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What do Indigenous youths and adults aspire to when it comes to education, training and employment?

In a landmark survey, the Muntjiltjarra Wurrgumu Group (MWG) has worked with the Wiluna Regional Partnership Agreement (WRPA) to ask Indigenous households what their aspirations and barriers are around jobs and setting up businesses.

Maggie Kavanagh, Coordinator of the Wiluna Regional Partnership Agreement, along with MWG representatives Stacey Petterson and Regina Ashwin, will present the survey results at the UWA Business School's Indigenous Business, Enterprise and Corporations Conference (IBECC).

"Our key findings included that many Indigenous youth didn't know what education and job options were available to them, and needed assistance in getting a driver's licence - a finding that led to a community-driven licencing open day and a careers expo in Wiluna," Ms Kavanagh said.

The Muntjiltjarra Wurrgumu Group is based in the Aboriginal community of Wiluna and is working with the State and Federal governments, Indigenous leaders, BHP Billiton Nickel West, Northern Star Resource, Rosslyn Hill Mining, Toro Energy, Golden West Resources, Australian Camp Services, the Wiluna Shire and Wiluna-based agencies who are part of the WRPA.

IBECC Convenor and Director of the Centre for Social Impact (UWA), Winthrop Professor Paul Flatau, says co-operation between governments, corporations, Indigenous businesses and communities, and community organisations is integral to empowering local communities.

"For an initiative to succeed, it requires an influential champion, engaged policy makers, true collaboration, and sustained funding for at least two or three years, among other factors," W/Professor Flatau said.

The Indigenous Business, Enterprise and Corporations Conference will place at the UWA Business School on 1-2 December 2014 and feature over 100 speakers.

Media references

Verity Chia (UWA Business School)                                                +61 8 6488 1346
Emma Watton (IBECC Media Coordinator)                                       +614 31 936 397