GOVERNMENT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA ABORIGINAL ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION STRATEGY 2012 – 2016 FINAL REPORT DECEMBER 2016 CONTENTS BACKGROUND AND STRATEGY AIMS 2 STRATEGY THEMES AND PROGRESS 3 LEGEND – STATUS OF INITIATIVES 4 LIST OF STRATEGY INITIATIVES, LEAD AGENCY RESPONSIBILITY AND STATUS 4 INITIATIVES AND ACHIEVEMENTS Theme 1 - Respond to Aboriginal Aspirations 7 Theme 2 - Unlock the Potential 14 Theme 3 - Grow Economic Participation 31 Theme 4 - Create Sustainable Wealth 49 Theme 5 - Work in Partnership 57 APPENDIX 1: GLOSSARY AND NUMBER OF AGENCY LED AND PARTNERED INITIATIVES 70 APPENDIX 2: LIST OF STRATEGY INITIATIVES AND STATUS BY LEAD AGENCY 71 Above: Kimberley Landscape Courtesy Department of Aboriginal Affairs Front Cover: Aboriginal Tourism Adventures – Courtesy Western Australia Aboriginal Tourism Operators Council; and Nearer to Nature officer Zac Walker with Mundaring Primary School students – Courtesy Jennifer Eliot Department of Parks and Wildlife Government of Western Australia Aboriginal Economic Participation Strategy 2012 – 2016 Final Report – December 2016 1 | P a g e BACKGROUND The State Government is committed to encouraging and providing opportunities for Aboriginal people to participate in the State’s economy. To provide a framework and rationale for State Government investment in Aboriginal economic participation, the Aboriginal Affairs Coordinating Committee (AACC) requested that the Department of Aboriginal Affairs (DAA) facilitate the development of a State-wide strategy. In September 2012, the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs launched the Government of Western Australia Aboriginal Economic Participation Courtesy Small Business Development Corporation Strategy 2012–2016 (the Strategy), which includes 69 initiatives involving 26 agencies. The Strategy provided a whole-of-government approach to address the many barriers Aboriginal people experience in moving from welfare dependency to employment and self-sufficiency. Through the Strategy, the State Government supported activity to increase Aboriginal economic participation: As an employer, the Government took proactive measures to increase levels of Aboriginal employment within the public sector and with contractors working on government contracts; As a service provider, the Government took measures to support Aboriginal people and their communities in building the social and intellectual capital necessary to participate equally in the Western Australian economy; As a leader of the economy, the Government engaged with the private sector to stimulate jobs and business opportunities for Aboriginal people; and As a procurer of goods and services, the State strengthened Aboriginal employment requirements in government procurement processes and increased the involvement of Aboriginal businesses in the delivery of government services and capital projects. STRATEGY AIMS The aims of the Strategy were to: Improve the potential for Aboriginal people to participate fully in the State’s economy; Strengthen Aboriginal culture and society; and Ensure Aboriginal people have the same opportunities in life as non-Aboriginal people. Sustainable, long-term structural improvements to the economic participation of Aboriginal people in the State’s economy required more effort and a fresh approach. This included: The cooperative effort of industry, government and the Aboriginal community; Reducing barriers to employment; Building the Aboriginal economic base, particularly in remote Western Australia; Developing the capabilities of Aboriginal people to attain jobs and establish businesses; and Creating sustainable opportunities through land reform, native title and Aboriginal culture and knowledge. Government of Western Australia Aboriginal Economic Participation Strategy 2012 – 2016 Final Report – December 2016 2 | P a g e STRATEGY THEMES & PROCESSES Themes The Strategy was developed under five themes: 1. Respond to Aboriginal aspirations; 2. Unlock the potential; 3. Grow economic participation; 4. Create sustainable wealth; and 5. Work in partnership. Under each theme there were overarching objectives and a number of initiatives designed to increase Aboriginal economic participation primarily through: Improved education outcomes; Increased employment opportunities; The development and growth of businesses and contracting opportunities; and Acquiring assets and growing wealth. Progress There are 26 State Government agencies implementing the 69 initiatives outlined in the Strategy. Of the 69 initiatives: 47 have been completed and/or may now be incorporated into core business and/or are ongoing; 14 are at an advanced stage with a number of milestones completed; and/or may now be incorporated into core business; and eight are still in progress with ongoing work to complete. A final report on the status of the implementation of the initiatives has been provided by each lead agency. The achievements advanced by each initiative are outlined in this Final Report under each respective theme (see pages 7-69). A numbered list of the 69 initiatives and their current status is at pages 4 - 6 and identified against each lead agency (see Appendix 2 at pages 71-72). 