Programs boost participation of First Nation’s people in water sector

We were thrilled to join our Deputy Chair Elaine Carbines, Barwon Water staff and representatives from other organisations at Barwon Asset Solutions for an event on Monday 27 June with Member for Geelong and newly appointed Parliamentary Secretary for First Peoples Christine Couzens. The event celebrated boosting Indigenous participation in water, particularly in the Geelong region.

The main focus of the occasion was our Aboriginal Employment and Retention Strategy, which won the Australian Water Association’s Organisational Excellence Award in May.

We couldn’t have put the strategy together without the help of Wan-Yaari Aboriginal Consultancy Services and local Traditional Owner groups, who continually shed light on how to include Aboriginal values in what we do. The strategy couldn’t have won and wouldn’t work as it does without the ongoing engagement and cultural guidance of Wadawurrung and Eastern Maar traditional owners, relationships with whom we are constantly working to strengthen.

At the heart of the strategy is understanding and embedding First Nations cultural values and the holistic wellbeing of First Nations Peoples.

It provides the foundations for creating and delivering culturally appropriate, respectful and meaningful outcomes for First Nations employees.

The strategy is a key commitment under our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan, and is structured around five key areas including: Recruitment, Induction, Inclusive Workplace Practices, Retention and Development.

Two successful initiatives coming from this strategy include our 12-month traineeship program, developed in partnership with Wan-Yaari Aboriginal Consultancy Services and Gforce Employment Solutions, as well as an in-depth Connection to Country program for all employees, which includes cultural heritage education and visits to culturally-significant sites in the region.

Christine, Elaine, Ricky Kildea from Wan Yaari Aboriginal Consultancy Services and Barwon Asset Solutions’ Hayley Jones spoke at the event, which also recognised the opportunities our Porronggitj Karrong project and the wider plan for the Barwon River – Kitjarra-dja-bul Bullarto langi-ut – presented for Wadawurrung Traditional Owners self-determination.

While we know we have further progress to make in the area, the award, and Monday’s event, shows that we are on the right path and it is great recognition for the work we are doing in this area.

Learn more about our Aboriginal Employment and Retention Strategy