The inaugural meeting of CQU’s Indigenous Employment Reference Group was held early this month in Rockhampton.

Responsible for developing the University’s Indigenous employment portfolio, Equity and Diversity Officer (Indigenous Services) Natasha Lamb said CQU will be developing strategies to increase the number of Indigenous people working at CQU. This will be coordinated by this new group.

The group was established under the current EBA to advise the Vice-Chancellor on developing appropriate and relevant measures to increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at CQU.

Ms Lamb said members of the group are very excited to be part of the process to increase Indigenous representation across the University and look forward to contributing successfully to the University’s commitment to developing the role of Indigenous people at CQU.

The University has recently begun implementing strategies to increase the employment numbers of Indigenous people through its involvement with CDEP (Community Development Employment Project).

CDEP is the Federal Government’s largest Indigenous program, accounting for around one quarter of the total Indigenous employment and encompassing over 32,000 participants across Australia.

The University recently welcomed new employee Ashley Jamieson through the CDEP program.

The Indigenous Employment Reference Group plans to meet regularly throughout the year.

Photo: (l-r) Professor Angela Delves, Laurie Armstrong, Natasha Lamb, David Swann, Professor Alex Radloff, Assoc. Professor William Oates, Ros Dunphy; Dr Errol Veith and Lavenia James.