Economic participation and development - Overview - Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key Indicators 2007

Employment by sector, industry and occupation |
Self employment and Indigenous business |
Indigenous owned or controlled land |
Governance capacity and skills |
Case studies in governance arrangements |

The extent to which people participate in the economy is closely related to their living standards and broader wellbeing. It also influences how they interact at the family and community levels.

This report examines economic development through employment opportunities, influence over land resources, and aspects of education and training that are relevant to the goals of good governance and the capacity to govern.

Employment by sector, industry and occupation

Employment of Indigenous People Aged 18 to 64 Years, 2004-05 Having a job (and, to an extent, the type of employment), leads to improved incomes and standards of living for people and their families. This in turn has a positive influence on health and the education of children. It also enhances self-esteem and reduces social alienation. More broadly, where people are employed, benefits also flow on to the wider community.
Yirra Yaakin Aboriginal Corporation, WA, Yirra Yaakin Board members Lynette Narkle, Frederick Spring, Gningala Yarran-Clanton, Karen Brisbane and Clem Rodney. Indigenous Governance Awards Finalist 2006. Photo courtesy of Wayne Quilliam and Reconciliation Australia.

Yarrabah Shire Council, Queensland, Thomas Geymor, Peter Yeatman and Clayton Harris, rangers from Yarrabah Shire Council. Indigenous Governance Awards Finalist 2006. Photo courtesy of Wayne Quilliam and Reconciliation Australia.

KEY MESSAGES

The full time employment rate for Indigenous people increased from 45 per cent to 52 per cent between 1994 and 2004-05, and the part time employment rate increased from 26 per cent to 35 per cent over the same period (figure 11.1.6).

In 2004-05, after adjusting for age differences:

Indigenous people in the labour force were more likely than non-Indigenous people to be employed part time (35 per cent compared to 28 per cent) and less likely to be employed full time (54 per cent compared to 69 per cent) (table 11A.1.2)
a higher proportion of Indigenous people than non-Indigenous people were employed in lower skilled occupations, including elementary clerical, sales and service workers and labourers, and related workers (26 per cent compared to 16 per cent) (figure 11.1.9).

For Indigenous people in 2004-05:

full time employment decreased with remoteness, while part time employment increased with remoteness (figure 11.1.2)
CDEP participation comprised a significant proportion of Indigenous employment in remote and very remote areas, accounting for 64 per cent of Indigenous employment in the public sector and 48 per cent of Indigenous employment in the private sector (figure 11.1.7).

THINGS THAT WORK

The Aboriginal Employment Strategy in NSW is a community strategy in partnership with government and the corporate sector to create jobs for Aboriginal people. Following success in Moree, the program has been expanded to four offices in regional NSW and three offices in Sydney (box 11.2.2).

The Accor Asia Pacific Corporate Leaders for Indigenous Employment Project encourages private sector companies to create job opportunities, using the Australian Government’s Indigenous Employment Programme (box 11.2.2).

The Sunraysia Area Consultative Committee Structured Training and Employment Project was established in 2003. The project focuses on full time skilled or professional employment for Indigenous people (box 11.1.2).

Under the Port Hedland Regional Partnership Agreement, the Australian Government and the Minerals Council of Australia aim to create employment and business opportunities for Indigenous people in mining regions (box 11.1.2).

Self employment and Indigenous business

Self employment is one way that Indigenous people can reduce dependence on government welfare and improve self reliance. It also enables them to participate in the economy and improve their economic wellbeing. Indigenous business has the potential to contribute to economic participation and development for Indigenous people.

Yirra Yaakin Aboriginal Corporation, WA, Eva Mullaley and Dennis Simmons making props at Yirra Yaakin. Indigenous Governance Awards Finalist 2006. Photo courtesy of Wayne Quilliam and Reconciliation Australia. Wunan Foundation, WA, Charmaine Johnson as a trainee tour guide with Wunan Foundation partner Kimberley Wilderness Adventures. Indigenous Governance Awards Finalist 2006. Photo courtesy of Wayne Quilliam and Reconciliation Australia.

KEY MESSAGES

In non-remote areas in 2004-05, the rate of self employment for Indigenous people was markedly lower than that for non-Indigenous people (table 11A.2.1).

The most recent nationally comparable data that can be reported for the Indigenous self employment and business indicator are the ABS 2001 Census data that were published in the 2003 Report.

The 2003 Report noted that difference in the rates of self employment between non-Indigenous and Indigenous people varied significantly across remoteness areas; the largest difference was found in very remote areas, where non-Indigenous people were nine times as likely to be self employed.

THINGS THAT WORK

Through a small, Indigenous owned enterprise, Wujal Wujal Walker Family Tours provide guided walking tours through the Daintree Rainforest in Queensland. The enterprise works with non-Indigenous tourism businesses in the region (box 11.2.2).

Ngarda Civil and Mining, based in Port Hedland, WA, in conjunction with Indigenous Business Australia (IBA), Henry Walker Eltin and the Ngarda Ngarli Yarndu Foundation, has achieved higher Indigenous employment staffing rates than other businesses in the mining sector (box 11.2.3).

Indigenous Business Australia’s Business Development Programme, known as IBA Enterprises, directly assists Indigenous individuals, families and partnerships to succeed in business, through support, mentoring and business loans (box 11.2.4).

Indigenous owned or controlled land

Indigenous owned or controlled land is reported as an indicator of economic participation and development. It is, however, also important in terms of the social and cultural relationships between Indigenous peoples and their land.

