The CIS held a thought provoking round table this week on whether the corporate sector needs to lift its game when it comes to supporting Indigenous people.
Arguably, the corporate sector is already doing a lot to support Indigenous Australians. The Business Council of Australia’s latest Indigenous Engagement Survey found that collectively its members have spent more than $1.7 billion on Indigenous enterprises and joint ventures.
Businesses (and organisations) with Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) have also provided $100.4 million in pro-bono support to Indigenous organisations, $77.7 million for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education scholarships and $32.6 million in goods and services from Supply Nation certified businesses.
However, while RAPs have been a useful vehicle for forming relationships between the corporate sector and Indigenous communities, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of many of the activities in these RAPs.
Most corporate RAP reports focus on listing the number of activities they have engaged in; and any outcomes reported are often restricted to the impact on their staff’s cultural awareness and the number of Indigenous people their organisation hires.
This is not to downplay all the good things that have occurred as a result of RAPs. Building relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians is an important and necessary first step in improving Indigenous social and economic outcomes — and it is heartening to see growing numbers of Indigenous people employed in the corporate sector as a result of employment training programs.
However, the tendency for some programs to continue receiving funding without any evidence of outcomes undermines the whole process and causes people to question the value of continuing to provide support.
While it is wrong to treat the corporate sector as some sort of de-facto government department responsible for improving Indigenous outcomes, if they are funding an education or employment training program, then surely they want to see results from this support?
Showcasing the benefits flowing from corporate funding will help to increase public confidence that the corporate sector’s generosity is worthwhile and progress in improving Indigenous outcomes is possible.
Home > Commentary > Opinion > Reconciliation at risk without evidence of outcomes
Reconciliation at risk without evidence of outcomes
Arguably, the corporate sector is already doing a lot to support Indigenous Australians. The Business Council of Australia’s latest Indigenous Engagement Survey found that collectively its members have spent more than $1.7 billion on Indigenous enterprises and joint ventures.
Businesses (and organisations) with Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) have also provided $100.4 million in pro-bono support to Indigenous organisations, $77.7 million for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education scholarships and $32.6 million in goods and services from Supply Nation certified businesses.
However, while RAPs have been a useful vehicle for forming relationships between the corporate sector and Indigenous communities, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of many of the activities in these RAPs.
Most corporate RAP reports focus on listing the number of activities they have engaged in; and any outcomes reported are often restricted to the impact on their staff’s cultural awareness and the number of Indigenous people their organisation hires.
This is not to downplay all the good things that have occurred as a result of RAPs. Building relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians is an important and necessary first step in improving Indigenous social and economic outcomes — and it is heartening to see growing numbers of Indigenous people employed in the corporate sector as a result of employment training programs.
However, the tendency for some programs to continue receiving funding without any evidence of outcomes undermines the whole process and causes people to question the value of continuing to provide support.
While it is wrong to treat the corporate sector as some sort of de-facto government department responsible for improving Indigenous outcomes, if they are funding an education or employment training program, then surely they want to see results from this support?
Showcasing the benefits flowing from corporate funding will help to increase public confidence that the corporate sector’s generosity is worthwhile and progress in improving Indigenous outcomes is possible.
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