Western Australia’s (WA) two Aboriginal Community-Controlled peak bodies are united in profound disappointment following the release of the State’s first Jurisdictional Action Plan (Action Plan) under the five-year National Skills Agreement.
The Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia (AHCWA) and the Council of Aboriginal Services Western Australia (CASWA) have jointly expressed their deep concern about the Action Plan stating it fails to address Aboriginal workforce needs, and entirely overlooks Aboriginal Community-Controlled Registered Training Organisations (ACC RTOs).
AHCWA Chair Vicki O’Donnell OAM highlighted the misalignment between the action plan and the WA Government’s commitment to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, a key priority area under the National Skills Agreement.
“Aboriginal employment in WA was 52 per cent at the last census which is well below the national average. Aboriginal people face greater barriers to employment, including a lack of access to high-quality, culturally safe, relevant and place-based training and employment,” Ms O’Donnell said.
“To improve training and employment outcomes for our people, the WA Government committed to equal partnership and shared decision-making with Aboriginal people through the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. Despite this, AHCWA, CASWA and its members have been sidelined in the development of this Action Plan.”
CASWA Chair Christopher Bin Kali said, “The plan disproportionately focuses on TAFE as the central vehicle for workforce development while marginalising the critical role of ACCRTOs in providing culturally responsive training models for Aboriginal people.
“The exclusion of the ACCORTO sector from this process negates Aboriginal self-determination, perpetuates systemic inequities, and undermines the efforts of the WA Government to meet its own Closing the Gap targets.”
AHCWA and CASWA are calling for a significant shift in the WA Government’s approach to working with the two peak bodies and the ACCRTO sector.
“The National Skills Agreement provides the Aboriginal Vocational Education and Training (VET) Sector with an unprecedented and unmissable opportunity for strengthening and growth,” Ms O’Donnell said.
“The WA Government must partner with us respectfully to create sustainable, well-resourced and culturally safe training and employment pathways which deliver enduring prosperity for Aboriginal people and their communities.”
Mr Bin Kali stated, “We remain committed to working with the WA Government on innovative and culturally secure VET models that address skill needs across Western Australia.
But we must be at the decision-making table with the government to ensure that Aboriginal people share in the design of VET programs and that barriers to training and employment are overcome through place-based, community-led solutions.”