INDIGENOUS STAFF B.I.I.T.E. THE BULLET
Indigenous staff employed at the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Education (BIITE) at Batchelor, Darwin and Alice Springs, have expressed grave concerns regarding the Institute’s decision not to ensure that only Indigenous Australians be allowed to apply for the seven senior executive positions, recently advertised nationally.
At a staff consultative forum on Thursday 11th of August, concerns were raised regarding the non- Indigenisation of the seven senior executive positions, on the basis that employment figures for Indigenous workers at BIITE had fallen from 33% to 27%, with most of these job losses occurring at the senior executive levels.
“At one time BIITE had an Indigenous Director; Indigenous Deputy Director; an Indigenous Academic Director; Indigenous Head of School Education and Indigenous Head of School Community Studies,” said NTEU BIITE Branch President Alma Mir. “We also had a number of Indigenous senior managers and senior lecturers.”
The demise in Indigenous leadership in this Institute is a result of a restructure (without consultation as required under the EBA with the staff or students) that has been forced on staff by Council this year, an outcome which flies in the face of national trends where most Indigenous Organisational Executive positions are being Indigenised,” Ms Mir said.
In response to these concerns, BIITE’s acting Director, Mr John Ingram, stated at a recent staff consultative meeting:
”I don’t make policy about Identified positions, Council does, I only implement policies of Council”
“The BIITE Council has left the implementation of this policy to the acting Director, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff are appalled at this regressive decision, “ said NTEU Indigenous Tertiary Education Policy Committee Member for the Northern Territory Mr John Reid.
“We believe Council is neglecting its duty of care to Indigenous workers of this Institute and this directly undermines Indigenous self-determination. The decision also goes against all of the many consultations conducted by BIITE staff where community leaders have clearly indicated they want Indigenous leadership at BIITE.” Mr Reid said.
“Indigenous staff believe the BIITE Council has shown little respect towards the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Staff Consultative Committee, which is a Standing Committee of Council in its appointment of non-Indigenous people as Acting Director and Acting Deputy Director, as the Council gave no consideration to promoting existing Indigenous staff into these roles.
“In addition the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Staff Committee does not support the Council’s decision to locate BIITE’s Deputy Director in Alice Springs.
In light of these concerns, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Staff Committee have unanimously agreed to the following resolution:
RESOLUTION:
That the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff call on the BIITE Council to direct the Acting Director to readvertise the 7 Senior Executive positions as Indigenous Identified positions and that this direction occurs by 12 noon on Wednesday 31st August, 2005. If this direction from the BIITE Council is not forthcoming, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Staff Committee Chairperson does not receive any notification by 12 noon Wednesday 31st August, 2005;
WE, THE ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER STAFF COMMITTEE
- BELIEVE WE CAN NO LONGER HAVE ANY FAITH IN BIITE COUNCIL’S ABILITY TO SUPPORT THE INSTITUTE’S VISION OF INDIGENOUS EMPOWERMENT AND EDUCATION, AND HAVE NO OPTION BUT TO UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORT A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IN THE BIITE COUNCIL;
- WILL CONTINUE A CAMPAIGN TO PROTEST THE DE-INDIGENISATION OF THE THREE EXECUTIVE LEVEL POSITIONS UNDER THE GUIDELINES OF THE WORKPLACE RELATIONS ACT (1996).
- CALL ON OUR BIITE STUDENT AND NON-INDIGENOUS STAFF MEMBERS WHO SUPPORT THE ADVANCEMENT AND EMPOWERMENT OF INDIGENOUS STAFF AND STUDENTS TO SUPPORT US AND THE ADVICE FROM COMMUNITY ELDERS IN OUR ACTION AGAINST THE BIITE COUNCIL.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr John Reid,
NTEU Indigenous Tertiary Education Policy Committee (NT)
(08) 89 53 45 47
Ms Alma Mir,
President NTEU B.I.I.T.E.
Branch.
(08) 89 46 38 18