CMTD has been working with directorates to implement the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment Strategy. The aim of the Strategy is to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders employed in the ACTPS, acknowledging the significant contribution they can make to policy development and service delivery in their own and the wider community, while at the same time endeavouring to increase their economic freedom and participation.
Among other things, the Employment Strategy aims to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the workforce to 2.0% by 2015. There has been an increase from a headcount of 202 (1.0%) as at June 2012 to 238 (1.2%) as at June 2013. While the increase is pleasing, it falls short of internal targets at this stage of the Strategy by 0.2% to 0.3%. Accordingly, further initiatives are being considered under the Strategy to meet the employment target.
The Directorate led or collaborated on a number of initiatives to enhance across government approaches to addressing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander disadvantage in a number of areas:
Consultation
The ACT Government Response to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body's Third Report to Government 2012 was produced in 2013. The response agreed to twelve, agreed in-principle to six and noted six of the twenty-four recommendations made by the Elected Body. In developing this response Policy and Cabinet Division consulted across government and worked closely with the Community Services Directorate.
CMTD maintains active engagement with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body. This engagement has been strengthened through monthly meetings between the Director-General and the Chair of the Elected Body. These meetings are an opportunity to keep informed, consult and collaborate with the Chair on all relevant issues.
Strategic policy and advice
The second ACT Annual Report on Closing the Gap was produced in 2013. The Report incorporated feedback on the first Closing the Gap Report from key stakeholders, including the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body. The Report contains ACT performance data on the objectives, outcomes, output and performance measures that all governments have committed to achieve under COAG's Closing the Gap targets.
Improving on the 2012 report, the 2013 Report also includes a demographic overview of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in the ACT; a 2013 Budget summary outlining new expenditure on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs and services; actual 2011-12 expenditure and 2012-13 budget information of programs and services that are relevant to the COAG building blocks outlined in the Closing the Gap agenda and the number of people who used the service; and a list of useful resources and links. As the ACT's measurement capability increases, it is intended that the Report will not only provide a comprehensive snap shot of progress against the Closing the Gap targets but also of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community more broadly.
The Policy and Cabinet Division have also developed a range of factsheets on Indigenous census data.
Positive Childhood and Transition to Adulthood
The Centenary of Canberra Indigenous Cultural Program has many components with a focus on engaging Indigenous children and young people, including:
- Boomanulla United Community Mixed Touch Competition: The Centenary of Canberra supported this competition, which featured local and national performers playing during the competition.
- KAGE's Team of Life: This project includes workshops with young refugees and young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
- Music, Markets and More at Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT): In celebration of National Close the Gap Day, this project involved a free lunchtime performance featuring high profile Indigenous musicians and an exhibition of works by students and staff of the Yurauna Centre (CIT's dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander support centre).
- NAIDOC Family Day at Boomanulla Oval: A family day, in preparation for delivery in the next reporting period, featuring stalls, music, entertainment for kids, rides and games.
- Wulamanayuwi and the Seven Pamanui: part of the Centenary's Indigenous Cultural Program, this production from the Tiwi Islands, produced by Darwin Festival was brought to Canberra with support from the NT Government as part of Collected Works: Australia. School and public performances were presented at Canberra Theatre Centre and an education resource was provided to schools. This production reached a total of 1,028 young people and their families.
Economic Participation and Development
Since the launch of the ACTPS Employment Strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in April 2011, there has been an increase in the number of employees identifying as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander across government from 0.9% (176) as at June 2010 to 1.2% (238) as at 30 June 2013. Also during this financial year:
- The ACT Public Service Graduate Program was promoted at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student centres across all Australian universities.
- The ACT Government was promoted as an employer at the 2013 ACT and Region Indigenous Expo.
- Relationships have been established with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander entities to increase awareness of ACTPS employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Indigenous Cadetship Support Program has been investigated and will be promoted to directorates through the Human Resource Directors group during the second half of 2013.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff have access to and are encouraged to participate in ongoing Learning and Development opportunities throughout the calendar year.
- Ongoing promotion of cultural significant events occur throughout the service.
- The electronic HR21 staff management system has been amended to allow staff to personally update their diversity status.
- The Elected Body was briefed on the implementation of the ACTPS Employment Strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People at their estimates style hearings in April 2013.
A number of initiatives in the Centenary of Canberra Indigenous Cultural Program promote Indigenous artists and performers from across Australia to a wider audience, including:
- The Indigenous Showcase at the National Multicultural Festival: This event featured outstanding local, national and international performers including Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, Stiff Gins and The Last Kinection.
- Selling Yarns 3: This project involved a market day where Indigenous artists could sell their work to the public.
- Exhibitions held across the ACT and surrounding region, including at Canberra Museum and Gallery, Craft ACT Craft and Design Centre, Burrunju Aboriginal Gallery, Canberra Glassworks, Belconnen Arts Gallery, M16 Artspace, Manuka Arts Centre, Aarwun Gallery, Goulburn Regional Art Gallery and Bega Valley Regional Gallery.
- Performances at the Canberra Theatre Centre featuring Indigenous artists, performers, producers and collaborators, including Sydney Theatre Company's The Secret River, Wulumanayuwi and the Seven Pamanui, Hipbone Sticking Out, and Jack Charles v The Crown.
- Performances featuring Indigenous artists, performers, producers and collaborators at other venues in Canberra, including Kungkarangkalpa: Seven Sisters Songline at the National Museum of Australian, and The Morning Star at the National Gallery of Australia.
