Researchers at the Australian Catholic University are investigating which individual and environmental factors contribute most to Indigenous Australians success in their chosen profession. The research team hopes that its findings will help close the employment gap.
The study is led by Professor Janet Mooney of the Institute of Positive Psychology at the Australian catholic University. She says this study is long overdue. Based on the recently released closing the gap report it appears that the employment outcomes for Indigenous Australians have gone backwards since 2008. Professor Mooney laments that Indigenous employment rates are considerably higher now than they were in the early 1990s. Despite State and territory continued efforts the expected improvement is not materializing.
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"If you go to some of the outback places there aren't black faces behind the counter. They are in government and they are in Aboriginal organizations."
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Professor Mooney adds, "If you look at real remote; other than CDP or CDEP there are very few other jobs for Indigenous people. We are still at that point where if you go to some of the outback places there aren't black faces behind the counter. They are in government and they are in Aboriginal organizations…. ".
It is also noted that a high percentage of Indigenous workers found employment in the mining industry during the mining boom. The downturn in this sector has affected them more than any other community.
Quoting from the latest closing the gap report figures, Professor Janet Mooney observes that Indigenous employment has declined from 53.8 per cent in 2008 to 48.4 per cent in 2014-15. The rate for non-Indigenous Australians declined only marginally, from 75 to 74 per cent, which doesn't accurately reflect the suggestion that this is due to a softening labor market.
Professor Mooney's current research project called Triumphing seeks to show the impact of employment on the well being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the various psycho-social resources that better equip them not only to deal with day-to-day life and stressful events, but to thrive.
More information on this research can be obtained on the Australian Catholic University's website. There is also a survey questionnaire to fill out for those who may want to contribute to project.