Speakers
Tony Barnes | Fred Chaney AO | Christine Charles | Keith Day | Robert Gregory AO | Fran Kilgariff | Leon Morris | Peter Perrin | Des Rogers | Sarah Rummery | Peter Sheahan | Ian Thynne | Tom Wilson
Professor Tony Barnes
Professor Tony Barnes is a statistician with an outstanding record of achievement in collaborative research projects in a wide range of scientific disciplines.
Professor Barnes' early career was based in UK government research institutions working on cancer and agricultural research, initially in statistical, computing and operations research roles but rapidly developing into modelling and other quantitative aspects of research. Upon moving to Australia he became associate professor with the Tropical Health Program at the University of Queensland, where he combined post-graduate teaching in research methods, biostatistics, epidemiology and demography. Later extending this experience to public health research in Malaysia and North Korea, where he designed the first ever-national child nutrition survey, and with Aboriginal people in north Queensland and the Northern Territory where he investigated Aboriginal Health Workers’ awareness and understanding.
In 1993 Professor Barnes was appointed to lead the Australian Bureau of Statistics Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander statistics program where he collaborated on and oversaw the preparation of many statistical and information publications and research reports on Indigenous social conditions and disadvantage. This led to the position of CEO of the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal and Tropical Health, where he led the largest ever research program in Aboriginal health.
Currently Professor Barnes is undertaking a two fold role as a Professor with Charles Darwin University's research focused School for Social and Policy research, leading the People, Place and Economy program, and as Director of Economic and Social Analysis, Northern Territory Department of Treasury.
Abstract
Current economy, population characteristics and labour force of the Northern Territory
Professor Barnes and Dr Sarah Rummery’s presentation has three distinct but linked sections. Section one will focus on the economy, section two the population and section three the labour force.
Section one will be an overview of the Territory economy, its major driver’s and key differences between other Australian jurisdictions and the national scene. The Territory economy is characterised by a small and dispersed population, a large land mass and is dominated by a small number of key industries, the most significant of which is mining and energy. The Territory economy experiences highly volatile growth rates, has a commodity focus and is export orientated. The nature of the Territory economy poses both opportunities and challenges, which will be addressed in more detail in the presentation.
The second section will focus on the demography of the Territory, its unique ageing profile, and the significant differences between the characteristics of the Indigenous and non Indigenous populations.
These two populations have very different age distributions and mobility patterns, which have significant implications for the future of the Territory, and will be discussed in greater detail. The key driver of population growth in the Territory is the contribution of net interstate migration. This is a feature almost exclusively of the non Indigenous population, and is very closely linked to employment opportunities and economic growth.
The final section of Tony and Sarah’s presentation will focus on the Territory labour force, both the challenges and opportunities. In addition to the underlying volatility in the Territory’s labour force statistics (which has both a real and a statistical/sampling component), there are in reality two very different labour markets operating simultaneously, namely the mainstream labour market and the Indigenous labour market. The presenters will provide an overview of the characteristics of each, and the very different outcomes observed in each instance. These different outcomes, combined with demographic issues such as ageing, have very significant implications for the future of the Territory economy and its people.
The Hon. Fred Chaney AO
Fred Chaney was born in Perth in 1941. He practised law in New Guinea and Western Australia, including time in-house with the Hancock-Wright prospecting partnership, and subsequent private practice with emphasis on mining related work until he entered the Senate in 1974. Fred was involved in the Aboriginal Legal Service in a voluntary capacity in the early 1970’s. He was in the Senate until 1990 and was Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from 1983 to 1990. He was Member for Pearce in the House of Representatives from 1990 to 1993. Among his ministerial appointments were Aboriginal Affairs, Social Security and Minister Assisting the Minister for National Development and Energy. After leaving parliament he undertook research into Aboriginal Affairs policy and administration as a Research Fellow with the Graduate School of Management at the University of Western Australia from 1993 to 1995. He was appointed chancellor of Murdoch University in 1995 and continued in that capacity until 2003.
