Flinders University is playing a leading role in the employment of Indigenous people, according to the Minister for Employment Participation, Mr Brendan O’Connor [pictured left with Mr Stephen Gonda, Indigenous Employment Coordinator, Flinders University].

Visiting the University in late November, the Minister said Flinders Yunggorendi First Nations Centre for Higher Education and Research had been the first higher education institution in Australia to become a Corporate Leader for Indigenous Employment Projects.

Mr O’Connor met with participants of a Structured Training and Employment Project (STEP) to which the Federal Government had provided $152, 250 in funding.

Of the 19 participants in the STEP program, 13 have successfully been employed with the University in highly skilled positions including lecturers, research associates and academic advisors.

“Flinders University has been a leader in many fields for many years and is now emerging as a leading university in employing Indigenous people in highly skilled jobs,” Mr O’Connor said.

“It has developed an employment strategy for Indigenous Australians which has significantly improved the recruitment, participation and retention of Indigenous people at the University,” he said.