Public Sector, Aboriginal Employment

In reply to the Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15 May 2019).

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer): I have been advised the following:

1. The Office of the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment (OCPSE) has advised that, as at 30 June 2018, there were 2,154 self-identified Aboriginal employees in the public sector, representing 1.99 per cent of the total workforce. This was an increase of 7.3 per cent over 12 months in the number identifying as Aboriginal, compared with growth of just over 2 per cent in the overall public sector workforce.

The data indicates that the South Australian Public Sector now has its highest number of Aboriginal employees on record.

Under its Aboriginal Affairs Action Plan 2019-20, the government has programs to increase the number of Aboriginal employees in the public sector, including:

the Aboriginal Traineeship Program for the public sector to recruit and train a minimum of 100 Aboriginal people

a two per cent Aboriginal employment target in South Australia Police

the Aboriginal Employment Pathways to increase employment opportunities for Aboriginal rangers, with a target of at least three rangers per year

fisheries officers to support delivery of a statewide Aboriginal fishing and aquaculture program.

In addition, OCPSE delivers programs and initiatives to help recruit, retain and develop Aboriginal employees in the public sector, including:

the South Australian Public Sector Aboriginal Employment Register, which connects Aboriginal jobseekers and existing public sector employees to vacancies and career development opportunities across the public sector

the Aboriginal Employment Public Sector Industry Cluster, which shares and develops best practice Aboriginal recruitment retention and development in the public sector

leadership development opportunities specifically designed for Aboriginal employees, including the Aboriginal Frontline Leadership Program, with employees from fifteen agencies participating in this year's program.

2. The 2 per cent figure, referred to in the question from the Hon Tammy Franks MLC, was the former government's target of 2 per cent Aboriginal employment in the South Australian public sector, contained in South Australia's Strategic Plan.

3. The 4 per cent figure, referred to in the question from the Hon Tammy Franks MLC, was the former government's stretch target of 4 per cent Aboriginal employment for those public sector agencies where Aboriginal employees comprised 2 per cent of their workforce.