The Challenge

Employment

Our programs directly lead to greater levels of year 12 completion as well as showing real opportunities once their schooling is completed.

Key Facts

17%

Of the participating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander labour force, are currently unemployed, compared to only 5.5 % of non-Indigenous Australians.

18%

of Indigenous Australians aged 15-19yrs are more likely to be unemployed



100%

When an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person successfully completes a university degree they are as likely to gain employment as a non-Indigenous person.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are not as consistently engaged in the workforce to the same levels as non-Indigenous Australians.

Employment allows people to live a fuller, healthier life and significantly contributes to raising socioeconomic standards of a person or community.

 

In 2012–13 the unemployment rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15–64 years was 20.9%.

The reasons that lead to high levels of unemployment in Indigenous communities can be related to the following factors or more than likely a combination of two or more of these:

  • Geographical isolation from locations that offer regular work,
  • An individual not having the numeracy or literacy skills required to participate in the workforce,
  • A lack of culturally appropriate services that are funded to facilitate work-readiness programs,
  • Homelessness or unstable living conditions that exacerbate problems associated with maintaining regular employment,
  • An undiagnosed physical, mental or psychological disability,
  • Discrimination and prejudice in the workplace or a lack of understanding of cultural issues,
  • Lack of workforce diversity planning in a workplace,
  • Preconceived prejudices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by employers,
  • Family or community issues that are not conducive to supporting an employed individual,
  • Natural fluctuations in the labour market,
  • A lack of belief in ones ability or knowledge to navigate the steps required to become employed,
  • Entry-level wages sometimes being lower than unemployment benefits.

According to the Federal Government’s 2016 Closing the Gap report Indigenous graduates have strong employment outcomes. In 2014, around 77% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander graduates were in full-time employment following completion of their award compared with 68.1% of all graduates.

According to the Federal Government’s 2016 Closing the Gap report, Indigenous graduates have strong employment outcomes. In 2014, around 77% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander graduates were in full time employment following completion of their award compared with 68.1% of all graduates.

Going from School to Work

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In 2011 only 26% of Indigenous Australians aged 15 and over had completed a non-school qualification compared with 49% of non-Indigenous Australians. Over a lifetime, a young person who does not complete year 12 and transition to university can miss out on $332,000 in earnings.

Also, the average weekly full time earnings for those whose highest educational attainment was year 10 or below was $790 compared to $1,624 for those with a postgraduate degree. These statistics indicate that low employment rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can be directly addressed by adequate schooling and are even further addressed by creating career pathways while the students are at school.

Many employment-focused organisations have over the years sought to find national solutions to long-term joblessness, which has come at great expense to the taxpayer. There has certainly been a push towards having a greater training to employment ratio and a movement to eradicate training for trainings sake, with the belief that immediate employment would automatically lead to greater community outcomes. As an organisation we believe unemployment needs to be treated holistically and encompass an individuals health and wellbeing and that using community-led strengths is the way forward. We also acknowledge that this is a sector that like many has complex solutions to meeting targets, and that the structure of many Indigenous-focused employment initiatives can benefit a select few, while disadvantaging the majority of participants.

NASCA’s Response

The fact that 15-19 year old Indigenous Australians are the most likely group to be unemployed is why we work towards creating genuine esteem and pathways for this particular age group. As an organisation we are committed to asserting that individuals in communities should choose the careers they most identify with to ensure long-term employment. We believe this will be a greater means of encouraging self-determination than simply applying a one-size-fits all approach. Whenever possible we also partner with workplaces that celebrate the Aboriginality and have appropriate support networks in place to ensure work is sustainable for both the employer and the employee.

Our programs directly lead to greater levels of year 12 completion as well as showing real opportunities once their schooling is completed.

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We encourage and expose young people to fields that include community development, the arts, sports and education.   We also know that university is not a goal for everyone once they finish year 12, so we encourage our students to follow the path which best suits their goals within their community roles. Our programs directly address work-readiness holistically and build the resilience and confidence of individuals.