The CSIRO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment strategy has been developed to further enhance our work as a Commonwealth Agency. The strategy uses a strength-based approach and models a self-determining framework which recognises that initiatives and strategies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples must be led by and with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Our commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment goes beyond numbers. It involves nurturing lasting connections with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities at every level of our organisation and within our workforce.
Our goal is to engage, retain and train highly skilled and capable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in a range of roles and levels across our scientific, research, technical, fieldwork, and support services areas.
By delivering respectful, adaptive, innovative and courageous strategies that build sustainable employment and relationship opportunities for and with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, we hope to be an employer of choice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The strategy focusses on creating a sustainable lifecycle of engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and supporting a consistent stream of Indigenous scientists, engineers and support staff to enrich our diverse science and research initiatives.
To achieve the desired outcomes, the strategy sets out five focus areas for CSIRO. Each focus area has an overarching objective with multiple deliverables.
- Attraction: Become an employer of choice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- Recruitment: Increase the representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across all aspects of our organisation including students, contractors and affiliates.
- Retention: Ensure all environments and teams respect, value, support, and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures.
- Engage and partner: Cultivate sustainable relationships that build capability and connectedness across our organisation and with our external partners.
- Monitor and report: Be courageously accountable and transparent with our challenges and successes concerning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment.
The strategy is aligned with the Commonwealth Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Workforce Strategy, the CSIRO vision, Values, strategic objectives and plans, including the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
Journeys
In 2023 CSIRO commissioned an artwork to represent the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment strategy and the career pathways and growth available at CSIRO.
Bree Buttenshaw (Little Butten) is a proud Kalkadoon woman living on Quandamooka Country. Bree mixes traditional and contemporary art together to create unique stories. She is inspired by her environment and her art reflects her feelings and experiences.
This artwork starts with a star, representing an oncoming Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Island person into their team. This person brings their own knowledge and experiences to CSIRO.
As they journey through the different pathways provided by CSIRO they continue to grow. This is represented by the star getting bigger and more complex designs. The star is surrounded by other shining stars who influence and support their growth and development.
The star is always surrounded by others, they are part of a larger, supportive network.
This story takes place in the night sky, reflecting CSIRO’s exploration and research of sciences.
The star, continues on its journey, moving off the picture plane. Growth and the pathways that take us there are not defined by a single moment. Our learning journeys are forever expanding, shifting and growing.