Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Fund Incorporated ATSI Women’s Initiatives For the advancement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women From Little Things, Big Things Grow Ruth Wallace

Northern Institute  speak independently from a sound evidence base on social and public policy research  attract high quality researchers and research funding  conduct world class innovative research  broker research partnerships with government, community and industry  develop the capacity of people in the region to engage in, lead and use research undertaken through the institute  Support networking and knowledge sharing through symposia and events  disseminate research outputs through contributions to high impact, peer reviewed journals, books, reports and other public media 

Northern Institute themes  CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH GROUP (CARG) recognising and addressing social and systemic barriers to diverse group participation, economic activity, active citizenship and the links to the development and implementation of social policy.  CONTEMPORY INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE AND GOVERNANCE to undertake research that engages people in policy formation and knowledge management across diverse knowledge systems that produces research outcomes for participants’ benefit.  DEMOGRAPHY AND GROWTH PLANNING understanding population systems and trends found in the Northern Territory’s regional and remote areas, and being able to make decisions about the impact on economic and social wellbeing.  EVALUATION FOR NORTHERN CONTEXTS evaluation approaches that work to engage people in remote communities, policy makers and funders, to support understanding evidence building in the evaluation process and its outcomes.  NORTHERN FUTURES researching the social impacts and processes of the changes in Northern Australia related to infrastructure development, public policy and climate change.  WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, MIGRATION AND PATHWAYS TO LEARNING identifying ways to plan for, support, develop and sustain workforces in a competitive market, in regional and remote areas both in large-scale and micro-businesses, and to embed the Northern Territory within global debates on international migration, integration and equality.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women 2013

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education  Completing year 10 increases employment chances by 40%, another 13% if complete year 12  21% ATSI people completed year 12 (18% in % of non ATSI people)  46.5% retention rate in 2008 (30.7 in 1995)  26% of ATSI people with non school education – 2011(65% non ATSI)  77% non-school qualification -Cert 3 or 4

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment  51% of ATSI people over 15 in labour force – 64% of non-ATSI people (46% female)  18% unemployment rate – 31% for year olds  92% were employees, 6% worked in their own business and 1% were contributing family workers  75% were employed in the private sector and 23% worked in the public sector  59% worked FT hours and 32% worked PT hours  18% were employed as labourers  17% as community and personal service workers,  13% professionals, clerical and administrative workers, technicians and trade workers (ABS 2011)

Adult education that supports employment  Challenges learners and has high expectations  Actively acknowledges Aboriginal leadership, governance and knowledge  Links to need, work life and opportunities  Build resilience and learning identity  Just in time, just enough, just for me,  Utilises multimedia technology to support student centred learning and representation of learning

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Enterprises  Rapid increase since 1991, top 500 generate $1.61B ,  Diverse business across urban, regional and remote communities  Success is dependent on ensuring the following:  Culture is embedded  Elements of social and corporate enterprise  Good governance  Strong community participation  Women’s roles and aspirations  Build on Indigenous knowledge and strengths  Build to formal education and recognition  Pressure to diversify and defy small business patterns  Women’s business patterns

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy and Support  Deficit and short term focus  Focus on individual financial literacy and business support  Supports business plan but not sustainability  Isolates Indigenous business people  Need to value Indigenous knowledge as a resource  Needs to build networks and communities of success  Doesn’t support sustainable businesses  Lack of gender balance

What does the future hold?  Project 1 – Establishing a network of ATSI women’s groups across Australia  Project 2 – Fashion the Indigenous Way  Project 3 – Leadership development - international representation by Indigenous women  Project 4 - Indigenous Enterprise Hub  Working in partnership

Thank you  Come walk with us to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women’s leadership and organisations