Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students

Learn how to engage with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student community as an employer.

The value of a diverse workplace

Diversity in the workplace means you employ people from a wide range of backgrounds.

Equal employment opportunity means that you treat all your employees equally, regardless of things like race, gender, age or religion. You must give people opportunities based purely on how well they do their jobs.

A diverse workforce enhances your business with different views, experience and knowledge. It helps promote:

better business performance
higher productivity
more creative thinking
improved staff health and wellbeing
lower risk of workplace discrimination and harassment.

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How to be a culturally competent employer

Being a culturally competent employer for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students means creating a workplace that acknowledges, respects, and supports Indigenous cultures, histories, and perspectives. It goes beyond diversity and inclusion by actively fostering an environment where employees feel valued, understood, and empowered.

You can explore various resources to deepen your understanding and cultural awareness:

Improve your cultural awareness with one of the courses offered by the National Centre of Cultural Competence.
Fair Work provides information and resources for employing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Become a member with Diversity Council Australia and learn more about how to advance genuine inclusion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in your workplace.
Take meaningful action and develop a Reconciliation Action Plan for your business in partnership with Reconciliation Australia.
Understand and include a Welcome to Country or Acknowledgement of Country in your workplace.

How to recruit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students

At the University of Sydney, the easiest way to engage with our diverse student community is to advertise on our job platform, Sydney CareerHub, free of charge.

Targeted recruitment strategies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people may include:

reserving certain positions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants
guaranteed interview schemes
work placements, traineeships, or mentoring programs
engaging an Indigenous recruitment service to hire trainees and graduates and fill other roles

For further information, read the Australian Human Rights Commission - Targeted recruitment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people guide for employers.

Further information & resources

Read the United Nations declarations on the rights of Indigenous peoples.

Explore the Map of Indigenous Australia to learn about the country's diverse nations, languages, and cultures.

Learn about Indigenous languages by researching their history, significance, and current revitalisation efforts.

Download the Wiradjuri Language App to engage with and support the preservation of the Wiradjuri language.