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Acknowledgement of Country | Statement of commitment to Indigenous employment | Purpose and strategic alignment | Principles | Strategic objectives | Strategic initiatives and key success indicators | Strategy owner and contact | Definitions | Approval information | Version history | References | Acknowledgements

Related documents

Indigenous Policy

Indigenous Education and Research Strategy

UTS Reconciliation Statement

Guiding Principles for Welcome to Country Acknowledgement of Country

1. Acknowledgement of Country

1.1 UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands. 

1.2 Refer also to the Guiding Principles for Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country.

2. Statement of commitment to Indigenous employment

2.1 UTS has a longstanding commitment to overcoming Indigenous disadvantage in employment and education.

2.2 To demonstrate this commitment, UTS has had an affirmative action employment strategy called the Wingara Indigenous Employment Strategy since 1993. This strategy has consistently promoted the recruitment, retention and career development of Indigenous staff within the university.

2.3 In 2011, the Indigenous Education and Employment Policy (the policy) (now the Indigenous Policy) was established to realise the sentiments and commitments contained in the UTS Reconciliation Statement.

2.4 To implement the objectives outlined in the policy, the Wingara Indigenous Employment Strategy 2011–2014 was developed. The 2011–2014 strategy was successful in increasing the number of positions in both academic and professional roles through innovative and flexible approaches that provided opportunities for new and existing Indigenous staff. This success was enhanced under the Wingara Indigenous Employment Strategy 2015–2018, which saw further increases in the number of positions that have been filled by Indigenous staff, specifically in academic roles and at senior management.

3. Purpose and strategic alignment

3.1 The purpose of the Wingara Indigenous Employment Strategy 2019–2023 (the strategy) is to ensure that UTS has the Indigenous capability to achieve its high-level and ambitious strategic objective to position itself as a world-leading university in Indigenous education and research by 2023.

In pursuing this objective, the aim and expectation is that additional employment opportunities and economic engagement for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff will increase across UTS.

Indigenous employment target

3.2 For the 2019–2023 strategy, UTS has set the Indigenous employment target at 3 per cent full-time equivalent (FTE) continuing/fixed-term to be achieved by 2023.

The target aligns with the requirements in the Indigenous Student Assistance Grants Guidelines 2017 and the Universities Australia Indigenous Strategy 2017–2020.

4. Principles

In addition to the principles articulated in the Reconciliation Statement and the policy, under this strategy UTS will:

4.1 promote a whole-of-university approach to employing Indigenous Australians who have been traditionally underrepresented in the higher education sector

4.2 create employment opportunities for Indigenous Australians across the full range and level of positions in academic, research, professional and senior management

4.3 provide employment opportunities to current and future UTS Indigenous Australian students in academic and non-academic roles

4.4 provide opportunities for economic engagement for Indigenous Australians in general UTS business practices

4.5 reflect the following UTS values:

  1. support staff to discover their full personal and career potential
  2. engage with the Indigenous community to promote UTS as an employer of choice for Indigenous Australians
  3. empower the wider Indigenous community through economic engagement
  4. deliver responsive, employee-based programs
  5. sustain long-term, effective programs by embedding Wingara Indigenous Employment Strategy initiatives into processes at UTS.

5. Strategic objectives

This strategy consists of 5 primary strategic objectives:

5.1 ensure UTS has the professional and academic capability to achieve its high-level and ambitious Indigenous strategic objectives and aims

5.2 provide equitable employment opportunities for Indigenous candidates at all levels across all areas of the university

5.3 provide retention and career progression opportunities for existing Indigenous staff members at UTS

5.4 develop Indigenous competency among non-Indigenous staff

5.5 increase Indigenous economic engagement.

6. Strategic initiatives and key success indicators

The following strategic initiatives will assist UTS in meeting its strategic objectives detailed in section 5, which in turn achieves the set Indigenous employment target.