Ownership and control of land can provide both economic and cultural benefits to Indigenous people. As well as yielding benefits from customary activities (for example, fishing, hunting and gathering) and commercial activities (for example, mining royalties and tourism), Indigenous owned or controlled land can provide people with a place to live, through either individual home ownership or community housing.

Indigenous Owned Land as a Proportion of Each Remoteness Area, December 2006

KEY MESSAGES

Indigenous (and non-Indigenous) people obtain a variety of economic, social and cultural benefits from land they own or control.

In June 2006, native title had been determined to exist in full or in part in 8 per cent of the area of Australia, compared with 5 per cent in June 2004. The national increase was around 264 210 km2, with the major increase occurring in WA (figure 11.3.3).

The number of registered Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUAs) increased from 84 in June 2003 to 250 in June 2006 (figure 11.3.4). Over this period, the total land area subject to ILUAs grew from 239 219 km2 to 812 866 km2, or 11 per cent of the total area of Australia.

Indigenous land interests are also protected under various forms of legislation that enable the grant or purchase of land by governments for Indigenous ownership or use. The Indigenous Land Corporation has acquired 201 properties across Australia, covering more than 5.5 million hectares. Examples of State and Territory grants and transfers of land to Indigenous people are included in the main Report (section 11.3).

THINGS THAT WORK

The main Report contains several examples of the benefits deriving from Indigenous ownership and control of land, in terms of:

the customary economy
residential use and home ownership
commercial business
service delivery
land management/tradeable assets
eco-services (section 11.3).

The Indigenous Pastoral Program was established in 2003 in the NT to increase sustainable pastoral production on Indigenous land and Indigenous involvement in the pastoral industry (box 11.3.2).

Governance capacity and skills

Capacity building for good governance can take many forms. This indicator provides information on Indigenous participation in mainstream courses that are regarded as useful in developing skills relevant to governance. These include management and commerce, economics and business law. Students in other courses may also be well equipped to provide leadership and contribute to good governance.

KEY MESSAGES

In 2005, lower proportions of Indigenous than non-Indigenous students enrolled in university and TAFE courses relevant to governance and management (figures 11.4.1 and 11.4.3).

Both Indigenous and non-Indigenous male students were more likely than females to enrol in university courses relevant to governance and management (figure 11.4.2).

Both Indigenous and non-Indigenous female students were more likely than males to enrol in TAFE courses relevant to governance and management (figure 11.4.4).

THINGS THAT WORK

The Office of the Registrar of Aboriginal Corporations (ORAC) has developed a range of corporate governance training programs for Indigenous corporations and their governing committees/boards (box 11.4.2).

The Managing in Two Worlds Governance Training Program aims to strengthen the management capacity of Victorian Aboriginal community organisations and improve service delivery using programs developed by ORAC (box 11.4.2).

Case studies in governance arrangements

Goldfields Land and Sea Council, WA, Mr Dennis Forrest, Senior Project Officer with the Goldfields Land and Sea Council, and native title claimants. Indigenous Governance Awards Finalist 2005. Photo courtesy of Sandy Scheltema and Reconciliation Australia Many Indigenous bodies provide important services to their communities. Generally speaking, community governance refers to the ways Indigenous people come together to deal with community affairs, and organisational governance refers to governance of Indigenous bodies established to undertake social, economic and cultural activities. A comprehensive picture of Indigenous governance should also consider governments’ engagement with Indigenous organisations and communities - government governance.

Governance is closely linked with economic development and disadvantage, because it contributes to Indigenous organisations’ and communities’ ability to make and implement decisions. Each Indigenous community and organisation has unique historical and cultural characteristics that are reflected in its governance arrangements, but some key determinants have general application to good governance, while allowing for the unique cultures of different organisations and communities

KEY MESSAGES

Six determinants have general application to good Indigenous governance, while allowing for the unique cultures of different organisations and communities:

- governing institutions
- leadership
- self-determination
- capacity building
- cultural match
- resources.

No one determinant in isolation is enough to lead to good governance arrangements – all determinants are necessary for sustained success.

A comprehensive picture of Indigenous governance should also consider ‘government governance’ – government engagement with Indigenous organisations and communities.

THINGS THAT WORK

The Indigenous Governance Awards are a partnership project between Reconciliation Australia and BHP Billiton, established in 2005, to encourage, reward and promote best practice in Indigenous governance.

Indigenous Governance Awards Finalists

2005

Winner – Koorie Heritage Trust (Melbourne)
Highly commended – Central Australian Aboriginal Congress (Alice Springs)
Highly commended – Sunrise Health Service (Katherine)
Finalist – Goldfields Land and Sea Council (Kalgoorlie)
Finalist – Institute for Aboriginal Development (Alice Springs)
Finalist – North Coast Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health (Maroochydore)
Finalist – Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation (Broken Hill)
Finalist – Tiwi Islands Local Government (Northern Territory)

2006

Organisations under 10 years old

Winner – Gannambarra Enterprises (Wagga Wagga)
Highly commended – Wunan Foundation (Kununurra)
Finalist – Muru Mittigar Aboriginal Cultural and Education Centre (Penrith)
Finalist – Nyirranggulung Mardrulk Ngadberre Regional Council (Katherine)

Organisations over 10 years old

Winner – WuChopperen Health Service Limited (Cairns)
Highly commended – Yirra Yaakin Aboriginal Corporation (Perth)
Finalist – Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre (Port Hedland)
Finalist – Yarrabah Shire Council (Queensland)

Report Chapter 11: Economic participation and development
(PDF document)

Attachment 11A
(Excel document)