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301
Funding agreements under the Aboriginal Employment Development Policy
That the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments consider the desirability of entering into specific agreements (as, for example, are currently established under the Aboriginal Education Policy) for funding under the Commonwealth's AEDP which set out agreed objectives, strategies and outcomes.
The framing and building of economic opportunities for Aboriginal Victorians must flow from the understanding that there is a significant debt on the balance sheet of our nation where reconciliation and unity depend on this debt being settled.
Aboriginal Justice Caucus Assessment
Recommendation 301 was considered no longer relevant as the Aboriginal Employment Development Policy no longer exists. Any future policies must embed self-determination within development and implementation to ensure that Aboriginal community needs are addressed.
Background
Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC) found that Aboriginal economic development programs lacked coordination between state/territory governments and Commonwealth agencies, with state approaches often being ad hoc.
The Aboriginal Employment Development Policy (AEDP) was introduced as a comprehensive set of employment and training initiatives aimed at reducing inequalities in employment and income between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians.
The Commission noted that stronger state involvement in planning AEDP programs at state and regional levels would have improved coordination and information sharing. However, states were not fully engaged due to limited awareness of programs, unclear responsibilities, past ad hoc approaches, and the relatively new planning framework.
The RCIADIC recommended greater state participation in community planning to ensure more coordinated and targeted use of resources, tailored to the education, training, and employment needs of individual Aboriginal communities.
Actions Taken Since Last Review
The Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions were asked about implementation of this recommendation and provided the following response:
Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions
First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership
Victoria participates in the recently established First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership (FNVEP). It comprises Aboriginal representatives from all states and territories with skills and experience relevant to the tourism industry. It supports greater Aboriginal participation and economic opportunities and aims to respectfully embed Aboriginal culture within the tourism industry.
Impact
Yoorrook for Transformation
While the State has made some efforts to address economic inequity for Aboriginal people in Victoria, current policies have made limited progress to address the intergenerational, systemic and intersecting forms of injustice that Aboriginal people experience. This underscores the need for more effective and sustainable solutions.
Only self-determination will provide the whole-of-system approach needed to increase economic prosperity for Aboriginal people. Policies promoting Aboriginal people’s economic self-determination can also address gaps in current public policy frameworks aimed at reducing disadvantage and deliver important benefits to the government and taxpayers. Necessary steps include but are not limited to:
- investing in Aboriginal employment
- improving intergenerational wealth
- addressing racism, cultural safety and cultural load in workplaces
- improving procurement models
- bolstering other supports for Aboriginal businesses and cultural enterprises.
Establishing a permanent dedicated fund for Aboriginal people’s capital raising and investment would significantly advance economic self-determination and prosperity. This should be negotiated through treaty processes.
Community Views
Kinaway Chamber of Commerce
The framing and building of economic opportunities for Aboriginal Victorians must flow from the understanding that there is a significant debt on the balance sheet of our nation where reconciliation and unity depend on this debt being settled.