Message from Chris Taylor, Media Advisor | NSW Business Chamber regarding media release from First People HR
NEW INDIGENOUS FIRM SEEKS TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES TO ABORIGINAL EMPLOYMENT
Linking Indigenous Australians with real and meaningful jobs in the private sector is the key to reducing Aboriginal disadvantage, according to the CEO of Australia’s newest Indigenous HR services firm.
The new firm, First People HR, is majority Indigenous owned, and is backed by the peak employer group, NSW Business Chamber. The firm’s leadership includes former Chandler Macleod Group co-founder Kevin Chandler, and former Chandler Macleod Group Managing Director, Stephen Cartwright, who is now the CEO of NSW Business Chamber.
Paul Knight, the CEO of First People HR, who is a recognised national leader in Indigenous employment, said the new HR firm would focus solely on matching Indigenous people with employers that are seeking to employ Indigenous people.
“The best path to opportunity, equality and respect is through a real job”, said Paul Knight, CEO of First People HR.
“We are not a social service, and we do not rely on government funding. We are a fully-fledged private sector business with shareholder responsibilities – but we do believe there is an incredible social good that will be created through our innovative services.
“The primary service we offer involves initially placing Aboriginal workers with host employers via an on-hired staffing arrangement.
“Our on-hired staffing arrangement means that for at least 26 weeks, the Aboriginal worker is employed by First People HR, so if the employment arrangement is not working, then we will manage the transition of the worker to their next assignment. However, if the match does work, then after 26 weeks the worker can become a direct employee of the host client.
“With each successful placement, the path to opportunity, self-sufficiency and respect for Aboriginal Australians is strengthened.
“Beyond simply being an on-hired staffing service provider that takes on the business risk of hiring an Aboriginal employee, we are a business that believes the sum of the benefits from placing Aboriginals in jobs, strengthening our communities and completing a successful placement infinitely outweighs any perceived risk.
“Our service provides employers with access to a labour pool that they might not feel confident to navigate alone. At the same time, as a firm that is grounded in the Aboriginal community, we also understand what support is needed to successfully place Aboriginal employees in the best role.
Mr Knight said he welcomed the partnership with the NSW Business Chamber in this new venture, as it is one of the country’s largest and most respected business groups. He also welcomed the considerable recruitment industry experience brought to the venture by Kevin Chandler and Stephen Cartwright.
“Kevin and Stephen are respected leaders in the HR and business fields. Their commitment to First People HR represents a tremendous vote of confidence in the First People HR business model.
Mr Knight said that the emergence of First People HR is building on the good work done by business and community leaders in recent years in identifying employment as the means to break the back of welfare, social inequality and disadvantage.
“First People HR is keen to be part of a real tipping point in terms of building the skills and employability of Aboriginal Australians, which in turn will assist in the creation of new respect, opportunities and wealth for Australia’s first people”.
For more information contact Paul Ritchie on 0416 077 976
