
The Department is pleased to announce the launch of our Aboriginal Employment Strategy 2025-26 which supports our broader diversity and inclusion goals outlined in our Workforce Diversification and Inclusion Strategy.
The Aboriginal Employment Strategy 2025-26 has been developed in partnership with the Department’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees and acts as a roadmap to guide recruitment decisions, focus efforts on retaining and developing our existing Aboriginal workforce, increase cultural knowledge and capacity of all Department employees, and enhance the overall workplace experience and cultural wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees.
The Strategy includes an Action Plan which outlines a range of initiatives and activities under two key focus areas.
Focus area 1: Retention
The retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait employees is strongly linked to how culturally safe and valued a person feels in the workplace. Initiatives and actions will be implemented to strengthen Aboriginal employee retention through:
- induction and onboarding practices;
- organisational culture;
- opportunities for development; and
- career growth.
Focus area 2: Employment
Employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is crucial to ‘closing the gap’ and increasing the representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the workforce. Initiatives and actions will be implemented to improve employment outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through:
- entry-level programs;
- flexible workplaces; and
- inclusive recruitment.
For more information, view our Aboriginal Employment Strategy 2025-26.