As part of Flinders University’s commitment to progressing Indigenous advancement in education, research, employment and wellbeing, the University recently launched its latest Indigenous Workforce Strategy (IWS) 2022 – 2025.

The IWS will introduce initiatives and processes to help achieve the University’s 3% employment target of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

Led by the Office of Indigenous Strategy and Engagement (OISE), the IWS is the product of work from several areas throughout the University. Extensive collaboration in producing the strategy’s commitment, direction, and areas for action was backed up by thorough consultation to ensure everyone involved had their say.

The process of developing the IWS began in 2021, when Associate Professor Simone Tur, Pro Vice Chancellor (Indigenous), led a series of working groups across the University to refresh the exiting IWS and undertake consultation for the development of a new one.

The co-design process involved a number of working groups led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff in SA and NT, both professional and academic and colleagues in People and Culture within the Colleges and Portfolio.  In addition, the University’s IWS Committee had a pivotal role in the direction of the new strategy.

Four key priorities underpinning the key objectives of the Indigenous Workforce Strategy were identified throughout the process:

• Attraction and Retention – Flinders University will work towards becoming a preferred employer for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples amongst universities to achieve employment parity for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Culture and Retention – Flinders University will foster a work environment which is inclusive, culturally affirming, and safe to support the retention of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander staff.
• Development and Advancement – Flinders University will foster an environment which supports the aspirations of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander staff to achieve individual success and to contribute to the success of their communities.
• Governance and Leadership – Flinders University will demonstrate leadership and commitment to progressing Indigenous employment and capacity building of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples through its governance processes.

People & Culture has carriage of overseeing the implementation of the IWS going forward, which requires University wide commitment and implementation across Colleges and Portfolios. Indigenous Employment Coordinator Cindy D’Angelo will assist the University in achieving the goals of the strategy.

The Indigenous Workforce Strategy 2022-2025 builds on the University’s 2017-2020 Indigenous Workforce Strategy and its earlier Employment Strategy for Indigenous Australians. It extends the work of these past strategies and focuses on broader engagement and commitment for long term Indigenous employment success and sustainability.

The Strategy aligns with Flinders University’s Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2020-2022, the University’s commitments under the Indigenous Student Success Program administered by the National Indigenous Australians Agency, and Flinders University’s 2019-2022 Enterprise Agreement. It also aligns with the Universities Australia Indigenous Strategy 2022-2025 which prioritises Indigenous staff success and advancement.

A launch event for the IWS was held at the end of November at Bedford Park, and streamed to Flinders’ other campuses, and provided an opportunity to acknowledge and thank the number of people across the University who have contributed to the development of the strategy, and to celebrate the upcoming implementation.

To read the full document, click here.