CDU is committed to providing more job opportunities for Indigenous Australians and to becoming the workplace of first choice for Indigenous people in the Territory after signing an MOU last week.
CDU was one of five Northern Territory businesses to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Kevin Andrews, to provide more job opportunities for Indigenous Australians.
Professor MaryAnn Bin-Sallik, Dean of Indigenous Research and Education, accepted a framed MOU on behalf of CDU at an Industry and Employer breakfast on 26 June. The MOU enables the businesses to become the latest signatories to the Corporate Leaders for Indigenous Employment Project.
“It is crucially important that Charles Darwin University, as one the biggest employers in the Northern Territory, is leading the way in providing job opportunities for Indigenous Australians.
“By signing onto the project CDU is making the commitment to improved employment outcomes for Indigenous people in the Territory and meeting the challenges faced in terms of the economic and social costs associated with low level of employment amongst Indigenous people,” Professor Bin-Sallik said.
In order to achieve this status as Corporate Leader for Indigenous Employment, CDU needed to demonstrate our commitment to Indigenous employment in our community. This was achieved to satisfaction of the Commonwealth Government through the release earlier this year of the CDU Indigenous Employment – Attention and Retention Strategy 2006.
The strategy reflects CDU’s commitment to improve the economic, political, social and cultural position of Indigenous people in the Territory and covers a range of strategies from an extensive traineeship program and partnerships with Territory schools and other community groups to professional development programs and cultural awareness training.
Minister Andrews said that by signing the MOU, the businesses will provide Indigenous Australians with a productive and rewarding future.
"I would like to acknowledge and thank Sitzler Construction Group, Charles Darwin University, Traditional Credit Union, Transfield Services and MacMahon Holdings for their commitment to this worthy program.
"They have accepted a key role in meeting the challenges of providing real jobs and increasing the overall economic independence for Indigenous Australians," he said.
The NT businesses signing up last week join 81 other signatories around Australia that have committed to, and are actively participating in, the Corporate Leaders for Indigenous Employment Project since its establishment.