November 2001
Hello,
Welcome to the second issue of our newsletter.
In this issue we highlight some of our activities in 2000/2001 and our plans for the future.
But first, we would like to thank all of the people who have worked with us to improve the employment conditions of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders in NSW. We appreciate your assistance and ongoing support.
If you know of any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander organisations who do not currently receive our newsletter, please contact us (details below) and we will add them to our contact list.
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Some facts about Aboriginal people working in NSW
According to the 1996 Census data, all major industry sectors employ at least 500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The highest number are employed in health and community services (3,205 employees), followed by retail trade (2,231), manufacturing (2,057) and government administration (2,039).
Significant numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers in NSW are covered by the NSW Industrial Relations system. The responsibility for protecting the industrial entitlements of these Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers falls overwhelmingly to the NSW Department of Industrial Relations.
Major changes have occurred in the employment experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders since the last Census, with the expansion of the Federally funded Community Development Employment Program (CDEP). Estimates have put the number of participants in CDEP projects as high as 20% of the labour force of over 31,000.
What is the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Workplace Services Unit?
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Workplace Services Unit was formally launched on 11 March 1999.
A highlight of the launch was the address by Juliee Smith from Working Together Australia. Juliee's speech mentioned the 'two rivers' of humanity in Australian society. We have borrowed this idea from Juliee for our newsletter to remind us of the great diversity in the NSW workforce.
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Who uses our services?
Each newsletter, we will highlight some of services we provide. In this issue we focus on callers to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment Advisory Service.
The advisory service provides information on NSW employment issues. Callers pay only the cost of a local call.
Our callers are more than likely to be managers or supervisors, aged between 31 and 44 years, working in health and community services. There has been a steady increase in the number of callers from the CDEP throughout NSW.
The most common areas of inquiry are pay, conditions, redundancy and dismissal.
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The last 12 months have been pretty hectic but we've managed to survive. We have spent lots of time out of the office providing assistance, conducting education and information seminars with trips to Newcastle, Wollongong, Ballina, Dubbo and Armidale, Gilgandra and Moree.
One Armidale organisation raised concerns that employees were not receiving their appropriate award entitlements. We provided information sessions to the employees, coordinators and the management committee.
The sessions addressed basic award entitlements, rights and responsibilities of employers and employees, recruitment and dismissal, grievance and dispute handling procedures, the importance of occupational health and safety, contracts of employment and statements of duties.
We made ourselves available for people to talk to us on an individual basis so that they could discuss any concerns or problems.
Many of the people that contact our Unit are after some advice over the phone and this regularly leads to requests for us to visit their area. We often find that the original caller has spread the word throughout the community and we are invited to other organisations to assist them with their industrial and management issues.
Responses to our visits have been very positive. The Coordinator at Armidale advised us that following our visit, the organisation has been able to solve many problem areas, allowing them to run their organisation to its full potential and meet the requirements of the NSW Industrial laws.
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Some of the projects that we are working on presently include:
- Launching an enhanced website for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers
- Convening the DIR's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Workplace Reference Group
- Updating the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment Information Kit.
This kit gives detailed information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, managers and committees on establishing lawful, productive, equitable and innovative working relationships.
The kit is loose-leaf and we've been told it is easy to read and easy to use. If your organisation hasn't got a kit or you would like more information please contact us and we will arrange to send you out a kit and the updates.
The executive summary of the Unit's 2001/2002 Business Plan outlines the current activities and planned projects. If you would like a copy just give us a call and we can mail a copy to you.
We hope that we reach more and more communities through our newsletter so please pass it around.
It's bye from Chris and Rae.
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Did You Know?
Casuals who have worked with an employer on an ongoing basis for 12 months are now eligible for 12 months unpaid parental leave.
Two Rivers is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any persons without written permission from the NSW Department of Industrial Relations. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to The Editor, Two Rivers.
It should be noted that this publication is intended to operate as a general newsletter. The Department provides no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness of, and accepts no responsibility for errors in or omissions from, or any loss or damage resulting from reliance on, the information or advice in this publication.
© NSW Department of Industrial Relations 2002. All rights reserved.
Phone: 131 628
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