Employment of Indigenous Australians in the forestry sector: a case study from northern Queensland

There are compelling reasons to encourage the employment of Indigenous Australians in the forestry sector. The benefits of, and constraints to, Indigenous employment in the sector were examined using a case study approach focused on Indigenous participation in 'Operation Farm Clear', an emergency response following Cyclone Larry in northern Queensland in 2006. The findings suggested that, given a supportive environment, there are opportunities for Indigenous people to benefit from employment in the forestry sector. These benefits included skill development and increased confidence, the opportunity for employment and participation in land management. The findings also highlighted constraints that could limit the delivery of these benefits. Constraints included an insufficient level of relevant skill or experience, lack of a supportive environment, the difficulty of balancing Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultures, and limitations related to the nature of the forestry sector. In the case study, the most important factors for the realisation of benefits were the provision of long-term support and opportunities for ongoing training and employment, and the peer support provided by other Indigenous employees.