Australia Post launches Indigenous Australians programme
Australia Post has cemented its commitment to supporting Indigenous Australians with the launch of its first Reconciliation Action Plan in partnership with Reconciliation Australia. Minister for finance, Penny Wong, was joined by Australia Post chairman David Mortimer and managing director and CEO, Ahmed Fahour, to announce the plan which signals Australia Post’s ongoing commitment to closing the gap on employment for Indigenous Australians.
“The programme builds on Australia Post’s long and proud history of supporting of Indigenous employment,” Mortimer said.
“The new Reconciliation Action Plan will see the introduction of a number of new initiatives such as an annual Indigenous Student Scholarship to support higher education and the expansion of the Indigenous traineeship program to include more school-based and vocational traineeships.”
“Indigenous employees currently represent 1.7% of our direct workforce, and this Reconciliation Action Plan strengthens our ongoing commitment to providing employment and career development opportunities to Indigenous Australians.”
Australia Post is one of the first Government Business Enterprises to implement such a plan and Wong said the commitment demonstrates strong business and community leadership.
“I am particularly encouraged by the collaborative approach Australia Post has taken to working with Indigenous Australians to create business opportunities over a number of years,” Senator Wong said.
“The plan reflects Australia Post’s commitment to assisting Indigenous Australians into ongoing sustainable work and is an example of what we hope all businesses will do.”
“We have always focused on employment for Indigenous Australians into real jobs and this plan outlines our ongoing commitment to employing Indigenous Australians,” added Fahour.
“More than 4000 Indigenous employees have worked at Australia Post since our first Indigenous employment strategy was developed 23 years ago. This plan commits us to maintaining our current Indigenous employment representation rate of 600 staff and by 2015 provide employment opportunities to a further 600 Indigenous Australians.
“Australia Post is in every community across the country and we can provide job opportunities to Indigenous Australians where they live. Australia Post can make a significant impact on closing the gap,” he concluded.
Melinda Cilento, director of Reconciliation Australia congratulated Australia Post on this initiative.
“The Plan not only provides a strong commitment to increasing employment opportunities, but extends to ensuring Indigenous Australians are recognised and have access to Australia Post services.”
