This week’s NAIDOC week is an important opportunity for employers to celebrate First Nations team members, and to reinvigorate their commitments to supporting their families. 

 

The 2024 theme is Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud, aiming to celebrate and recognise the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

 

As the National NAIDOC Committee explains, the theme “honors the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture – with fire a symbol of connection to Country, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”

 

Co-Chair, Aunty Lynette (Dr) Riley describes the theme as “a clarion call to continued unity and solidarity for all Australians to come together and celebrate.”

 

The clarion call includes employers who are encouraged to accept this invitation for celebrating the culture of First Nations people, including their families. 

 

This year’s survey of 6,200 parents and carers for the National Working Families Report highlights the need for an intersectional lens to understand some of the additional challenges that some parents and carers may face, including those who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, who made up just under three per cent of those who participated. 

 

Almost two thirds of this cohort of respondents (64 per cent) indicated they feel stressed when balancing work and family commitments, while most reported difficulties balancing care and work commitments.  

 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander respondents said they were more likely to report difficulties in needing to take time off for sick children or family members (at 53% compared with 40% of the total survey sample). This group also highlighted challenges in taking family calls and emails during the days (44 per cent compared with 31 per cent) and concerns about attending a school event (48 per cent compared with 43 per cent). 

 

This data, when considered alongside some of the free text responses collected, indicated that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and carers might be less willing to seek support from an employer in managing the stressors they face, out of fear of stereotyping or discrimination. 

 

As one respondent said, “I haven’t disclosed much to work about the constraints and was isolated during covid. As a single Indigenous mother and worker, I felt it would be better perceived to not disclose much info or share with colleagues in case it would affect any job opportunities.”

 

This is heartbreaking to hear. 

 

If employers want to celebrate the traditions and families of their First Nations team members, they need to ensure they support their ability to manage responsibilities, and that such team members feel proud and empowered to talk about their families and commitments, including the challenges that come with it. 

 

Through Family Friendly Workplaces, we see a number of partnerships with Indigenous-led organisations that aim to support this solidarity, and we hope to see many more. 

 

We also see organisations applying an intersectional lens to the unique services they offer to parents and carers, addressing some of the additional challenges some groups may face and bringing in key and relatable voices.

 

SMS4dads provides messages, support, information, and tips for dads and dads-to-be. It helps them with any questions and doubts they have about having a new baby and fills a gap in the lack of information going direct to Dads. The service is free and sends three texts a week to run alongside the baby’s development stage. 

 

SMS4Dads recently created SMS4DeadlyDads and established a partnership with Awabakal, a leading medical provider delivering culturally-appropriate primary health care services, advocacy and social and emotional support to Aboriginal people and their families, supporting families with the arrival of more than fifty babies each year. All new Dads who access support and care through Awabakal now receive a DeadlyDad pack to welcome their new baby, acknowledging the vital role fathers play in the prenatal phase. Dads then receive the support, information and links to services.  

 

SMS4DeadlyDads has also provided a number of videos highlighting what dads are saying about becoming new fathers, designed to be especially relatable for First Nations fathers. 

 

Meanwhile, some large employers outline great partnerships and in their Reconciliation Action Plans, supporting the careers of First Nations people.  

 

One such employer is QBE, with its Reconciliation Action Plan outlining a partnership with the CareerTracker, now led by CEO Taryn Marks, to provide First Nations university students with internships and the opportunity to intern with a business aligned to their degree and career ambitions. QBE has so far hosted 40 such interns through CareerTrackers. 

 

NAIDOC Week is a time for celebration and for connecting into the work and pride of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. As we say, family-friendly workplaces are inclusive of everyone, all walks of life, all races, communities, religions etc because we are all part of a family. Acknowledging this unified inclusiveness is how we Keep the Fire Burning! 

 

By Emma Walsh

First published on Women’s Agenda