Indigenous programs and partnerships

Video transcript

00:53: After joining TMR it is fantastic to see the initiative for inclusion of Indigenous
00:59: Australians like myself. It is clear that TMR have made huge steps in the
01:04: right direction over the past 10 years with programs such as the education
01:09: towards employment scholarship, the 2018 indigenous trainee program which was
01:17: initiated by RoadTek and the formation of the IEN the Indigenous Employee
01:23: Network. It was apparent that there's a lot of passion pride and ambition and
01:29: within the IEN from a recent meeting that I attended my first meeting from a
01:36: group of people who share a common goal, and this common goal is the inclusion
01:41: and diversity of indigenous people within TMR and the wider community.
01:47: The department has done some really fantastic stuff in the indigenous side
01:50: and in indigenous communities I have been a part of and still am part of
01:56: the indigenous employee networking I've also been a indigenous mentor and
02:02: through that program I have met some fantastic people who have inspired me to
02:06: want to grow better I because I worked in the customer service and I have a
02:10: very community focused or people focused personality in doing this I have
02:15: helped the team mature and understand I guess my culture and I've done this by
02:20: bringing the elders into the Sherwood Customer Service Centre to meet them all
02:24: to understand how we all work we do at Sherwood. We do the indigenous
02:30: licensing program, we work with the Inala elders so it was a fantastic opportunity
02:35: to bring in some of those community members who explain to the team how things work
02:40: out in their community and it was such an eye-opener and got some fantastic feedback
02:44: from the elders and also from the team here at Sherwood. I also
02:49: help when your written test come in so if anyone comes in from the indigenous
02:55: community come in what I will do is I'll sit with them and actually stick with
02:58: them go through the test with them if they're not able to do it out with Inala
03:02: elders or one of our indigenous licensing program. I'm really
03:06: looking forward to where TMR will go next within the next ten years they've
03:11: got some fantastic things and I think the Indigenous Employee Network is going
03:16: to be a big part of that. Significant dates throughout the years that I've
03:21: been working in TMR I often get phone calls or emails from staff just
03:27: wanting to know a little bit more about particular significant dates when it
03:33: comes to indigenous calendar, people wanting to know a little bit more about
03:37: sorry day or the apology or Mabo or NAIDOC or reconciliation week so what I did
03:47: was design was a significant dates information sheet that sits in our
03:53: webpage called Murri Yumi and you can find that on the internet on our
04:00: intranet and yeah basically just allow stuff to go in there have a look and see
04:07: when the dates are see what the actual promotion or celebration awareness is
04:12: about. Hello my name is Barry Lea, a proud South Sea Islander aboriginal man from the
04:18: Undumbi and Butchulla people of South East Queensland. TMR's record regarding
04:23: reconciliation has been a long developing process which continues to
04:26: evolve through the hard work and collaborative sharing of ideas being
04:30: actioned into policies and procedures. This is achieved by people both within the
04:35: department, from outside stakeholders and community members coming together for a
04:40: common goal. A major part of this common goal is employment opportunities
04:44: for indigenous people both within TMR and increased general employment
04:49: opportunities through services TMR develop
04:52: and deliver. Now one of the key services provided by TMR in achieving
04:57: reconciliation is through the unit where I'm employed with the Indigenous Driver
05:01: Licensing Unit. Since its inception in 2006 the IDLU or Indigenous Driver
05:07: Licensing Unit has visited some 26 communities, remote communities numerous
05:12: times providing opportunities for our people to attain their licenses. Now
05:18: whether it be learner licenses right through to heavy vehicles, we provide
05:21: advice and assistance which includes license renewals and upgrades so our
05:26: people can maintain the current license. Another important provision that we do
05:32: while we're out in the communities is about proof of age cards which is
05:35: integral for the individuals that need to travel both to and from their
05:39: communities. Having said all of that we all know reconciliation is an ongoing
05:45: ever-changing process but if all parties indigenous, non-indigenous within the
05:51: department and external from all races and socioeconomic backgrounds I believe
05:55: we can achieve the desired result through reconciliation for all. We've
05:59: joined the charge you're more than welcome to come and join us. Join with us.