As a true sign of business interest in Indigenous employment strategies, people travelled from all parts of Victoria to attend the recent Northern Indigenous Employment (NIE) Business Recognition Awards Ceremony held on Friday 28 October at Hume Global Learning Centre, Broadmeadows.

Being held for the second time, this annual ceremony is the initiative of the NIE working group – a key WISE partner, and collective made up of 12 representatives from local government, education, employment, justice, youth and health services across the Northern region of Melbourne.

Over 140 guests were ushered into the ceremony with the friendly and familiar tones of talented Indigenous musician Makita McNally. A warm Welcome to Country followed by Kellie Hunter-Loughron, Traditional Owner Gunung Willam Balluk of the Wurundjeri peoples.

Mr Ian Hamm, Executive Director, Aboriginal Affairs Victoria spoke passionately about why businesses don’t always need to look to Government for leadership when developing Indigenous employment strategies, and how efforts by key individuals are contributing to closing Indigenous employment gaps.

Linc Yow Yeh, Master of Ceremony and Manager, Indigenous Education Centre (IEC) commenced the award presentations recognised the following businesses for their efforts in employing Indigenous people and developing strategies aimed at increasing Aboriginal participation and cultural awareness in their workplaces:
• Metropolitan Fire Brigade
• CERES Community Environment Park
• Children’s Protection Society (CPS)
• Australia Post • Diver Consolidated Industries
• Programmed
• Merri Creek Management Committee

As part of the uniqueness of these awards, each business received a personalised piece of artwork produced by IEC art students and especially designed around their core business service or product.

Upon receiving their artwork, each business expressed great appreciation and went on to openly share stories about the contributions Aboriginal people bring to their business and the positive impact employment has on a person’s journey.

While being inspired by such stories, ceremony attendees were also treated to a very special afternoon tea provided by the Ngurrungaeta Male & Fathers Group – An Aboriginal men’s group from West Heidelberg, lead by Uncle Phil Ahwang, an elder from the Torres Strait.

His food blessing, a separate ceremony itself, was a wonderful showcasing of his people’s tradition and the value they place on food. For many, this was the real difference between a mainstream business ceremony and one done in true partnership with Indigenous communities.

The sense of unity felt at this ceremony was apparent and further heightened by the public signing of a partnership agreement by NIE working group members and key Aboriginal community leaders.

The partnership agreement, which WISE is now party to, cements the NIE working group’s commitment to jointly work towards reducing Aboriginal unemployment in Melbourne’s Northern region for the long-term.

Most importantly though, this ceremony will continue to be a vehicle for Northern Region businesses, service providers, local government and community organisations to come together to celebrate Indigenous employment stories and be guided by the Aboriginal community on what works for them in the workplace.