From Strategy to Reality: A Model for Community Engagement

Ah Chin W¹*

1. Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

As an employer in the NT, the Northern Territory Public Sector (NTPS) is the single largest employer and a significant provider of health and community services. It has arguably the most remote and diverse workforce in Australia, if not in the developed world. The demographics of the NT show that a significant number of Indigenous people do not have access to jobs where they live. More than half of all jobs in the NTPS, 60%, are in the Darwin and Palmerston regions, yet over 80% of Indigenous people in the NT live outside these areas.

The challenge for the NTPS is to play a role in building community capacity to address the significant social, economic and health problems faced by many in the Indigenous community. We are doing this by engaging with the Indigenous community to examine ways to increase the number of Indigenous people participating in the labour market.

This presentation will examine a case study, a series of Indigenous Employment Forums, developed in partnership between the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) NT Division and this Office, in close collaboration with the Indigenous community and other key stakeholders with the aim of increasing the recruitment and retention of Indigenous people.

The forums established sustainable partnerships between the NTPS, Indigenous community groups and organisations, industry representatives, the community business sector and representative councils on behalf of traditional owners. Taking a lead role in the development of the forums, Indigenous people have been involved as Keynote Presenters, Chairs and Masters of Ceremonies, workshop facilitators and administrators. Engagement of Indigenous people in all stages of the forums has been critical to its success and has resulted in Indigenous people being involved in various capacities throughout the planning, development, consultation and evaluation processes.

Feedback from Indigenous people indicate that the Indigenous Employment Forums have provided them with the personal and professional development opportunities that they may not otherwise have received and are an excellent example of promoting Indigenous role models within the community. This has been a significant strategy in boosting confidence for Indigenous people, which has enabled them to pass on their newly acquired skills and knowledge to others in their community.

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