1, 2, and 4 Aboriginal Tourism Ventures Courtesy Western Australia Aboriginal Tourism Operators Council (WAITOC) 3 Courtesy Department of Parks and Wildlife Government of Western Australia Aboriginal Economic Participation Strategy 2012 – 2016 Final Report – December 2016 3 | P a g e Legend – Status of the 69 Initiatives The initiative is completed and/or incorporated into core business and /or may be Completed 47 ongoing. The initiative is at an advanced stage with a number of milestones progressed Advanced 14 and completed; and/or may be now incorporated into core business. In Progress 8 The initiative is in progress with ongoing work to complete. Note: For the glossary of agency abbreviations refer page 70. List of Strategy Initiatives, Lead Agency Responsibility & Status No STRATEGY INITIATIVE (By Theme Number) AGENCY STATUS Page 1 1.1 Establish a governance and leadership development program DRD Completed 7 2 1.2 Provide corporate and governance training to Aboriginal corporations/trusts DRD In Progress 8 3 1.3 Improve Aboriginal engagement in planning at the local and regional level DoP Advanced 8 4 1.4 Partner with the private sector to sponsor Aboriginal entrepreneurship SBDC Completed 9 5 1.5 Promote the participation of Aboriginal people in industry forums SBDC Completed 10 6 1.6 Market and promote the benefits of employment and business to Aboriginal people DTWD Completed 10 7 1.7 Advocate Aboriginal economic development policy & welfare reform at national level DAA Advanced 11 8 1.8 Facilitate economic opportunity from Aboriginal land & intellectual property DAA In Progress 11 9 1.9 Implement native title agreements with a focus on building capacity DPC Completed 13 10 2.1 Seek support from Aboriginal parents, caregivers to improve school attendance DoE Advanced 14 11 2.2 Encourage expansion of programs that contribute to retention of Aboriginal students DoE Advanced 16 12 2.3 Continue to support the Follow the Dream Partnerships for Success Program DoE Advanced 17 13 2.4 Investigate additional residential hostels with wrap-around support services DoE Completed 17 14 2.5 Increase participation of Aboriginal School-Based Apprenticeship/Traineeship Program DTWD Advanced 18 15 2.6 Increase participation in Aboriginal career development & mentoring within schools DoE Advanced 19 16 2.7 Promote agriculture school programs and work experience DAFWA Completed 20 17 2.8 Implement the TT-WT, AWDS including connecting employers & Aboriginal job seekers DTWD Completed 21 18 2.9 Implement the TT-WT, AWDS including engaging local knowledge and capacity DTWD Completed 22 Government of Western Australia Aboriginal Economic Participation Strategy 2012 – 2016 Final Report – December 2016 4 | P a g e No STRATEGY INITIATIVE (By Theme Number) AGENCY STATUS Page 19 2.10 Implement the TT-WT, AWDS including improving transitioning through mentoring DTWD Completed 22 20 2.11 Implement the TT-WT, AWDS including developing a response to institutional barriers DTWD Completed 23 21 2.12 Implement the TT-WT, AWDS including awareness of employment & role models DTWD Completed 23 22 2.13 Investigate and develop new models of Aboriginal apprenticeship delivery DAA Completed 24 23 2.14 Implement the WA Public Sector Aboriginal Traineeship Program PSC Completed 24 24 2.15 Increase Aboriginal traineeships and apprenticeships in the housing industry HA Advanced 25 25 2.16 Increase the uptake, retention and completions of traineeships in MRWA projects MRWA Advanced 26 26 2.17 Support and expand DPaW’s ranger traineeships, in particular joint park management DPaW Completed 27 27 2.18 Establish with partners a trade training centre in the West Kimberley DTWD Completed 30 28 2.19 Investigate accommodation facilities with wrap-around support services in regions HA Completed 31 29 3.1 Implement the WA PSAES with an Aboriginal employment target of 3.2 per cent PSC Completed 31 30 3.2 Strengthen Aboriginal employment through improved government procurement Finance Completed 32 31 3.3 Increase the participation of Aboriginal people in all sections of the Health Sector Health Completed 32 32 3.4 Investigate affordable worker accommodation for Aboriginal people in regions HA Advanced 34 33 3.5 Maintain existing and investigate new work camps for Aboriginal prisoners DCS Completed 35 34 3.6 Support MoU between MCA and Government with the