Join our Mob: Developing the

Career Potential of Aboriginal Students

# OURMOBTEACHMore Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Teachers Initiative 2015 Conference

A history lesson

Ensure Aboriginal employment is

part of day to day business

Build a deep understanding of culture, respect

and engagement

Strengthen leadership and management

capabilities of Aboriginal employees

Aboriginal Human Resources Development Plan 2012 – 2017

• Promotes teaching as a career of choice to

Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders

• Increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers in NSW public schools

• Valuing, developing and retaining quality Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers in NSW public schools

• Increasing the number of identified School Administrative Support Staff positions for Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders.

Aboriginal Employment and Career Initiatives, People and Careers

Key Achievements in Aboriginal Employmentand Career Initiatives

Established the “ Join Our Mob” recruitment strategy in 2006 with promotion of initiatives across NSW.

Established a dedicated team of officers responsible for implementing employment and career development and leadership programs for teachers and school administrative and support staff.

Increasing the number of Aboriginal teachers and executive in permanent positions across NSW public schools with 1085 employed.

NSW Initiatives – How we promote

Promotional Strategies – Social Media

Promotional Strategies – branding

Promotional Strategies – events

Promoting and attracting Our Mob!

Galiyaay

Career Expos

In 2014 following successful funding from MATSITI our Galiyaay Careers Expos occurred across NSW.

They included:Dubbo – 22 MayWestern Sydney – 17 JulyTamworth – 21 JulyRedfern – 9 October

We also partnered with organisers of the Nowra Careers expo which attracted over 1000 students .

What Galiyaay actually did

• Increased the awareness of…

• Provided information on…

• Provided local Aboriginal community members…

• Provided opportunities for…

Key successes

• A lasting benefit is the continual increase in Aboriginal teacher education scholarship applications received and Aboriginal teachers successfully completing their degrees and being placed in NSW public schools and the increase in overall numbers of Aboriginal people applying for positions within the Department of Education

• Exceeded the allocation of Aboriginal teacher education scholarship applications received by the Department with more than 90 applications received for the 2015 program

• Employment agencies are referring their clients that are interested in employment with youth or community to the Aboriginal Employment and Career Initiative s Team

• Strong partnerships were developed between the AECI team and service providers. Certain service providers attended multiple expos and gave very positive feedback and advice

• Two students were offered apprenticeships at the Redfern expo

Galiyaay in action

Galiyaay in action

There were challenges

• A major challenge was the attendance of service providers and participants after they had confirmed their participation

• Ensuring that the dates planned did not conflict with any programs on school calendars

• Promotion and communication, how can we improve?

• Transport and travel considerations

What will continue?

• The promotion of employment and career pathways with the Department of Education

• Join Our Mob promotions• Yarn Ups• Participation in expos throughout NSW• Promotional and knowledge sharing to schools and universities• Networking with other providers and States• Social media• School and community visits

• Career Expos• School presentations• University presentations • Community networking• Social media• Yarn Ups

Recruitment Strategies

Networking with universities provides opportunities to strengthen partnerships between schools, TAFE, local communities and universities and is vital in promoting teaching as a career choice at local levels.

Benefits of working in partnership with tertiary providers

Lessons for others

• Marketing and Promoting: using culturally relevant materials• Identify role models from each community (students will identify with the

local identities).• Target materials to each community/location• Knowing your content and what it is you want the students/participants to

walk away with.• Have hands on workshops for students/participants

Snapshot of Achievements –Aboriginal Teachers

Increased representation of Aboriginal people Current Govt. Bench mark 2.6%

DET 2005 DET 2007 DET 2009 DEC 2011 DEC 2012 DEC 2013 June 20151.4% 1.9% 2.3% 2.8% 3.1% 3.2% 3.4%

Increased number of Aboriginal teachers and executives - now 1085

Summary of Aboriginal teaching staff as at 9 September 2015

Position Level Primary Secondary Total

Principal 19 5 24

Executive 65 33 98

Classroom teacher 666 297 963

Total 750 335 1085

Snapshot of Achievements –Aboriginal Teachers

Next Steps

• Questions• Comments• Future Directions

Contact details Veronica WillmottSenior Manager, Recruitment Programs People and CareersPhone: (02) 9836 9148Email: veronica.willmott@det.nsw.edu.au

Pam WiddersAssistant Manager, Aboriginal InitiativesAboriginal Employment and Career InitiativesPhone: (02) 9836 9263Email: pamela.j.widders@det.nsw.edu.au

Darren BellAssistant Manager, Aboriginal Initiatives Aboriginal Employment and Career InitiativesPhone: 02 9836 9601Email: darren.bell@det.nsw.edu.au

Annie AustinHR Project Officer, Aboriginal Initiatives Aboriginal Employment and Career InitiativesPhone: 02 9836 9187Email: annette.austin@det.nsw.edu.au

Ismail HayekSupport Officer, Aboriginal InitiativesStaffing Services Blacktown State OfficePhone: 02 9836 9103Email: ismail.hayek2@det.nsw.edu.au