A NEW Reconciliation Action Plan aims to open more employment and training pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Wimmera.
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Skillinvest developed the plan with Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-operative and Barenji Gadjin Land Council.
The groups launched the plan in Horsham on Thursday.
It outlines actions, timelines, responsibilities and targets in three areas: relationships; respect; and opportunities.
More than 70 people attended the launch, which included a traditional smoking ceremony and lunch.
Skillinvest general manager Robin Kuhne said the plan aimed to create respectful relationships with indigenous people and organisations, and provide further training, employment opportunities and career pathways.
“We felt it was the next natural step for our organisation in creating employment opportunities,” he said.
“For a long time we have been geared around workplace equality and diversity for all the communities we operate within.
“We have been working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities for the best part of 30 years, and this is all about cementing our commitment to those communities.”
Mr Kuhne said the plan fit with Skillinvest’s ethos of being all-inclusive.
“The plan acknowledges and will help build on the respectful relationships between our organisation and indigenous communities,” he said.
“It will also help make sure that message is spread beyond the walls of Skillinvest and in to the wider community.”
Mr Kuhne said the plan took a year to create.
“We have seen the benefit of having the plan already,” he said.
“By the end of February, we will have 22 trainees and apprentices representing those communities across Victoria.”
There are eight young indigenous people completing apprenticeships, traineeships or school-based apprenticeships in the Wimmera.
A further six students will start a school-based apprenticeship with Victoria Police in Melbourne next month.
Mr Kuhne said Reconciliation Australia had endorsed the three-year action plan.
“After that there will be an opportunity for us to evaluate, and look at the next stage,” Mr Kuhne said.
“We've got some goals we want to achieve.
“We've already ticked some boxes.”
Skillinvest will review the plan annually and report its progress to Reconciliation Australia.
