By JESSE GRAHAM
THE COUNCIL has defended its intake of Indigenous employees, following a speech at last week’s meeting from Councillor Noel Cliff accusing the organisation of ‘tokenism’.
Cr Cliff raised the issue as an Item through the Chair at Tuesday, 26 July’s Yarra Ranges Council meeting, criticising the council’s intake of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees.
He said the council hired an Indigenous person, but only for a 12-month traineeship that ended on 29 July.
He said the council had previously spoken about employing four people from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background, and said not having a permanent role for the trainee was “cow manure”.
“I would like to think that we might just, for once in my life here, actually provide positions formally – permanent positions,” Cr Cliff said.
“We’ve got reconciliation and I’ve found we love debating the glory of reconciliation and what we’re doing in that, but if we’re not providing these positions, I think it’s just a bit of claptrap – it’s just tokenism.
“Put your money where your mouth is, and provide these positions.”
Yarra Ranges Mayor Jason Callanan said the council currently had three employees who identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, and that there was no goal or target to employ a specific number of Indigenous people at council.
“We have developed a diversity and inclusion policy which is planned to roll out to council employees during August/September,” Cr Callanan said.
“This policy will outline council’s expectations and responsibilities regarding diversity and inclusion of all employees.”
He said a steering committee would be formed to develop a diversity and inclusion strategy once the policy had been rolled out, with initiatives to address focus areas.
“One of which will be supporting our Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander employees, including recruitment strategies,” Cr Callanan said.
“We presented the diversity and inclusion policy to the Indigenous Advisory Committee and received very positive feedback from them – we also incorporated their recommendations and have their endorsement.”
Cr Callanan said recruitment strategies had been implemented to encourage Indigenous candidates, and that an increase in applications and registrations from Indigenous people had occurred in the last six months.
“Council acknowledges the challenges associated with achieving our employment targets and we are committed to increasing Indigenous employment and retaining Indigenous employees,” he said.
“Council has a genuine and enduring commitment to the Yarra Ranges Aboriginal community and to reconciliation.”
