Supermarket giant, Woolworths, will hire 1600 Indigenous workers over the next three years as part of its new Woolworths Employment Parity Initiative.
Woolworths currently employs 2000 Indigenous workers and, with its Employment Parity Initiative, is set to become one of Australia’s biggest employers of indigenous workers.
Woolworths CEO, Brad Banducci, said the initiative, which is supported by the federal government, reflects Woolworths’ commitment to increasing diversity and employment opportunities across the company.
“Our stores make great training grounds for the leaders of tomorrow and Woolworths is committed to ensuring our teams reflect the local communities they serve,” Banducci said.
“We are proud to be one of Australia’s biggest employers of indigenous workers but I believe we can do more to support Indigenous Australians and open up more employment opportunities for them in our business,” he said.
The Woolworths-federal government contract is valued at $18 million, with Woolworths partnering with Diversity Dimensions which will use the funding to assist with the recruitment, placement and mentoring of Indigenous employees.
In the coming years Woolworths is aiming for 2.8 per cent of its Australian workforce to identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
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