Evergreen
Robert – Administration Officer
In 2021, I joined the Evergreen Program; at the time, an 18-month development program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As a second-generation Public Servant, I have seen first-hand the meaningful impact these roles have on peoples’ lives.
Since joining the Australian Public Service, I have had many opportunities to experience different business lines and work on various projects. The on-the-job training and formal qualifications available have also given me the confidence to build my career profile and make long lasting connections with people from all walks of life.
The workplace provides me with flexibility for work life balance and conditions that support a culturally inclusive environment. I have learned so much and am looking forward to furthering my career as I continue to build different skills and capabilities along the way.
Emerging Indigenous Executive Leaders Program
Sarah – Data Analysis Manager
I recently had the opportunity to participate in the Emerging Indigenous Executive Leadership Program through the University of NSW Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM).
This program was a truly transformative experience for me. I acquired invaluable skills and knowledge that have enhanced my performance and equipped me with the tools necessary to excel in an executive role.
The program challenged me to grow personally and professionally in areas such as:
- deepening my cultural awareness and identity in business
- giving me the concept of walking and leading in 2 worlds
- strengthening my leadership and strategic thinking capabilities
- supporting me to build a strong network of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders across the community.
I’m excited to leverage these newfound capabilities to further contribute to the organisation and hope to further my career as I look to secure my Executive Level position.
Jawun
Mark – Service Delivery Director
I was fortunate to participate in the Jawun secondments. Jawun aims to increase the capacity of Indigenous leaders, organisations and communities to achieve their development goals.
I was based in Alice Springs (Mparntwe) with 7 other secondees from government and private organisations.
My project was to review and provide recommendations to implement preventative property maintenance for the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women’s Council (NPYWC) properties in remote communities.
This was largely a project management and stakeholder engagement activity; it was interesting to recognise that my ATO and personal skills are transferable to something so different.
It was rewarding to see recommendations be implemented and know I was able to make a little difference for an important organisation. I have learnt so much as part of my Jawun experience and have a greater appreciation for the challenges Indigenous communities face in remote regions of Australia.
Katie – Client Relationship Officer
I went on a Jawun secondment and was placed with the Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council (DLALC) on the New South Wales Central Coast.
Being on secondment helped me understand the impacts of colonialisation and see the complex challenges of managing traditional lands in an urban environment. I saw the use of technology to record and register habitats, and plant and animal species, and to protect geological features, icons and sites of national significance.
During the secondment, I wrote 8 ministerial briefs, and wrote and reviewed content for an annual report. I went on Country and visited DLALC development sites.
I also did a virtual placement with the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Empowered Communities in the Central desert, providing NPY Emerging Leaders with media and engagement advice to prepare them for a trip to Parliament House, Canberra.
The Jawun experience strengthened my commitment to being an active ally and to keep learning about the diverse cultures and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Walking together
Lachlan – Diversity Manager
I am passionate about supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff through everyday actions, mentoring and actively raising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives. Part of working in Inclusion and Diversity is providing strategic advice, and ensuring voices and perspectives of people of lived experience are central to what we do.
I am motivated to do work that matters and to deliver meaningful outcomes. At the ATO, this has included supporting commitments under the Reconciliation Action Plan, managing the ATO’s involvement in the Jawun Program, influencing the decision to mandate the ATO Indigenous Australian Cultural Awareness course, and mentoring and coaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff toward promotion.
Prior to the ATO, I supported outcomes through roles living and working on remote communities in the Kimberley at Services Australia, in Indigenous Affairs at Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) and NIAA and advocacy to governments as CEO of the United Nations Association of Australia.
I am committed to continuing education to understand the unique barriers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience and supporting colleagues to do the same. I believe we all have an important role to play in calling out non-inclusive behaviour and language, and working together to find solutions and create change.
For me, I am most proud of the connections I’ve made in my career and work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff to ensure they have been recognised and moved into roles leading the change they want to see.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Champion
Andrew – Deputy Commissioner, Individuals and Intermediaries
I became an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Champion in 2017, recognising the need for strong allies to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and programs.
Through my role I advocate for improved initiatives for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and am committed to supporting programs that increase workplace inclusion and participation in the taxation and superannuation systems. I also collaborate with other government agencies to share best practice and explore ideas that lead to better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Personally, I have gained a greater understanding of the broader connections and roles Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have with family and community, and the importance of that to culture, as well as the challenges they still face in the workplace and society.
Closer to home, I’ve had the privilege to get involved in many events over the years and meet with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at our Nakurrinthi office on Kaurna Country (Adelaide). Listening to people share stories, culture and language has helped me on my own journey in appreciating more about the oldest living cultures in the world. It’s also made me aware of how much more there is that we can do together and how we can all make a difference.