In 1994 he was appointed as a part-time member of the National Native Title Tribunal, a full-time member in April 1995 and was Deputy President from 2000 to 2007. In January 1997 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia.
He served as co-chair of Reconciliation Australia Ltd from 2000 to 2005 and continues as a Director on the Board. In 2005 he was appointed chairman of Desert Knowledge Australia. In 2007 he is chairing the Consultation Committee on a Human Rights Act for Western Australia.
Abstract
Regional and remote employment - Seeking to celebrate success
While successful employment outcomes will track success in the slow improvement of educational outcomes some employers are showing a capacity to lift employment beyond the current inadequate norm. Analysing and celebrating the elements of success enables the spreading of best practice which includes strong leadership from the top, overt cultural respect leading to mutual respect, and the creation of relationships in line with modern industrial relations thinking. Token efforts are to be avoided at all costs. Employers including government should be encouraged to set clear employment and related issue goals with clear accountability for results. Reconciliation Action Plans are one means of achieving the required focus to drive improvement. A number of private and public sector examples will be discussed in Mr Chaney’s presentation.
Christine Charles
Christine Charles is Regional Director, Environment and Social Responsibility with Newmont Australia. Newmont is a leading United States-based gold mining company, with operating sites and exploration activity across five continents. Christine’s role extends across Newmont’s interests in Australia and New Zealand.
Christine has extensive experience in a number of sectors having worked at senior levels in government, for the World Health Organisation internationally, for NGOs and as an academic. She was the Chief Executive of the South Australian Department of Human Services from 1997 to 2002. Prior to that she headed the South Australian Cabinet Office for four years after holding a number of senior government positions. In 2003 Christine worked for the World Health Organisation as a senior consultant based at the International Centre for Health Systems Development, Kobe, Japan.
Christine has strong personal and professional interest in public policy and the public/private/community interface. Positions currently held are:
- Chairperson of the Mining Board of the Northern Territory
- Member NT Government Taskforce on Indigenous Economic Development
- SA Business Ambassador
- Trustee for the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF)
- Board Member of Beacon Foundation
- Chair Indigenous Relations Working Group – Minerals Council of Australia
- Committee Member – MCA Sustainable Development Committee
- Chair Mineral Council Commonwealth Government / MCA MOU National Steering Committee
- Chair Women in Mining Dialogue MCA
- Chair of Advisory Board Sustainable Minerals Institute (Qld University)
- Board Member of Desert Knowledge CRC
Abstract
Regional employment - New opportunities
The successful recruitment and retention of a sustainable workforce in rural and remote Australia presents challenges that require companies to apply new thinking and creative solutions. Newmont has developed our own thinking in regard to employing people from diverse backgrounds, and this presentation will discuss some of the lessons we have learned in addressing Indigenous employment. In addition we will look at the challenges associated with women in the mining sector and attracting and keeping older workers.
Keith Day
Keith Day was educated in suburban Sydney moving to Queensland in 1973. In June 2006, he made the move from Toowoomba in south east Queensland to take up the position of Regional Branch Manager of TIO, Alice Springs.
A 28 year banking career with Westpac (BNSW) was followed by 13 years of self-employment from beachfront takeaway business to commercial insurance, and finally mortgage introduction.
A 15 year career with Jaycees (Junior Chamber of Commerce) was awarded with international life membership in 1984. Keith has held regional, state and national positions, and was nominated for the Central Australian Chamber of Commerce Regional Executive for 2007.
With 42 years in the workforce as an employee and employer, from trainee to management, from city CBD to small country towns across three states/territories, Keith has a broad background of experience to draw on.
Professor Robert Gregory AO
Professor Bob Gregory is a graduate of the University of Melbourne and the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is currently an Emeritus Professor at the Economics Program at the Research School of Social Sciences in The Australian National University, Canberra.
