Bourke & District Children’s Services Indigenous Employment Strategy (IES)
Client:
Bourke and District Children’s Services
Year Completed:
Strategy developed 2024; funding secured 2024
Location:
Bourke, NSW
Services/engagement type:
Community consultation and strategic document development
Brief Overview
Bourke and District Children’s Services (BDCS) engaged us to develop an Indigenous Employment Strategy to create stronger pathways for Aboriginal employment, training, and career progression. With a high proportion of Aboriginal children accessing BDCS services, but fewer Aboriginal staff employed, the strategy aimed to align the workforce more closely with community needs while strengthening service delivery and organisational sustainability.
Challenge / Context
BDCS faced critical workforce challenges, with almost one-third of roles vacant. This threatened its ability to deliver childcare and programs such as Connected Beginnings. Despite around 60% of enrolled children being Aboriginal, less than half of BDCS staff identified as Aboriginal. The gap underscored the need for a culturally appropriate employment strategy to ensure services reflected and were responsive to the community they serve.
The challenge was not just recruitment. It required building trust with families, addressing barriers to training and career progression, and ensuring that Aboriginal voices were central to shaping the solutions. The strategy needed to balance practical workforce needs with cultural priorities and national policy objectives around Closing the Gap.
Our Approach
We worked closely with BDCS, Bourke First Nations groups, and local stakeholders to co-design the strategy. Our process combined extensive consultation with a clear governance framework, ensuring the community guided every stage. The strategy focused on:
Establishing sustainable employment pathways into childcare careers.
Supporting job readiness, mentoring, and training tailored to local needs.
Embedding cultural safety and community priorities into recruitment and retention.
Aligning BDCS workforce objectives with national Closing the Gap employment targets.
BDCS successfully secured $1.95m in funding from the National Indigenous Australians Agency to implement the strategy.
Established a dedicated coordinator, Aboriginal mentors, and tailored support programs for staff.
Created a sustainable pathway model that strengthens the childcare workforce, improves service delivery, and reflects the community it serves.
Demonstrated our capability in co-designing community-led strategies that attract major funding and deliver measurable employment outcomes.
Outcomes
✓ $1.95 million secured
✓ New Aboriginal employment pathways
✓ Strengthened workforce
*Cover photo courtesy of BDSC