Abstract
This chapter works towards recognising Indigenous employees as part of the Australian rail workforce and bringing attention to the skills and knowledge Indigenous Australians continue to contribute to the Australian rail industry. It draws on findings from interviews with rail industry employees and employers in corporate, operational and infrastructure roles in small, medium and large sized rail organisations across Australia. These interviews were carried out as part of a project on skills recognition in the rail industry funded by the Cooperative Research Centre for Rail Innovation. The chapter analyses how predominantly non-Indigenous employees and employers in the rail industry perceive equity and Indigenous capability, and the implications of such perceptions for recognising the skills and knowledge of Indigenous employees. It identifies a number of ‘problems’ with recognising the skills and knowledge of Indigenous employees. The analysis is informed by a historical examination of the views and actions of non-Indigenous ‘settlers’ towards Indigenous Australians, and consideration of how learning from history can assist us with understanding more equitable approaches to engagement among Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians today.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Ahmed, S. (2007). The language of diversity. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 30(2), 235–256.
Ahmed, S., Hunter, S., et al. (2006). Race, diversity and leadership in the learning and skills sector: final report. Lancaster: Centre for Excellence in Leadership, Lancaster University.
Alvesson, M., & Karreman, D. (2011). Decolonializing discourse: critical reflections on organizational discourse analysis. Human Relations, 64(9), 1121–1146.
Boyle, A., & Wallace, R. (2011). Indigenous people and e-nabling technologies: an analysis of recent experiences in northern and central Australia. Kulumun, 1(1), 1–14.
Bunda, T., Zipin, L., & Brennan, M. (2012). Negotiating university ‘equity’ from Indigenous standpoints: a shaky bridge. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 16(9), 941–957.
Constable, J., Wagner, R., et al. (2004). Doctors become taxidrivers: recognising skills—not as easy as it sounds. Sydney: Office of Employment, Equity and Diversity.
Dyson, C., & Keating, J. (2005). Skills, knowledge and employability: recognition of prior learning policy and practice for skills learned at work. Geneva: International Labour Organisation.
Eagles, D., Woodward, P., & Pope, M. (2005). Indigenous learners in the digital age: recognising skills and knowledge. Paper presented at 8th Annual AVETRA Conference, Brisbane, 13–15 April.
Kemmis, S., Atkinson, M., et al. (2004). Partners in a learning culture: blueprint for implementation. Mid-term review: final report. Brisbane: ANTA.
Light, R., Roscigno, V. J., & Kalev, A. (2011). Race discrimination, interpretation and legitimation at work. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 634(1), 39–59.
Lui-Chivizhe, L. (2011). Making history: Torres Strait Islander railway workers and the 1968 MtNewman track-laying record. Aboriginal History, 35, 37–55.
McGinness, J. (1966). Aborigines in northern development—An aboriginal view. In I.G. Sharp & C.M. Tatz (Eds), Aborigines in the economy (pp 273–278). Melbourne: Jacaranda Press.
Maher, K. (2012a). ‘If you want to do this job, you do it the same as them’: recognition of the skills and knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and culturally diverse workers in the Australian rail industry. In: Proceedings of the Australian Vocational Education and Training Research Association (AVETRA) 15th Annual Conference, Canberra, 11–13 April 2012.
Maher, K. (2012b). We were all involved with the line. Paper presented at the Australian Historical Association 31st Annual Conference, Adelaide, 9–13 July 2012.
Maher, K., Morrison, A., & Davies, L. (2011). Current and emerging issues in skills recognition as relevant to the Australian rail industry: literature review. Brisbane: CRC for Rail Innovation.
Maughan, C. (2009). Indigenous employment in the Australian rail industry’, Australasian Railway Association and Business Group Australia, Australian Capital Territory.
Morrison, A., Davies, L., et al. (2012). Skills recognition in the Australian rail industry: opportunities and challenges. In: Proceedings of the Australian Vocational Education and Training Research Association (AVETRA) 15th Annual Conference, Canberra, 11–13 April 2012.
Norris R. (2006). The more things change… continuity in Australian Indigenous employment disadvantage, 1788–1967. PhD thesis, Griffith University, Brisbane.
Norris, R. (2008). Using history as an evaluation tool. Paper presented to the Australian Evaluation Society Seminar, Brisbane, 21 February 2008.
Norris, R. (2010). The more things change: The rigins and impact of Australian indigenous economic exclusion. Brisbane: PostPressed.
Prasad, P. (1997). The protestant ethic and the myths of the frontier: cultural imprints, organisational structuring, and workplace diversity. In P. Prasad, A. Mills, M. Elmes & A. Prasad (Eds), Managing the organisational melting pot: dilemmas of workplace diversity (pp 129–148). Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Rizvi, F., & Lingard, B. (2011). Social equity and the assemblage of values in Australian higher education. Cambridge Journal of Education, 41(1), 5–22.
Smith, E. (2010). A review of twenty years of competency-based training in the Australian vocational education and training system. International Journal of Training and Development, 14, 54–64.
Stinchcombe, A. L. (1965). Social structure and organizations. In J.G. March (Ed.), Handbook of organizations (pp. 142–193). Chicago: Rand McNally.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Maher, K. (2014). Recognition of the Skills and Knowledge of Indigenous Employees. In: Harris, R., Short, T. (eds) Workforce Development. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-4560-58-0_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-4560-58-0_6
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-4560-57-3
Online ISBN: 978-981-4560-58-0
eBook Packages: Business and EconomicsBusiness and Management (R0)