The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) vision is to be an employer of choice for Aboriginal people. We aim to do this by creating an outstanding culturally safe employee experience, where individuals are valued for their cultural knowledge and lived experience.
We are committed towards Aboriginal employment by building our Aboriginal workforce and ensuring services are culturally safe and responsive.
Aboriginal Workforce Strategy
The Aboriginal Workforce Strategy sets our goal to become the employer of choice for Aboriginal people. And we are committed to supporting recruitment, retention, and the cultural safety of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff.
The Aboriginal Workforce Strategy 2021–2026 strategic objectives are to:
- exceed a minimum 3% Aboriginal employment target by 2026
- exceed 4% Aboriginal employment at manager and executive level positions by 2026
- embed Aboriginal self-determination and cultural safety in all that we do
- ensure the workforce develops a deep understanding of Aboriginal ways of listening, knowing and doing and applies this to the workplace
- celebrate Aboriginal culture and the achievements of Aboriginal employees, children, families, and communities.
The strategy sets out 6 key domains:
- an outstanding Aboriginal employee value proposition for Aboriginal candidates
- culturally responsive recruitment and selection process
- culturally safe onboarding, induction and orientation process to ensure Aboriginal employees are set up for success
- flexible development where Aboriginal employees are empowered to plan meaningful careers through flexible development pathways at all levels
- expanded and empowered Aboriginal leadership where Aboriginal employees are supported to develop and progress into senior leadership roles
- ctrengthen Aboriginal public and community sector careers where a quality approvement approach informs all stages of the Aboriginal employee journey.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural safety framework
The development of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural safety framework is a key commitment in the department’s Aboriginal employment strategy.
The cultural safety framework is for:
- every person and every mainstream organisation to take responsibility and work together to create culturally safe services and workplaces
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and clients, who have a right to culturally safe workplaces and services.
The cultural safety framework has 3 key domains for action:
- Creating a culturally safe workplace and organisation
- Aboriginal self-determination
- Leadership and accountability
To read more information about the cultural safety framework, please visit Department of Families Fairness and Housing Victoria | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural safety framework.
Additional Aboriginal supports
Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing program
The Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing program is a free, confidential service offered by the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, focusing on culturally safe support for mental health and healing.
Aboriginal Employment Team and Aboriginal Staff Support Network
The Aboriginal Employment Team supports Aboriginal staff and provide a range of other benefits, as well as an Aboriginal Staff Support Network that is unique to DFFH and provides Aboriginal employees a safe environment to:
- share their experiences
- support each other
- take part in professional development
- contribute to the policy and services of DFFH.
Recruitment and development related supports
Recruitment and development supports include:
- assessing and supporting to bridge qualification gaps
- recruitment support, interview preparation
- mentoring and providing confidential and culturally safe assistance
- professional development opportunities.
Contact us
If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander applicant, or if you have a disability and need advice and support with the recruitment process, please contact our Diversity Unit at aboriginaldiversityinclusion@dffh.vic.gov.au.
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