6.1 achieve 3 per cent (FTE) continuing/fixed-term Indigenous employment across UTS by 2023

6.2 create, maintain and support cross-UTS Indigenous leadership

6.3 engage in international recruitment of Indigenous Australians

6.4 ensure an employment environment that contributes to the wellbeing and retention of Indigenous staff

6.5 foster Indigenous staff connection and community

6.6 support the professional development and career advancement of Indigenous staff

6.7 increase non-Indigenous staff capability across UTS

6.8 maximise indirect Indigenous employment

6.9 ensure data accuracy for reporting on Indigenous staff statistics

6.10 faculty Indigenous staff employment planning

Progression of these strategic initiatives is guided by the key success indicators detailed in the tables below, which also notes the UTS senior staff who have formal accountability for specific initiatives and their success.

6.1 Achieve 3 per cent (FTE) continuing/fixed-term Indigenous employment across UTS by 2023

(objectives 5.1 and 5.2)

Key success indicatorFormal accountability

6.1.1 Faculty targets

  1. Faculties are to contribute to the overall UTS achievement of this target by achieving (at least) the following employment targets for continuing/fixed-term appointments (the intention is to increase continuing/fixed-term Indigenous employment participation, but taking into account the size and nature of the TD School these targets are negotiable with the PVC (ILE)):
    • one (FTE) Indigenous academic level D/E
    • 3 (FTE) Indigenous academics at a range of levels
    • 3 (FTE) Indigenous professional staff.
  2. As a guide, the following expectations should be taken into consideration in pursuing the above targets:
    • annual incremental improvements should be achieved leading up to 2023
    • the majority of Indigenous staff should be in ongoing employment
    • as much as possible, a gender balance should be achieved (noting that a rare employment opportunity should not be impeded based on a broader gender imbalance)
    • faculties should seek to offer continuing/fixed-term fractional employment as academics to a number of Indigenous graduate research and other postgraduate students by way of the Indigenous Academic Development Program; and to a number of undergraduate students as cadets or trainees, over the period of the strategy, with a view to the maintenance of a pipeline of potential academic staff as well as professional staff
    • agility and flexibility are encouraged regarding some appointments.
  3. Given the highly competitive nature of Indigenous employment, deans are encouraged to make use of direct employment in relation to suitably qualified Indigenous people and should feel comfortable making appointments at levels that may not reflect present achievement, but take into consideration likely promotional trajectory (noting that this is already possible through the Recruitment and Appointment Policy).
  • Provost
  • Chief Operating Officer (COO)
  • Executive Director, People and Culture
  • PVC (ILE)
  • Deans

6.1.2 Divisional targets

All divisions are to achieve 3 per cent (FTE) continuing/fixed-term Indigenous employment.

  • University Leadership Team
  • Executive Director, People and Culture
  • PVC (ILE)

6.1.3 Indigenous employment programs

  1. Cadets: Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research will maximise employment opportunities for a number of Indigenous students as continuing/fixed-term cadets during their final year of undergraduate study or if enrolled in a UTS honours program. The purpose is to encourage students to consider further study and an academic or professional career at UTS.
  2. Indigenous Academic Development Program: Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research, in conjunction with UTS faculties and other academic units, will provide opportunities to maximise employment of Indigenous graduate research and other postgraduate students as continuing/fixed-term who wish to progress to employment as an academic at UTS.
  • Provost
  • Executive Director, People and Culture
  • PVC (ILE)

6.2 Create, maintain and support cross-UTS Indigenous leadership positions

(objectives 5.1 and 5.2)

Key success indicatorFormal accountability

6.2.1 Provision for Indigenous senior executive position

To ensure cross-UTS Indigenous leadership at the highest level is maintained and supported, provide for the employment of at least one Indigenous person at the level of Pro Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor or equivalent level.

