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Job aspirations of young indigenous people in the East Kimberley: Making new tracks
Report   Open access

Job aspirations of young indigenous people in the East Kimberley: Making new tracks

Roz Walker, Clair Scrine and Carrington Shepherd
Research Project Report
Kulunga Research Network/Telethon Institute for Child Health Research
2008
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Published897.13 kBDownloadView
Open Access

Abstract

The research was commissioned by East Kimberley Job Pathways (EKJP), a subsidiary of the Wunan Foundation Inc., in early 2007 to identify the study and career aspirations of Aboriginal young people and to better understand why they experience difficulties in accessing employment in the East Kimberley. Research was undertaken with Aboriginal people aged 15-25 years living in the towns of Wyndham, Kununurra, Halls Creek and the communities of Kulumburu and Warmun. The study findings and recommendations are informed by perspectives of Aboriginal young people representing the different family and language groups in the East Kimberley and relevant stakeholders. The research findings reveal a range of complex issues regarding Indigenous people’s aspirations for training and career options, especially the many barriers they experience. There is a range of external factors that impede the formation and realisation of Indigenous young people’s job aspirations and goals and limit their capacity to maximise available opportunities. These factors include: educational status (literacy and numeracy ability); health status (physical and emotional wellbeing and levels of substance use); contact with the criminal justice system; cultural and community obligations; and, lack of knowledge, understanding or valuing of the relevance of the wider social systems on future outcomes. These interrelated factors impact directly on young Indigenous people’s ability and capacity to defi ne and solve problems, make informed choices, determine their own priorities and act on them, and actively engage in the social and economic opportunities within the wider society in order to contribute to meaningful and sustainable Aboriginal community futures.

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