As we transition from the first quarter of the year to the next, we are excited to pursue an Indigenous Engagement Strategy on one of the most pressing issues of our generation here in Australia. We, as The Facility Management Association of Australia (FMA), proudly acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first peoples and traditional owners of the land we have built upon and our entire industry on. We also recognise that the indigenous Australian community often experience social and economic disadvantages, such as the national issue of high unemployment rate among the indigenous community. Because of such marginalisation, indigenous people do not get to enjoy the same socio-economic benefits non-indigenous people would in the community or in the workplace. Lack of education, opportunity and employment contribute to this, all of which may lead to worse socio-economic issues. …show more content…
As a membership organisation, we are at a greater capacity to achieve this by influencing our members to contribute to this engagement plan, in place of a Reconciliation Action Plan. Instead, we can maximise our reach not only to FMA members, but to those within the facilities management industry. Not only are there a range of skill levels that allow our broad industry to be in a remarkable position to provide meaningful employment opportunities, there is no other time more relevant than now to challenge the industry to provide pathways for the indigenous youth by providing educational support and professional