NAIDOC Week 2020.

This week, Randstad will be celebrating NAIDOC Week to recognise and show respect for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander colleagues, clients and candidates. Each year, NAIDOC Week encourages Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians to come together and acknowledge the rich history, culture and achievements of First Nations people. 

“always was, always will be”

In 2020, the theme for NAIDOC Week is “Always Was, Always Will Be” reminding Australians that First Nations people have been spiritually and culturally connected to Australian lands for over 65,000 years. The 2020 theme also acknowledges the diverse range of Indigenous Nations and cultures that have covered Australia for centuries. 

At its core “Always Was, Always Will Be” reflects connectedness and at Randstad, we want to explore how we can foster connectedness in the workplace for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Indigenous Australians are underrepresented in the workforce and as a recruitment agency, Randstad has a part to play in encouraging organisations to employ First Nations people. For me, a big part of celebrating NAIDOC Week at Randstad is actively working with businesses and government agencies to remove barriers and increase employment opportunities for First Nations people. 

reconciliation

Randstad has recently submitted a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) to Reconciliation Australia. Randstad’s RAP represents a formal commitment to reconciliation and includes practical business actions that will help Randstad support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates and encourage more organisations to employ Indigenous talent. 

As a team, we are also undertaking initiatives to acknowledge and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander connections to Australia throughout NAIDOC Week and into the future.

As Randstad employees celebrate moving into an exciting new office space this month, they will be reminded of First Nations peoples’ connection to the land that they are working on. In every meeting and interview room, there is a Welcome to Country plaque recognising the traditional custodians of the land.

tips for Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander recruitment

As the General Manager for Diversity and Inclusion at Randstad, I have three tips for successfully and respectfully recruiting Indigenous talent in Australia. 

1. cultural awareness training and education

Hiring managers and their teams must undertake formal cultural awareness training if they wish to commit to the meaningful and long-term placement of First Nations people in jobs. Training ensures that employees are culturally appropriate, informed, and respectful when recruiting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Specifically, Randstad has partnered with Leading with Strength, a First Nations-owned organisation that fosters cultural competency in Australia through professional learning programs.

2. meaningful partnerships

Recruiting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees is often not as simple as placing an ad on a job board.

Randstad has established connections with organisations that specialise in providing employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples, allowing us to tap into talent pipelines all over Australia.

Developing a tech-savvy approach and reaching out to specialised organisations will allow companies to attract and source key Indigenous Australian talent.

3. support systems

Companies need to have initiatives that support and include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees. These may include flexible work arrangements that enable Indigenous employees to meet their work, family and community obligations.

A mentor or buddy system is also a great way to support people to feel welcome and included.

Conducting an anonymous survey or asking existing Indigenous Australian employees what changes they would like to see is a great place to start. Randstad can also connect you to organisations and government initiatives that can assist.