Growing Corporate Demand For Skilled Indigenous Employees
Asset-Based Community Development Inclusion Workshops
June 21, 2008“Is Hunger Really About Not Producing Enough Food?”
June 24, 2008The Aboriginal Employment Strategy (AES)‘s Talent Management division reports a growing demand from corporate Australia for a range of customer service and graduate positions, led largely by Australia’s ‘Big Four’ banks.
CEO Danny Lester says in 2006-07 the AES was responsible for 6.8 percent of all Indigenous placements and this year placements are expected to reach 10 percent, with 1200 jobs already filled. At the same time the Federal Budget believes national employment growth will fall from 2.5 percent this financial year to 1.25 percent in 2008-09.
Strong Partnerships With Financial Institutions And Local Government
These partnerships are providing, in part, a ‘home grown solution’ to Australia’s skills shortage says Danny. They have appointed two new staff – Suwana Combo and Darren Green – to the Talent Management division which identifies skilled people and places them on a stable career path in corporate organisations.
The division is currently undertaking a recruitment drive to fill a number of places in metropolitan and regional NSW. There has been some early success and although acknowledged challenges lie ahead Danny says:
“It speaks volumes for Aboriginal Australia that successful organisations like ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, NAB and Westpac want the AES to fill their vacancies…Since July 2005 we have placed 19 people in skilled positions on an ad hoc basis and we have a retention rate of 85 percent…
The companies we form partnerships with have broader corporate goals that include reconciliation and addressing Indigenous disadvantage. It is our experience that placing Aboriginal people into long term, sustainable employment is the most effective way to achieve this.”
If interested in a career in the financial sector can contact Suwana or Darren on 02 8571 0999.
