Priority reform area 5 - Employment, business growth and economic prosperity

Outcome statement

NSW Health plays a lead role in creating a strong, diverse and self-supporting Aboriginal business and Aboriginal Community Controlled sector.

Reform priorities

1. Reform priority 5.1 - Addressing barriers
   To reduce barriers that hinder the growth and success of Aboriginal businesses and Aboriginal Community Controlled organisations in working with NSW Health.
2. Reform priority 5.2 - Targeted support
   To improve access to relevant and culturally safe business support.

Why is this important?

This priority reform in the NSW Implementation Plan for Closing the Gap is a point of difference from the National Agreement and is an additional priority area for NSW. It acknowledges that, since colonisation, Aboriginal people have frequently been excluded from the mainstream economy. However, many are today choosing business as a vehicle for self-determination, overcoming the historic and entrenched barriers to economic participation, and leveraging their unique skills as key competitive advantages⁷⁰.

“Economic inclusivity … is an avenue that can be leveraged to stabilise existing employment and workforce within the community.”

ACCHO staff (regional) draft plan feedback

Aboriginal businesses⁷¹ create positive spillover benefits, empowering Aboriginal communities to generate and grow their own economic prosperity and helping break down barriers to employment, which is an important determinant of health outcomes⁷². Further, Aboriginal businesses offer important skills and services that support NSW Health to achieve improved Aboriginal health outcomes.

The aim of this priority reform area is to ensure Aboriginal people in NSW are empowered to access pathways, including education and training, to achieve employment that aligns with their aspirations.

In achieving this, NSW Government intends to increase the number of jobs and pathways to employment, as well as invest in an Aboriginal business sector and support these businesses to grow and flourish. NSW Health can play its part through leading good practice in enabling growth in the Aboriginal business and Aboriginal Community Controlled sector, in addition to the work outlined under Strategic direction 1: Growing and supporting the Aboriginal health workforce.

Reform priority 5.1 - Addressing barriers

To reduce barriers that hinder the growth and success of Aboriginal businesses and Aboriginal Community Controlled organisations in working with NSW Health.

The NSW Closing the Gap Implementation Plan, and the engagement that fed into those plans, acknowledge that significant barriers remain to Aboriginal businesses working with NSW Government organisations. These barriers include the whole-of-government Aboriginal Procurement Policy⁷³ not being appropriately targeted and the complexity or ‘red tape’ of procurement processes outweighing the benefits, particularly for smaller Aboriginal businesses^{74, 75}.

Within the context of NSW Health, addressing these complexities and other barriers can unlock greater scope for Aboriginal businesses, including Community Controlled organisations, to work with the health system and benefit both Aboriginal communities’ wellbeing and economic empowerment. NSW Health will be more effective if it works in partnership with Aboriginal organisations and businesses and is guided by their knowledge and expertise.

What does success look like?

A greater number and diversity of Aboriginal businesses and Community Controlled organisations have opportunities to work consistently and successfully with NSW Health.

How success will be achieved

• In partnership with Aboriginal business and the Community Controlled sector, identify key barriers that hinder their involvement with NSW Health and develop and implement solutions.
• Develop and implement sustainable initiatives within NSW Health that recognise and value an Aboriginal economic advancement approach.

Reform priority 5.2 - Targeted support

To improve access to relevant and culturally safe business support.

Along with addressing barriers through reform priority 5.1, NSW Health has a role to play in delivering accessible, culturally safe, and appropriately targeted supports to Aboriginal businesses and Community Controlled organisations that will accelerate innovation, growth and collaboration. These may include financial supports –such as research, capital or capability-building grants, or in-kind supports –such as the provision of professional development opportunities, advisory services, staff secondments, or assistance with regulatory compliance.

As supports need to be targeted towards the highest priority needs of Aboriginal businesses and Community Controlled organisations, it is essential they are developed in partnership with Aboriginal organisations and businesses.

What does success look like?

Aboriginal businesses and Aboriginal Community Controlled organisations value the business support they access through NSW Health.

How success will be achieved

• Map and review existing government services for Aboriginal businesses and the Community Controlled sector in the cross-sector environment and develop and implement business supports that are more effective, targeted and holistic.
• Establish and implement clear, consistent, culturally safe and easily accessible capability strengthening initiatives and resources for Aboriginal businesses and the Community Controlled sector through NSW Health or through referrals to other relevant organisations.