Pathways to Employment

Project Overview

The Pathways project concluded in June 2016. The research used a case study approach to explore pathways between learning and livelihoods for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people in remote Australia, looking at three settings:

• Community settings: a growth town and a non-growth town

• Institutional settings, training institutions
• Industry settings: industry and employer related settings

It aimed to provide a useful knowledge base for improving remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander vocational education, training and employment, and/or enterprise development outcomes.

The project found that current pathway-to-employment initiatives fail to recognise the motivations and aspirations of local Aboriginal peoples; they see local strengths and assets as barriers to be overcome or, alternatively, fail to recognise them at all. It does not matter how well service providers collaborate or how well training is linked to jobs; local resident buy‑in is paramount to improve employment outcomes in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Learning and work which appear to support economic engagement and employment retention include experiences that are voluntary and negotiated; that extend rather than discount or fight identity; that are legitimate activities from a local perspective; and that bring social benefit or are community/family-oriented.

The project achieved excellent engagement, working with members of seven communities (see map). Research results were disseminated widely, with the project publishing a number of journal papers, presenting at conferences and creating other end-user publications.

For more information, contact:

Dr Eva McRae-Williams
Principal Research Leader
E: eva.mcrae-williams@batchelor.edu.au
M: +61 400 759 153