Aboriginal jobs and development on the menu at VIC's premier reconciliation event

MA Media Release, 24 May 2011
More than 250 of Victoria's business and Aboriginal leaders will meet to consider ways to tackle Aboriginal disadvantage and enhance reconciliation at the Taste of Reconciliation event on May 25th.

Mr Roberts, who is Chair of the Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council, a group which provides purchasing links between corporate Australia, government agencies and indigenous-owned businesses, will advise how businesses can get involved in reconciliation.

Mission Australia Victorian State Director Paul Bird said Taste of Reconciliation, the state's premier celebratory reconciliation event, primarily provides corporate and indigenous Victoria an opportunity to come together to talk about practical ways to overcome Aboriginal disadvantage

"Victoria's businesses can play a hugely significant role in furthering reconciliation by promoting job growth, skills development and boosting individual self-confidence," said Mr Bird.

"Purchasing, where possible, products and services from Aboriginal suppliers, providing opportunities for Aboriginal trainees and apprentices and hiring Aboriginal employees are all ways in which corporate Australia can make a real difference," he said.

According to Mr Bird, while the Victorian Government has made progress through its funding of Reconciliation Victoria, the Indigenous Honour Roll initiative and supporting leadership and mentoring programs for Aboriginal youth, more can be done by government, business and community service organisations to renew their commitment to reconciliation.

"That's what Taste of Reconciliation is about - assisting in that renewal by providing an event where business leaders and the Aboriginal community can meet to discuss ways forward," said Mr Bird.

And leading by example, Mission Australia, through its own Reconciliation Action Plan, exceeded its goal for increasing the number of employees who identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander with 120 staff members, almost five per cent of their total workforce, coming from these backgrounds.

Taste of Reconciliation - Wednesday, 25 May 2011

• Time: 6.30pm to 10pm
• Place: Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, 25 Collins Street, Melbourne
• For more information, visit www.tasteofreconciliation.org