  • Vice-Chancellor 

6.2.2 Associate dean (Indigenous leadership and engagement)

  1. Given the university’s Indigenous education and research ambitions, and to assist deans in achieving their Indigenous strategic responsibilities, all faculties are to appoint an associate dean (Indigenous leadership and engagement) by 2023. This will be a fractional role with appointment at senior staff levels as continuing/fixed-term.
  2. Those faculties able to do so should appoint as soon as possible.
  3. Appointments should be in line with the centrally created position description with incumbents having a direct reporting line to the dean and a secondary reporting line to the PVC (ILE).
  • Provost
  • Deans
  • PVC (ILE)

6.3 Engage in international recruitment of Indigenous Australians

(objectives 5.1 and 5.2)

Key success indicatorFormal accountability

6.3.1 Support of and recruitment of Indigenous scholars internationally

Work with Aurora Education Foundation (as per the UTS/Aurora memorandum of understanding (MOU)) to identify and, if appropriate, financially support Australian Indigenous postgraduate and graduate research students who have expressed a wish to work at UTS on graduation or at an agreed and reasonable time after graduation.

  • Provost
  • Deans
  • PVC (ILE) / Director JIIER

6.4 Ensure an employment environment that contributes to the wellbeing and retention of Indigenous staff

(objective 5.3)

Key success indicatorFormal accountability

6.4.1 Monitor the environment

  1. Ensure that the university has an environment that contributes to Indigenous recruitment and retention and the health and wellbeing of Indigenous staff in the workplace.
  2. Provide information to Indigenous staff on access to the university’s provisions for cultural leave and flexibility of work environments to meet cultural needs.
  • Provost
  • COO
  • PVC (ILE)
  • Executive Director, People and Culture

6.5 Foster Indigenous staff connection and community

(objective 5.3)

Key success indicatorFormal accountability

6.5.1 Indigenous staff network

Through the Indigenous staff network, create opportunities for staff to connect.

  • Provost
  • PVC (ILE)

6.5.2 Indigenous professoriate

Maximise opportunities for the Indigenous professoriate to stay connected, supported and supportive of the Indigenous Policy.

  • Provost
  • PVC (ILE)

6.6 Support Indigenous staff professional development and career advancement

(objective 5.3)

6.6.1 Indigenous Academic Professional Development Fund

  1. Fund academic development and career advancement opportunities.
  2. Support opportunities that align with UTS academic staff promotional criteria by encouraging use of the Indigenous Academic Professional Development Fund, overseen by the Manager, Indigenous Employment.
  • Provost
  • PVC (ILE)

6.6.2 Aurora development initiative

  1. Internally promote and jointly fund (as per the UTS/Aurora MoU) opportunities for overseas development for senior professional and academic staff.
  2. Provide information to senior Indigenous staff to apply for the Aurora executive bursary program.
  • Provost
  • PVC (ILE)

6.6.3 Professional staff development and career advancement

Faculties and divisions are to maximise opportunities for Indigenous professional staff to engage in internal and external professional development that will provide increased career advancement opportunities.

  • Senior executive
  • Deans
  • PVC (ILE)

6.7 Increase non-Indigenous staff capability across UTS

(objective 5.4)

6.7.1 Online induction

Engage UTS staff with an online induction that sets out the UTS Indigenous commitment and introduces some of the priorities, key people and units within UTS.

  • Provost
  • COO
  • PVC (ILE)
  • Executive Director, People and Culture

6.7.2 Senior leadership group

100% senior leadership group engagement within a range of Indigenous capability building experiences.

  • Provost
  • COO
  • PVC (ILE)
  • Executive Director, People and Culture

6.7.3 Additional voluntary experiences

Identify and promote additional voluntary Indigenous capability development experiences for staff across UTS.

  • Provost
  • PVC (ILE)

6.8 Maximise indirect Indigenous staff employment

(objective 5.5)

6.8.1 Capital works employment

Maximise employment opportunities for Indigenous people in UTS’s capital works plan through contractual requirements.