Professor Gregory has been closely involved in Australian economic policy development. He was a member of the Board of Management at the Australian Institute of Family Studies. Through 1990 to 1993 he was principal consultant in a series of Aged Care Reviews for the Department of Community Services and Health. In 1998, he was a member of the committee that recommended the introduction of student income contingent loans, collected by the Tax Office. The scheme has been adopted by a number of other countries in addition to Australia. He was a member of the Committee on Employment Opportunities which prepared a Discussion Paper that acted as a precursor to the Government's 1994 Working Nation. He was also a member of the Board of the Reserve Bank of Australia from 1985-1995. From 1986-1991 he was a member of the Australian Sciences and Technology Council.
Professor Gregory is an elected fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (1979). In 1996 he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal. He has been President of the Economic Society of Australia and has been awarded the Economic Society Medal.
Professor Gregory has held positions at the London School of Economics, Industries Assistance Commission, Northwester University, and the Federal Reserve Board, Washington. In 1983-1984 was Professor of Australian Studies at Harvard University. He was Visiting Professor at the Graduate School of Business, University of Chicago in 1994.
Her Worship the Mayor of Alice Springs Fran Kilgariff
Fran Kilgariff was born in Alice Springs and grew up in the town, where her family has been since the 1920's. She has five adult children, four of whom have defied national trends and returned to employment in Alice Springs after graduating from university in coastal cities.
Her early education was in Alice Springs and completed at boarding school in Adelaide. She trained as a radiographer and worked in hospitals around Australia and overseas. She later gained a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New England majoring in prehistoric archaeology. She has a Diploma of Education from Murdoch University and taught at a local private school for eleven years.
Fran was an alderman on the Alice Springs Town Council for six years and mayor since 2000.
Fran represents the council on many committees including the Masters Games Advisory Committee, the Town Camps Implementation Committee, the Alice Springs Alcohol Management Committee, the Solar Cities Committee and the Local Government Reform Advisory Committee.
Fran is also on the Development Consent Authority and a commissioner on the NT Grants Commission. Her other community involvement includes being on the Board of the St John Ambulance of the NT and on the Board of the YMCA Central Australia.
In her (somewhat rare) spare time, Fran enjoys going to the gym and swimming as well as bike riding. She is an avid reader and does the occasional bit of gardening under sufferance.
Leon Morris
Leon Morris is the Director of Indigenous Economic Development in the NT Department of Business, Economic and Regional Development. His previous role in government was as coordinator of the Northern Territory Community Harmony Project, which followed a long history of policy, communication, research, and production roles with non-government organisations including the Northern and Kimberley land councils, Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Culture Centre and the Centre for Indigenous Natural and Cultural Resource Management at Charles Darwin University.
Leon has also produced a number of major Indigenous performance festivals and events in northern Australia and the United Kingdom, and between1980-1994 he won a number of awards as a London-based photojournalist.
Abstract
Indigenous employment: A vision for the future
A multi-faceted approach is required to developing sustainable employment opportunities for Indigenous Territorians. Firstly, pathways need to be developed to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by thriving economies in urban area and skill shortages in specific industry sectors in the regions. Secondly, employment outcomes from remote service and infrastructure delivery must be maximised. Thirdly, small business opportunities need to be developed to service and supply local and regional markets. And fourthly, new and innovative approaches to Indigenous economic activity need to be fostered, particularly where there is high motivation to engage and/or an Indigenous competitive advantage based on land and intellectual property.
Peter Perrin
After 30 years in radio and television as a broadcaster, news presenter and general manager both in Australia and Singapore, Peter Perrin has made the sea change to Darwin where he manages and programs Charles Darwin University’s broadcasting license Territory FM with outlets in Darwin and Alice Springs.
Other successes in broadcasting include the acquisition of section 39 FM License and implementation of networking and dual broadcast station operation in regional Australia and achieving what was acknowledged as the most successful Australian submission for conversion from AM to FM in a major city market for 94.5 FM Perth. Peter was also selected from a global field as Program Director for Radio Corporation of Singapore.
Peter has also worked in associated communications fields as public relations, advertising and marketing, lecturing at Edith Cowan University, W.A. – broadcast media management, research and program design.