Tailoring services to clients
Jane – Assistant Commissioner, Australian Business Registry Services
All directors of Australian companies are required to obtain a director ID, which is a unique number assigned to each director once they verify their identity. The purpose of director ID is to prevent the use of false and fictitious identities and enable regulators to trace directors’ relationships with companies over time. Directors appointed under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 were required to have a director ID by 30 November 2023.
There are around 14,000 directors of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations. My branch engaged with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations and learnt about the unique challenges that many directors face getting a director ID. We heard that directors in remote locations would find it difficult to get their director ID because they didn’t have the right identity documents or access to technology – making it challenging to use the online application process.
That’s why we rolled out innovative approaches. These included:
- virtual and face-to-face application processing at events and corporation meetings
- a dedicated phone line to provide advice and process applications, serviced by specially trained staff
- alternative approaches to identity verification, recognising the challenges for some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- outbound calls to larger Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations, offering virtual application processing
- tailored correspondence to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations and directors.
The approaches are proving successful, with corporations and directors lining up for virtual and phone applications. Our services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations and directors are proudly delivered by staff that include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander officers.
ABRS officer, Jade, is one staff member who meets with directors and corporations to support them with the application process. ‘Our approach makes the process easier, as many directors can now get a director ID using the identity documentation they have available.
Often, they don’t need to lodge paperwork. Lodging paperwork is hard to do if you live in a remote community without a computer, printer or post office. The team has processed applications at more than 160 virtual and face-to-face events. We’ve also answered over 2,000 phone calls providing help to directors and corporations. It’s generating a lot of goodwill – the feedback from stakeholders and staff is very positive,’ Jade said.
Another ABRS officer, Nicki, has seen first-hand how directors are embracing the approach, having personally represented ABRS at face-to-face events, where she processed applications on-site. ‘I’m a First Nations woman from Ngemba Country and there’s several other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff in our branch. All the staff – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander or non-Indigenous – love this work because we know how meaningful it is and we can see the difference it is making to the community,’ Nicki said.
Helping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities find lost super
Julie – Client Engagement Manager
My team collaborates with First Nations Foundation by participating in Financial Wellness Week events. In 2023, a multi-disciplinary team travelled around Sydney, Cairns, Yarrabah, Mornington Island and Doomadgee and assisted over 500 attendees.
These events aim to improve the financial literacy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities, while maintaining a culturally safe experience.
Through each interaction, staff work to build community capability on taxation and superannuation matters and assist attendees to find any super they may have lost track of.
This enables relationship building in communities, which is sometimes difficult to replicate over the phone. We intend to continue working with First Nations Foundation at these events.
Supporting staff
Emmie – Communications Director
We all have the power to make a difference through everyday actions. My team has strived to support our reconciliation journey in our own little corner of the organisation.
Since 2022, we have committed to supporting career pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by hosting entry level program participants in the Evergreen program, with a number of employees receiving permanent positions in my team.
Each participant is offered tailored learning opportunities that align with their career goals and grow their skills for more advanced roles. Guiding employees to navigate the selection process is a key component to career development and we match staff with mentors for resume feedback and interview preparation. Helping people to succeed and grow to their potential is not only personally fulfilling but promotes a 2-way exchange of knowledge and experience that enhances the quality of our work for the benefit of all Australians.
Another way we promote reconciliation is through our contribution to highlighting cultural events such as National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week. In the past, our team has developed staff video montages, social media posts and corporate videos of cultural performances including a smoking ceremony. Through this work, we are proud to have contributed to the culture of our organisation to support a more diverse and inclusive workplace.
Linda – Indigenous Liaison Officer
Wadda Mooli everyone – hello in my Birrigubba language of the Bindal people. I started my journey in the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) in 2010 as a participant of the APSC Indigenous Pathways Program, as a Service Delivery Officer.
Shortly after I moved to the shopfront as a Customer Service Officer providing face-to-face assistance and support to our clients, some of whom were the most vulnerable in our communities, which was invaluable in understanding the range of client needs.
For many years, I worked on the Indigenous Helpline, providing tailored assistance to our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients. As an Aboriginal woman, this has been one of the most rewarding roles in my career. I provided one-on-one support, where calls could take hours as there were long lines of people in one community office waiting to speak to someone who could provide a culturally aware and safe client service. Due to the remoteness of some of these communities, we had some clients calling from the top of hills just to get phone reception.
Working in the ATO has opened many pathways for me to engage with community across Country, whether that be providing training to the Tax Clinic Program, Tax Agent Forums, career expos, pop-up stalls in shopping centres, or small business events in Normanton, Cloncurry, Hughenden and Charters Towers.
Through an affirmative measures process, I obtained a leadership position as an Indigenous Liaison Officer (ILO) in the First Nations Support Team. I now support our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees and staff to achieve reconciliation through building cultural capability and guidance to influence an inclusive work environment. I am excited to be working in a role that empowers our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff by supporting, and advocating for best practice, creating future leaders of tomorrow.