Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander recruitment and career development strategy
Background
In 1994, Co-operative Change Consultants, on behalf of the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) were employed to investigate the current status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation and employment in the sector. The Report compiled for ALIA outlined those tasks and actions necessary to:- promote and improve the services of libraries and other information agencies;
- improve the standard of library and information personnel and foster their professional interests and aspirations, and
- represent the interests of its members and supporting Associations.
The outcome of the investigation in 1994 culminated in the development of a sector-wide strategy to increase the opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to be employed in the sector.
Key objectives were developed for the Strategy:
- Increase access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to library and information services.
- Develop a means of making library and information organisations more relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- Inform Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of the resources held in collections and determine through consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people a means of access to these resources that reflect Indigenous people's cultural requirements.
- Promote two-way learning and cultural awareness between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people regarding their lifestyle and culture and non-Aboriginal people within the library and information sector.
- In the initial stages of the strategy carry out a national survey of libraries. Information gleaned from the survey will provide further information on the activities of libraries in their approach to employment, consultation and usage of library services by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
- Achieve equitable representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees in the sector. Libraries should seek to reflect the population distribution within the community they serve by employing an appropriate ratio of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff.
- Provide permanent employment and career opportunities in the library and information sector.
- Advocate training programs to support employment so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people may obtain educational qualifications in the library and information sector.