Additionally Peter is recognised as a current affairs radio host and nationally recognised voice talent and MC.
Peter lives in Darwin with his wife of 27 years Christine and three children, one of whom is the breakfast host of one of Darwin’s commercial stations.
Des Rogers
Des Rogers was founding director of wholesale fruit and vegetable business Red Centre Produce, which commenced trading in Alice Springs in 1994. Part of his vision was to improve the access to quality, variety and price of fresh produce to Indigenous people in remote areas.
Des was instrumental in the Northern Territory Health Departments’ Health and Nutrition Policy, Store Book and Store Video. His commitment to the employment and training of Indigenous people delivered an outcome of 168 people being placed in real work in the 13 years he owned and operated this enterprise.
Des is also Director of Indigenous Perspectives, a small consultancy business providing professional assistance to Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Indigenous Perspectives provides diverse facilitation of information so all parties have total understanding of issues and outcomes. As an example, Des was the Indigenous relations manager for the catering company on the Alice to Darwin railway and achieved 35 per cent Indigenous employment level, and he has also been engaged by a variety of organisations to provide mentoring support to a range of Aboriginal people in management and executive positions. Des was a registered PSP (preferred service provider) to Indigenous Business Australia, but now due to business commitments, sub-contracts his services to other consultancy firms.
Des is currently a director of pepperedBLACK® security – the Northern Territory’s first Aboriginal owned and managed security business. This new enterprise has a number of contracts in Alice Springs and has a staff of eight Indigenous and six non-Indigenous security ambassador’s.
Des has been an active member of the community and has participated on many committees and boards, including:
- Chairperson - Alice Springs ATSIC Regional Council
- Chairperson - Indigenous Housing Authority of the NT
- Deputy Chairperson - Batchelor Institute Indigenous Tertiary Education
- Council Member - Charles Darwin University
- Alderman - Alice Springs Town Council
Currently he is a board member, Desert Knowledge Australia; member of the Alice Springs Economic Development Committee; and member of the Northern Territory Government Economic Development Framework Progress Group.
Abstract
Regional and remote employment - Seeking to celebrate success
This short paper has been taken from a much larger presentation delivered by Des Rogers at the recent Northern Territory Industrial Relations Conference it looks at the challenges faced by Aboriginal people in the areas of Education, Training and Employment in mainstream Australia today.Some of the main points raised in the short paper are:
- It is necessary to educate mainstream society to understand that for every story of dysfunction in Aboriginal society there is another of quiet success
- Education leading to real employment is the key to true empowerment of Aboriginal people
- Educators must be taught the importance of teaching a full curriculum to students in remote communities and avoid the concept that the students will never leave their communities
- The fact that English is the second language for many students must not be confused with a lack of intelligence or academic ability. However there is a need for Indigenous people to use the English language to become a part of society
- For any program to succeed it must involve Aboriginal men to be active and supportive participants
- Education is the way forward for Indigenous people so they may master the lore of modern society. It could also be the catalyst for positive social change.
Dr Sarah Rummery
Abstract
Current economy, population characteristics and labour force of the Northern Territory
Professor Tony Barnes and Dr Rummery’s presentation has three distinct but linked sections. Section one will focus on the economy, section two the population and section three the labour force.
Section one will be an overview of the Territory economy, its major driver’s and key differences between other Australian jurisdictions and the national scene. The Territory economy is characterised by a small and dispersed population, a large land mass and is dominated by a small number of key industries, the most significant of which is mining and energy. The Territory economy experiences highly volatile growth rates, has a commodity focus and is export orientated. The nature of the Territory economy poses both opportunities and challenges, which will be addressed in more detail in the presentation.
The second section will focus on the demography of the Territory, its unique ageing profile, and the significant differences between the characteristics of the Indigenous and non Indigenous populations.
