news | action | information | events | contact | search | news | action | information | events | contact | search |
key indigenous australian issues
| home | news lQantas to further promote reconciliation with new Action Plan3 December 2007 - Qantas Thursday launched a formal Reconciliation Action Plan with major objectives such as furthering Indigenous employment opportunities and support within its own ranks. Becoming the third major Australian corporate company to formally announce such intentions, the new initiative has four specific objectives at its core. Of the new plan, Geoff Dixon, Qantas CEO said, “It is important for companies like Qantas, which is readily identified with Australia on the international stage, to not only make a strong commitment but take practical steps to help improve education and employment opportunities for Indigenous Australians.” The new plan intends to double Indigenous employment opportunities across the Qantas Group, improve the involvement for current staff, promoting the cultural diversity and assisting with better understanding of Indigenous cultures, and lastly to encourage Qantas partners and customers to also actively support reconciliation. “Qantas currently employs around 160 Indigenous Australians. This figure will increase to around 180 across our operations by the end of the year, and our aim is to double this number to over 300 by the end of 2008,” adds Mr Dixon. Within the new imitative, there includes a plan to offer ten Indigenous pilot cadetships over the next 12 months. The cadetships will be made available throughout Australia, and will also partner with Western Australia’s Department of Aboriginal Education and Training. “On completion of training, Qantas will arrange paid industry placement for at least two years for these cadets, enabling them to gain valuable operational experience, and then offer them a permanent pilot position in the Qantas Group,” said Mr Dixon. Mr Dixon commented that whilst Qantas hires ‘purely on merit’, improving access to interviews by Indigenous Australians was another key issue, as well as retaining more Indigenous employees. Partnerships such as those with Australia, Desert Knowledge Australia, the AFL Kickstart program and Bangarra Dance Theatre will continue to evolve and grow. Source: e-Travel Blackboard
|
its one year on from the Australian Governments controversial intervention into NT Indigenous communities
action Roll back, listen to Indigenous community voices speaking about the intervention |
|
