GenerationOne and NSW Police Initiative

5-September-2012

Minister for Police and Emergency Services Michael Gallacher, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Victor Dominello and Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione today announced a new partnership between the NSW Police Force and GenerationOne.

This partnership involves a target commitment of 1,000 Indigenous job-seekers to enter the NSW Police Force over the next decade.

Joining the Minister's today was Mr Andrew Forrest, founder of GenerationOne, and Mr Warren Mundine, CEO of GenerationOne who will co-sign the Covenant with the Police Force.

All Covenant employers commit to recruiting over a time period that ensures these jobs are sustainable and meet the employer's workforce development plans.

"This is a fantastic expansion on the IPROWD program that provides the opportunity for Aboriginal people to gain the skills and confidence to succeed in joining the NSW Police Force," Minister Gallacher said.

"The NSW Police will play a vital part in ending the disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, through employment. ""60% of students who complete the IPROWD course are progressing with applications to join the NSW Police Force," Minister Gallacher said.

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Victor Dominello congratulated NSW Police on their commitment to Aboriginal employment.

"I am delighted that this covenant includes a commitment to mentoring for participants. Improving Aboriginal employment doesn't end with recruitment - for long-term success it is vital that employers provide ongoing support to retain and develop Aboriginal employees," Minister Dominello said.

NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said IPROWD was a NSW Police Force initiative with the Australian Government and TAFE NSW to give Indigenous Australians the chance to train and secure a job with the Force. Commissioner Scipione said he was proud to commit to the new Covenant and that it was an ongoing contribution the NSW Police Force was making to Indigenous Australians.

"The commitment by the NSW Police Force builds on the momentum created by over 330 employers who have committed 62,000 jobs through GenerationOne's Australian Employment Covenant," Andrew Forrest, Chairman Fortescue Metals Group and the Australian Children's Trust said.

Warren Mundine, CEO of GenerationOne said the NSW Police successfully established the IPROWD program, which offers Indigenous people training for a real job.

"This is exactly the model that GenerationOne has been advocating for - employer-directed training for job seekers with a clear pathway to sustainable employment and a career," Mr Mundine concluded.

Media:
Clint McGilvray 0413 285 186 (Minister Gallacher)
Laura Hofman 0411 261 837 (Minister Dominello)
Zdenka Vaughan 0488 188 422 (Commissioner Scipione)
Ranya Alkadamani: 0434 664 589 (Andrew Forrest)
Johanna Kerin: 0425 835 566 (GenerationOne)

BACKGROUND:
The Australian Employment Covenant (AEC) is part of the national movement, GenerationOne. We aim to end the disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian in one generation, through employment.

The vision is to bring Australians together to break the vicious cycle of unemployment, hopelessness and poverty that exists among many Indigenous Australians.

Over the past few years the AEC has united hundreds of Australian companies in the biggest employer collaboration in our nation's history.

The result has been over 60,000 job commitments so far. To date, over 10,000 of these jobs have been filled, with a 70% retention rate to 6 months.

The best workers are confident and skilled. They take pride in doing the job well and can navigate the complex culture of the workplace.

The AEC is driving systemic change across Australian workplaces and changing the aspirations of Indigenous job seekers. But more change is needed.

At AEC we believe that traditional barriers to successful employment can be overcome by pre and post-employment training for the specific skills needed for specific jobs.

More than that, we recognise that the employer providing mentoring and support enables the new worker to navigate the potentially unfamiliar and intimidating world of the workplace.

The commitment made to the Covenant will assist build further demand for an Indigenous workforce, and provide opportunities to break the cycle of Indigenous disadvantage.

Your commitment to the Covenant further promotes and acknowledges the ongoing contribution that NSW Police Force has made and is continuing to make in relation to its Indigenous endeavours.

Through the NSW Police Commissioner, NSW Police Force will:

(a) commit 1,000 Available Jobs previously approved by Employment Covenant, to Indigenous job-seekers who complete training in accordance with the NSWPF's training specifications;
(b) provide entry level training specifications to Government funded training providers for the Available Jobs;
(c) assign Indigenous participants who are employed upon completion of training with a one-on-one Workplace Mentor, from the workplace, a comparative industry or the community (in order of preference);
(d) ensure that workplace culture and practices are supportive of the recruitment, retention and development of Indigenous employees; (e) ensure that workplace practices and terms of employment are non-discriminatory of Indigenous employees; and
(f) raise awareness of its participation in the AEC within the workplace and assign responsibilities to management and individual employees to ensure compliance with the AEC Employer Commitments set out in this clause.

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