❓ Analysis of Aboriginal employment in the WA public sector, revealing target shortfalls and ongoing strategies. Regional representation varies, with new targets pending.
AnsweredQoN 6003Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the WA State Government target of 3.2% of Aboriginal people represented in public employment to be achieved by 2019, and I ask: (a) Has this target been met across the public sector in Western Australia, including regional areas; (b) In the last three years, what has been the percentage of Aboriginal people employed in the public sector in each of the nine regions in Western Australia; (c) What are the Public Sector levels of these Aboriginal people employed in regional WA; (d) What strategies are in place to lift these levels; (e) What is the new target for 2020 and beyond; and (f) Can the Minister outline progress towards the regional growth targets set for government agency employment of Aboriginal people on a regional basis, reflecting the higher proportion of Aboriginal people in many of those regions?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 April 2020
Responded by
Minister for Public Sector Management
Response time
9 days
Public Sector Commission
(a) Representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in public employment is published in the Director of Equal Opportunity in Public Employment annual report. As at March 2019, representation was 2.7% for the public sector. In regional WA (excluding Perth metropolitan), representation was 5.9%. Note: Representation is based on valid responses to diversity questionnaires.
(b) The following table shows the representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people employed in the public sector by region:
Region
March 2017 (%)
March 2018 (%)
March 2019 (%)
Gascoyne
8.4
7.6
10.0
Goldfields Esperance
5.9
7.0
7.0
Great Southern
4.2
4.0
4.2
Kimberley
18.0
18.6
18.8
Mid West
8.0
8.1
7.6
Peel
2.1
2.0
1.9
Pilbara
9.7
9.4
8.9
South West
2.0
2.0
2.1
Wheatbelt
3.5
3.5
3.1
(c) As at March 2019, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were employed at all levels (PSGOGA equivalent Level 1 to Class 1 and above) in regional WA. The following table provides a breakdown:
Level 1 and below
772
Level 2
240
Level 3
154
Level 4
147
Level 5
104
Level 6
130
Level 7
19
Level 8
7
Level 9
7
Class 1 and above
1
Total
1,581
(d) In 2016, Attract, appoint and advance: An employment strategy for Aboriginal people , was launched. This was a three-year strategy. A Workforce Diversification and Inclusion Strategy 2020-2025 for WA Public Sector Employment is in development along with an action plan on employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The plan includes actions for the Public Sector Commission and public sector agencies to improve employment rates and outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the public sector, including in the regions.
(e) A new target has not yet been agreed on.
(f) The target of 3.2% was set in Attract, appoint and advance: An employment strategy for Aboriginal people . The target was for public employment in both metropolitan and regional WA. No regional growth targets were set as a part of this strategy.
(a) Representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in public employment is published in the Director of Equal Opportunity in Public Employment annual report. As at March 2019, representation was 2.7% for the public sector. In regional WA (excluding Perth metropolitan), representation was 5.9%. Note: Representation is based on valid responses to diversity questionnaires.
(b) The following table shows the representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people employed in the public sector by region:
Region
March 2017 (%)
March 2018 (%)
March 2019 (%)
Gascoyne
8.4
7.6
10.0
Goldfields Esperance
5.9
7.0
7.0
Great Southern
4.2
4.0
4.2
Kimberley
18.0
18.6
18.8
Mid West
8.0
8.1
7.6
Peel
2.1
2.0
1.9
Pilbara
9.7
9.4
8.9
South West
2.0
2.0
2.1
Wheatbelt
3.5
3.5
3.1
(c) As at March 2019, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were employed at all levels (PSGOGA equivalent Level 1 to Class 1 and above) in regional WA. The following table provides a breakdown:
Level 1 and below
772
Level 2
240
Level 3
154
Level 4
147
Level 5
104
Level 6
130
Level 7
19
Level 8
7
Level 9
7
Class 1 and above
1
Total
1,581
(d) In 2016, Attract, appoint and advance: An employment strategy for Aboriginal people , was launched. This was a three-year strategy. A Workforce Diversification and Inclusion Strategy 2020-2025 for WA Public Sector Employment is in development along with an action plan on employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The plan includes actions for the Public Sector Commission and public sector agencies to improve employment rates and outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the public sector, including in the regions.
(e) A new target has not yet been agreed on.
(f) The target of 3.2% was set in Attract, appoint and advance: An employment strategy for Aboriginal people . The target was for public employment in both metropolitan and regional WA. No regional growth targets were set as a part of this strategy.
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