As we continue through NAIDOC Week, Evolve are reinforcing our ongoing commitment to supporting Indigenous communities and fostering inclusive workplaces. This continuous effort is essential for driving meaningful change throughout the year.
When it comes to employment, the playing field is still far from level for First Nations peoples.
The most recent Indigenous Employment Index, compiled by the Minderoo Foundation, sheds light on the challenges in this space:
- Indigenous employees are almost entirely absent from senior management and executive leadership levels, making up just 0.7% of these positions.
- Only 5% of participating employers fall into the high performing category in terms of Indigenous employment practices and outcomes. That means 95% of employers still have room to improve on supporting First Nations job seekers and employees.
- 76% of employers have Indigenous employment targets, but only 67% of those report regularly on their progress. Organisations that reported regularly had more than double the Indigenous employees compared to those that didn’t… Accountability matters!
This imbalance is particularly evident when we look at retention rates. The report reveals that employers are often prioritising Indigenous recruitment over retention and development, highlighting the importance of ongoing support across all facets of the Indigenous workforce. Only half of the participating employers in the study collect Indigenous retention data, and of those who do, a concerning 62% reported lower retention rates for Indigenous employees compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts.
What does this mean?
This suggests that while efforts are being made to bring Indigenous Australians into the workforce, there’s a critical need to focus on creating supportive, inclusive environments that encourage long-term employment.
By focusing on the entire employee lifecycle – from recruitment through to retention and career development – employers can create more sustainable and meaningful employment outcomes for Indigenous Australians.
Our Commitment to Equal Opportunity
Cultivating diverse workforce is not just morally right, but also a significant business advantage. Diverse teams are better equipped to deal with adversity and difficult work environments, and perform better as a result:
- Inclusive companies are 1.7 X more likely to be innovation leaders and 1.8 times more likely to be change-ready.
- Companies with diverse boards are 43% more likely to experience higher profits.
- Inclusive teams make better business decisions up to 87% of the time, and they make those decisions twice as fast in half as many meetings.
- Decisions made and executed by diverse teams deliver 60% better results, maximising business performance.
Striving for Better
Supporting Indigenous communities is not just a focus throughout NAIDOC Week at Evolve Talent – it’s a year-round commitment.
We are dedicated to providing equal opportunities, fostering an inclusive workplace, and enhancing our practices to better support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Although we are proud of our efforts, we know we’re not there yet. We’re on a journey of continuous improvement, always striving to do better in our support of Indigenous communities. We welcome input and resources from our community; your insights and experiences are invaluable in helping us enhance our initiatives and create more meaningful impact.
Whether you’re an employer looking to improve your own practices, or an individual seeking to learn more about Indigenous cultures, every step towards understanding and inclusion makes a difference.
Acknowledgement
Our commitment to inclusivity and equality is strengthened by walking alongside Indigenous communities.
At Evolve Talent, we recognise that our work spans across the diverse and sacred lands of the Australian continent and its surrounding islands. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community.
We pay our respect to their Elders past and present, and emerging and extend our respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
We walk together – Creating a stronger, more unified Australia.
If you’d like to find out more about NAIDOC Week
or explore resources, check out the links below:
- NAIDOC Week Official Website
- Australian Government – Indigenous Employment
- Reconciliation Australia – Workplace Resources
- Supply Nation – Supporting Indigenous Businesses
- Indigenous Employment Index
- CareerTrackers – Indigenous Internship Program
- Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS)
- Indigenous.gov.au – Australian Government Indigenous Portal
