Indigenous
Employment
Queensland Tourism Industry
Council
2015
What is the opportunity to drive
massive change in the tourism
industry?

Positive versus Negative Discourse
Great Thinkers

Indigenous X host Scott
Gorringe is changing the
way we talk about
Indigenous Australia, from
a way of talking that sees
Aboriginal culture as a
problem to one that
recognises the strength of
traditional ways
©Platypus Wealth Institute
Negative Discourse
Everyone buys into it
 Expectations are formed as a result
 It is the paradigm we work within and are
often unconscious of the beliefs it contains


The punishment modality
What are Beliefs

Beliefs are thoughts
repeated over and
over again until they
become real or the
truth to the person
thinking them

They include the
assumptions we hold
which shape the way
we view the world
©Platypus Wealth Institute
BELIEF BODY – CULTURAL
Source: Indigenous Diploma Students
Can’t trust white people
Can’t trust other mobs/clans
Can’t trust own family members
Don’t trust yella fella’s
Wait for us to fail
Cultural needs are more important
than work needs
I didn’t get it because I’m black
Government wait for us to fail
You are not good enough
We cut each other down
Outcast amongst outcasts
I give up
Positive
Discourse
Indigenous Australia
Dreamtime to 1788 – rulers of a continent
 60,000 + years of success
 Survivors of the Ice Age
 Masters of Many Environments

Colonisation – present – losers of a
continent
 230 years of oppression, struggle

©Platypus Wealth Institute
Vision and Beliefs

What are the beliefs behind the Vision for
Indigenous Australia

What are the beliefs behind the policies of
government?

What are the beliefs behind policies of
Indigenous Organisations?

What are the beliefs behind the Tourism Industry
What’s causing people to fall into the river?
©Platypus Wealth Institute
What are the Solutions
Responses from the Tourism Industry
 Indigenous Employment Champions
 Stick around, long term investment, inspirational
initiatives such as the Indigenous Employee Initiative
Responses by Government
 Want to stick around, short term investment
constraints, need input of ideas
by Community
 Need meaningful information, must be good news
stories
Micro
Strategies
Principles of Operation (excerpt)
• We seek to be an active partner in lifting the
spirit, image, perceptions, profile, self beliefs
and successes of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people in Australia
• We focus on and appreciate the best aspects of
every individual
• We believe all individuals are fantastic
• We believe all individuals are worthy of having a
fantastic life
• We believe all people are capable of creating a
fantastic life for themselves
• We expect people to make mistakes and we
expect people to make progress
Macro
Strategies
1. Vision
2. 'Indigifying' Tourism Experience
3. Working with Wisdom (Tribal Elders)
4. Entry point 'welcome'
5. Indigenous themed entry/exit signage
6. Traditional 'story telling'
7. Indigenous presence in VIC's
8. Indigenous 'Care for Country'
9. Shop window displays
10. Creation of a minimum of 20 Indigenous businesses