Institute of Public Administration Australia – Victoria (IPAA) engaged PwC to undertake a research project examining the links between professional development and career advancement for Indigenous people in the Victorian public sector. The purpose of the project was to generate recommendations for IPAA Victoria and its member organisations aimed at increasing Indigenous employment and career advancement in the sector.
To produce the report, PwC undertook a brief literature review, including review of cross-jurisdictional sources. As expected, there was not a deal of literature targeted at answering the above questions. PwC then conducted a survey of Victorian Indigenous public sector employees, receiving 107 responses, which represents approximately 10% of Indigenous Victorian public sector employees. The survey was followed up consultation with approximately 37 Indigenous public servants across the junior and senior levels.
This study found that many Indigenous public sector employees held a differing perception of what ‘career advancement’ means, focussing on working in another area of government rather than progressing up the public sector ladder. Many Indigenous public sector employees perceive their skill set has been ‘pigeon holed’ into identified Indigenous program and policy positions. Many saw that without the attainment of a formal tertiary qualification supported by their employer, it would be difficult to secure a position outside of an Indigenous ‘identified’ or ‘specified’ program/policy area.