  • Provost
  • COO

6.9 Ensure data accuracy

(objectives 5.1–5.4)

6.9.1 Systems and procedures

  1. Ensure UTS has the systems and procedures in place to achieve data accuracy in Indigenous employment.
  2. Ensure UTS has the systems and procedures in place to achieve data accuracy to develop Indigenous competency among UTS staff.
  • Provost
  • COO
  • PVC (ILE)
  • Executive Director, People and Culture
  • Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students)

6.10 Faculty Indigenous staff employment planning

(objectives 5.1–5.5)

6.10.1 Faculty Indigenous employment plans

All faculties are to develop multi-year action plans, setting out how the above Indigenous employment aims will be achieved. These are to be developed in consultation with the PVC (ILE) and the Manager, Indigenous Employment.

  • Provost
  • Deans
  • PVC (ILE)

7. Strategy owner and contact

7.1 Strategy owner: The Provost is responsible for managing compliance with the strategy.

7.2 Strategy contact: The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Leadership and Engagement) (PVC (ILE)) is the primary point of contact for advice on implementing, administering and reporting on progression of the strategy.

7.3 Implementation and governance roles

UTS Council sets the annual university-wide key performance indicator (KPI) targets for Indigenous employment. Each faculty and division is required to set annual targets and report on progress within their local action and performance plans. Faculties must also report annually to the Vice-Chancellor’s Indigenous Strategies Committee on implementation of the objectives in the Indigenous Policy (including Indigenous employment).

The Manager, Indigenous Employment is responsible for the day-to-day operational requirements of this strategy on behalf of the PVC (ILE). The Manager, Indigenous Employment is also responsible for preparing an annual report to the Wingara Indigenous Employment Committee on progression of the strategy’s objectives, initiatives and key success indicators.

The Social Justice and Inclusion Committee (a committee of the Vice-Chancellor) reviews the university’s social justice performance against current objectives in light of the data reported in the relevant university and statutory reporting requirements.

The Wingara Indigenous Employment Committee is responsible for overseeing the implementation and progression of this strategy in accordance with the Indigenous Policy. In line with the policy, the committee reports regularly to the Vice-Chancellor’s Indigenous Strategies Committee.

8. Definitions

The following definitions apply for this strategy. These are in addition to the definitions outlined in Schedule 1, Student Rules.

Cadet means an Indigenous undergraduate student in their final year of a bachelor degree, or entering into an honours program, and selected on the basis of their potential to progress into graduate studies at honours level or as a graduate research candidate. The cadet will work up to a 0.4 FTE (2 days a week) on a professional or academic contract and will mentor and tutor other undergraduate degree Indigenous students as well as take on a research activity within Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research or in another UTS unit/department/faculty, as relevant to their area of study.

Faculty academic leader means an Indigenous staff appointment at level D (associate professor) or level E (professor). The appointment is to specifically progress Indigenous Knowledges and perspectives within faculties and to provide leadership in Indigenous teaching, learning, research and engagement. These academic leadership positions can be titled as associate dean (Indigenous leadership and engagement), director, deputy director or industry director (and not limited to these titles only).

Formal accountability is defined in the Indigenous Education and Research Strategy 2025-2030.

Indigenous Academic Development Program is the program through which an Indigenous graduate research or postgraduate student is employed as an academic at UTS.

The student is selected on the basis of their suitability to progress into a career as an academic member of staff. Ideally, a graduate research student will need to have passed ‘Stage 1 Milestone — Confirmation of Candidature’ to be eligible for appointment. The student will work as an academic to a 0.4 FTE (2 days a week) academic contract for the duration of their PhD or masters by research or postgraduate coursework. The student will be employed as an academic in a faculty or other academic unit or the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research and will have the opportunity to teach and/or undertake research, depending on the faculty’s requirements and/or the research student’s professional and discipline interests, where relevant; and to mentor other Indigenous students.

Trainee means an existing or prospective Indigenous vocational education student, selected on the basis of their potential to progress into a professional position at UTS. The trainee will work in a 0.8 FTE (4 days a week) role suited to their experience and area of study. The trainee will be employed with the ultimate aim of progressing into a mainstream position at the conclusion of the traineeship.