These two populations have very different age distributions and mobility patterns, which have significant implications for the future of the Territory, and will be discussed in greater detail. The key driver of population growth in the Territory is the contribution of net interstate migration. This is a feature almost exclusively of the non Indigenous population, and is very closely linked to employment opportunities and economic growth.
The final section of Tony and Sarah’s presentation will focus on the Territory labour force, both the challenges and opportunities. In addition to the underlying volatility in the Territory’s labour force statistics (which has both a real and a statistical/sampling component), there are in reality two very different labour markets operating simultaneously, namely the mainstream labour market and the Indigenous labour market. The presenters will provide an overview of the characteristics of each, and the very different outcomes observed in each instance. These different outcomes, combined with demographic issues such as ageing, have very significant implications for the future of the Territory economy and its people.
Peter Sheahan - Keynote speaker
Peter Sheahan has established a globally recognised brand as a leading expert in workforce trends and generational change. In the space of three years he has built a multi-million dollar consulting practice attracting clients such as Newscorp, Google, Coca-Cola, L’Oreal and Ernst & Young.
For more information please visit www.petersheahan.com.au/cpa/htm/htm_home.asp.
Abstract
Generation Y and the challenges for workforce development
The keynote speech by Peter Sheahan will set the scene in terms of key motivational, employment and deployment issues, with particular reference to understanding the mindsets of Generation Y. Flexible working hours, respect, and the opportunity to do work that makes a difference are wants expressed by all generations. The difference with Generation Y is that they demand these things and talk with their feet when they don’t get what they want. With an aging population and the current national skills shortage the largely untapped cohort of 'Gen Yer's' represent a real opportunity for business.
Professor Ian Thynne
Ian Thynne is Professor of Governance at Charles Darwin University. His research addresses governance and public management, with a focus on organisational types, reform strategies and public-private mixes. He has taught and researched various aspects of public governance, policy, administration and management in New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Professor Thynne is co-editor of The Asia Pacific Journal of Public Administration and a regional co-editor (Asia Pacific) of Public Administration and Development. He has authored/co-authored or edited/co-edited a number of books, international journal symposia, articles and book chapters.
He has had extensive experience in leadership development programs in Hong Kong, Singapore, Australasia and the Pacific.
Dr Tom Wilson
Dr Tom Wilson is senior research fellow in demography in the School for Social and Policy Research at Charles Darwin University. His main areas of research are in population projection and estimation, migration analysis and the demography of the Northern Territory. He also takes an active role in the Australian Population Association as a member of the national council and chair of the 2008 conference organising committee (the conference to be held in Darwin 1-4 July 2008).
His recent publications have addressed the increasing life expectancy of the Territory’s Indigenous people, the future population of the Territory, Indigenous population change over the last four decades, and the accuracy of past national population projections. He has also produced population projection software for the New South Wales, Queensland and Northern Territory governments.
Tom’s current projects include a major study seeking to understand the drivers and consequences of interstate migration to and from the Territory, a demographic reconstruction of the Tiwi population, the design of a regional population projection model for the Territory, and the analysis of 2006 Census data on the nation’s Indigenous population.
Abstract
Why do people come to stay or leave the NT? The likely population of the Territory in 2027?
Migration plays a significant role in shaping the growth and composition of the Northern Territory’s population. Levels of migration into and out of the Territory are very high relative to population size and higher than for any other state or territory. Given the Northern Territory Government’s policy position of reducing population turnover and encouraging population growth through migration it is essential that the determinants of migration are understood in order for policy intervention to be effective. This presentation provides an overview of findings from an ongoing project within the School for Social and Policy Research on understanding population movement to and from the Territory. Some implications for policy are discussed.
In the second half of the presentation, attention shifts to the future. Given what is known about current population trends in the Territory and the rest of Australia, how is the Territory’s population likely to evolve in the next couple of decades? Specifically, to what extent will the Territory’s population age? How might the Territory’s demography be affected by the immanent slowdown in the growth of the labour force age groups nationwide? How much are the Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations likely to grow by? Several population projection scenarios are presented which suggest some answers to these questions.
