Aboriginal economic prosperity is a key element of OCHRE (Opportunity, Choice, Healing, Responsibility and Empowerment), the NSW Government’s plan for Aboriginal affairs. Growing NSW’s first economy is the NSW Government’s framework to promote the economic prosperity of Aboriginal people and communities in NSW. Growing NSW’s first economy integrates Aboriginal economic participation into NSW Government priorities which focus on:
- Jobs and employment
- Education and skills
- Economic agency
Government procurement provides a significant opportunity to increase skills and economic participation within the State’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. NSW’s Aboriginal Procurement Policy is a key strategy for driving growth and investment in NSW First Nations businesses. The policy includes the Aboriginal Participation in Construction Policy and sets new targets for the proportion of contracts and the total spend value with Aboriginal businesses. Specialist business services, such as the NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce, assists Aboriginal entrepreneurs to establish and grow a business.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Profile of Indigenous Australians national employment report states employment in professional occupations such as health and education has increased by over 75% in 10 years. The most common professional industries of employment nationally were health care and social assistance, public administration and safety, education and training and construction.