:
   For the Job Compacts Memorandum of Understanding click here [ pdf ]