QUT’s Reconciliation Statement approved by Council on 14 February 2001 “recognises the particular responsibilities of education institutions to redress disadvantage and to overcome prejudice”.
In 2002, QUT implemented an Indigenous Australian Employment and Career Development Strategy (Indigenous Employment Strategy- IES) to support the advancement of Indigenous Australians by fostering and increasing the employment, career development and participation of Indigenous staff in all levels of work activity. The IES has been successful in developing and strengthening partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, community based organisations and other external organisations.
The level of unemployment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people constitute four to five times that of the general labour force. The impact of this unacceptable rate of unemployment continues to marginalise Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The 2006 Australian Bureau of Statistics census indicates that Indigenous Australians comprise of 2.3% of the Queensland population. In 2002 the IES set a target figure of 2.6% (approximately 70 full time staff) to be achieved by 2007. At the time it was acknowledged that in an environment of decreasing funds and changing workforce requirements this target could only be achieved in the long term.
It is noted that this target exceeds that set by the University’s Key Performance Indicators: 2008 1.1%; 2009 1.3%; 2010 1.4%. The IES target does however reinforce the University’s commitment to the employment, career development and retention of Indigenous Australians. Toward the end of 2007 QUT has almost to 50 full time Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people employed and continues to increase the number of Indigenous Australians employed at the University.
Definition
The IES applies to:
“people who identify themselves as Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander, and as such are accepted by the community with which they are associated”.
Throughout this document various phrases are interwoven to incorporate this definition and may include Indigenous Australians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander or Indigenous.
Background
An Indigenous Employment and Career Development Working Party comprising representatives of Indigenous staff, the Oodgeroo Unit, Equity and Faculty staff as well as the Human Resources Department and unions was established in February 2001. An Indigenous Employment Coordinator is appointed to oversee and assist in implementing the IES.
The University’s commitment to the Strategy and principles are informed by the University’s Reconciliation Statement 2001, The University’s Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (Academic Staff) 2005 – 2008 and the Cultural Diversity policy