1. Municipal Association of Victoria Aboriginal Employment Forum” Friday, 6 th December 2013 The MAV acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land of this meeting

2. My story  Me  Working for local government  Aboriginal people and local government Marjorie Thorpe, my mother and a respected elder and leader in the Aboriginal community, shared her life story with staff of the MAV at this year’s NAIDOC week.

3. Intersection of Victorian Aboriginal Communities & Councils CouncilIndigenous Total population % of total population Greater Shepparton2,08360,4473.6 Mildura1,83750,9783.8 Greater Geelong1,788210,8740.9 Greater Bendigo1,441100,6181.5 Casey1,401252,3820.6 East Gippsland1,35142,1943.3 Darebin1,156136,4730.9 Wyndham1,145161,5760.7 Ballarat1,14093,5011.3 Whittlesea1,125154,8790.8 Councils with the highest % of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people Top 10 councils with the most Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people CouncilIndigenous Total population % of total population Swan Hill88520,4494.6 Mildura1,83750,9783.8 Greater Shepparton2,08360,4473.6 East Gippsland1,35142,1943.3 Campaspe81836,3622.4 Glenelg40519,5772.2 Wodonga70635,5182.1 Gannawarra16510,3681.7 Warrnambool49632,0271.6 Hindmarsh875,7971.6 Greater Bendigo1,441100,6181.5 Latrobe1,05572,3941.5 Wellington58741,4401.5 Moira39528,1231.5 Horsham28219,2801.5 Towong845,8901.5

4. Victorian Aboriginal Communities Forecast employment growth for Victoria 2010-11 to 2017-18 Sources: Graph 1 - Centre of Policy Studies, Monash University, Economic Forecasts, employment 2010-11 to 2017-18; cited in Victorian Training Market Quarterly Report Full Year 2011, DEECD, quoted in Aboriginal Workforce Participation and Skill Development paper prepared by the Department of Business & Innovation in 2011 Graph 2 - Higher Education and Skills Group Student Statistical Collection, DEECD, 2012. quoted in Aboriginal Workforce Participation and Skill Development paper prepared by the Department of Business & Innovation in 2011. Notes: 1. The figures on the Y axis of the graph relate to the percentage of Aboriginal Victorian enrolments in respective industry related courses. These figures don’t literally apply to the number of jobs predicted to occur in each industry. Jobs growth per industry has been calibrated to reflect overall proportional jobs growth). 2. Enrolments in generic foundation training and LOTE courses are not included in these figures. The VET industry related courses ATSI Victorians are undertaking

5. Victorian Aboriginal Communities Indigenous people aged 15 years and over, labour force status for Victoria 2005 to 2011 Source: ABS 2011 Labour Force Characteristics of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, Estimates from the Labour Force Survey, 2011 Total employedTotal unemployedLabour forceNot in labour force Civilian population aged 15 years & overUnemployment rateParticipation rate Employment to population ratio '000 %% 20059.9312.97.520.423.463.348.5 200611.91.413.37.821.110.362.956.5 200710.81.812.69.321.814.457.649.3 200811.22.113.29.422.615.558.649.5 200910.62.212.810.523.317.15545.6 201012.52.4159.224.116.36251.9 2011122.814.810.124.918.959.448.2

6. Current Employment Profile of Aboriginal People in Councils  The Victorian Local Government Aboriginal Engagement & Reconciliation Survey undertaken by Reconciliation Victoria in 2012 found:  There are 76 known Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people employees employed by 25 councils  However 58 councils (78%) do not collect information on Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background of employees  42 councils included Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people  -specific strategies commitments or initiatives in key documents such as the Council Plan and Municipal Public Health & Wellbeing Plan  38 councils have a Reconciliation Action Plan or similar  Community development/social planning was the most common area of employment

7. MAV Aboriginal Employment Project Communication & engagement activities Providing a ‘go to’ resource Leadership  MAV Board endorsed MAV developing its own Reconciliation Action Plan  Developing a Victorian Local Government Aboriginal Employment Framework  Signing up to the Australian Human Rights Commission’s “Racism. It Stops with Me” campaign Pilot projects  The MAV Aboriginal Employment Adviser is a ‘go to’ person for councils and Aboriginal community members  Connecting people!  Regular E-news bulletins  Updating MAV website  Raising the profile of Aboriginal employment at MAV conferences & local government forums  Attending Aboriginal community events & meetings  Revising Fact Sheets about local government jobs for Aboriginal community  Pilot project investigations in specific topic areas, such as the HACC program & with temporary employment agencies

8. Development of Victorian Aboriginal Local Government Employment Framework “Kooris In Council” Attraction Job application Interview In the job connection Appointment & induction Retention & Career development Recruitment Being an employer of choice connections

9. Development of Victorian Aboriginal Local Government Employment Framework For councils: Tips Resources Engagement Appointment & induction Retention & Career development Recruitment Being an employer of choice

10. Development of Victorian Aboriginal Local Government Employment Framework For Aboriginal communities: Attraction Job application Interview In the job Tips Resources Engagement

11. What's next  MAV Reconciliation Action Plan:  Examining the 3 key areas of engagement, employment & procurement  Considering ways it can be promoted to those councils who currently do not have any established arrangements with their local Aboriginal communities  Continuing to develop “Kooris in Council” website framework  Continuing to inspire both councils and Aboriginal communities to talk and work together

12. Further Information To contact me: Lidia Thorpe Aboriginal Employment Adviser Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) Email: lthorpe@mav.asn.aulthorpe@mav.asn.au Telephone: 03-9667 5561 or mobile 0417 428 350