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Support for employees
The Australian Public Service Commission works to offer Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees’ opportunities to develop networks and skills to help build rewarding and fulfilling careers in the APS. On this page you will find information on initiatives that are currently available to Indigenous employees.
The National Indigenous APS Employees’ Conference 2008
Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers of this article should note that it contains images of deceased persons.
On the 6th and 7th of May the first ever national conference of Indigenous employees in the Australian Public Service was held in Sydney, sponsored and organised by the Australian Public Service Commission.
Opened by Cabinet Secretary, Senator John Faulkner, the conference attracted 140 delegates from 50 Commonwealth agencies across the country, from entry level recruits through to agency heads. They had come together to consider the state of Indigenous employment in the APS and identify areas for future action.
Other key speakers included the Australian Public Service Commissioner, Ms Lynelle Briggs, Secretary of the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Dr Jeff Harmer, Principal of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, Mr Steve Larkin, and Professor Peter Buckskin of the University of South Australia.
One of the many highlights of the conference was a panel discussion on cultural competency, facilitated by Geraldine Doogue. The panel included a mix of Indigenous and non-Indigenous employees and led to a discussion that was passionate, emotional and insightful, as participants generously shared their experiences working to implement government policy.
Delegates were also asked to give their thoughts about strategies to support the employment of Indigenous Australians in the APS. The outcomes of these workshop discussions will help shape directions for future action under the APS’ Indigenous employment strategy.
But it wasn’t all work. An informal dinner on the first night of the conference provided an opportunity for delegates to network, catch up, and swap stories.
A full report on the conference will be available on the Commission's website soon.
This was the first conference of this type held for Indigenous APS employees, but it won’t be the last. An overwhelming message from both delegates and speakers was the importance of bringing people together to talk and share ideas, and the Commission has committed itself to organising similar events in future years.
For further information on the conference contact Mr Gerrit Wanganeen on 02 6202 3593 or email gerrit.wanganeen@apsc.gov.au.
 Senator John Faulkner, Cabinet Secretary |
 Ms Lynelle Briggs, Australian Public Service Commissioner |
 Dr Jeff Harmer, Secretary, Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs |
 Mr Leon Donovan, Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs |
 Conference delegates |
 Conference workshop |
 Conference dinner |
 Panel discussion with Ms Geraldine Doogue |
 Professor Peter Buckskin, University of South Australia, and Mr Steve Larkin, Principal, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies |
 Participation in panel discussion |
Career Trek
Indigenous Career Trek delivers free career and skills development programmes to APS Indigenous employees in capital cities and major regional centres across Australia.
Based on input from APS Indigenous employees Indigenous Career Trek 2008 will focus on delivering workshops on career planning, confident communication, influencing skills and coaching and mentoring.
Information on workshops is available on our Career Trek page.
Indigenous Scholarship Programme
The Indigenous Scholarship Programme (ISP) is one of a number of learning and development initiatives under the APS Employment and Capability Strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employees.
The ISP is a suite of scholarships designed to enable ongoing Indigenous employees in the APS to access further professional development. For more information go to our ISP page.
The Horizons programme
Horizons is a unique opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Australian Public Service (APS 4-6) employees, to broaden their level of expertise and enhance career progression opportunities, through a 6 month secondment placement in another APS agency.
Indigenous development programmes
Information on programmes for Indigenous APS employees is available from our Indigenous programmes page.
Information on all Commission programmes is available from our learning and development page.
APS Commission Indigenous Liaison Officer
The Australian Public Service Commission Indigenous Liaison Officer is available to provide advice to agencies and Indigenous people about the Australian Public Service Employment and Capability Strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employees and the framework for employing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Indigenous Australian Public Service Employee Network (IAPSEN)
IAPSEN is dedicated to helping Indigenous Australians improve their employment opportunities within the Australian Public Service. The network was established as an Australian Public Service Commission initiative in response to a need for Indigenous APS employees to have a means of networking with each other.
IAPSENs provide an important mechanism for Indigenous employees to support each other, share information and experiences and promote cultural awareness and respect in the wider APS.
The IAPSEN website is available at www.apsc.gov.au/iapsen
