History

The University of Adelaide's first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment Strategy ran from 1995-1999 focussing on increasing its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staffing establishment.

In 2005 the University of Adelaide employed its first Indigenous Employment Officer to facilitate the development of the employment strategy phase between 2006-2009. It was in this phase that a larger focus and effort was placed on increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staffing numbers, with 3 years of Strategic Initiatives Funding being allocated to fund positions out of the Division of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President.

In March 2009 (the end of the second strategy phase) the University reported that only 16 members of its staffing establishment were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (0.52% FTE) two less than at the beginning of its implementation stage in 2006. This low figure demonstrated a need for a larger commitment and revised approach to attraction, recruitment, development and retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff.

At the end of 2009, the University implemented a new investment funding model to further complement the existing strategy. The funding model included seed funding being made available to Faculties and Divisions over a 3 year period, sponsored by the Division of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic) which provided a long term and sustainable approach for the recruitment and retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff.

As a result of the new funding model, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment numbers increased by 56.25%; from 16 to 25 between 31 March 2009 and 31 March 2012. On 31 March 2013, the University reported (unofficially) 36 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander staff, approximately 1.0% FTE.

The University of Adelaide's new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment Strategy has no end date and continues to include the 3 year investment funding model, a new cadetship program for undergraduate students, implemented in conjunction with the Australian Government's Indigenous Cadetship Support Program, and a population parity target of 2% for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment by 2023.

The ongoing development of programs further demonstrates the University's commitment, through the Division of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic) to foster Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment and engagement as a whole.