Employment Parity Initiative

Update

New funding opportunities under the Employment Parity Initiative have ceased.

The Australian Government announced in the 2021-22 Budget a commitment to develop a new place-based Indigenous Skills and Employment Program to replace the Vocational Training and Employment Centres (VTEC), Tailored Assistance Employment Grants (TAEG) and the Employment Parity Initiative (EPI) from 1 July 2022. For information please visit Indigenous Skills and Employment Program (ISEP).

The Employment Parity Initiative (EPI) aims to increase Indigenous employment in large companies to reflect the proportion of the Indigenous population nationally – approximately three per cent.

EPI providers are also required to increase purchasing from Indigenous enterprises to build the Indigenous business sector and generate more job opportunities for Indigenous Australians.

This initiative supports the Government’s commitment to real skills, real and sustainable employment, and real economic growth to ensure prosperity for all Indigenous Australians.

What are the benefits for Indigenous job seekers?

Benefits for Indigenous job seekers include:

sustainable employment in large companies with a national footprint
greater access to more diverse job prospects and opportunities
skills and qualifications
practical experience
improved life and wellbeing outcomes

What are the benefits of being an EPI partner?

EPI partners become champions of change and industry leaders in Indigenous recruitment and employment. Benefits include:

diversity of workforce
role models for the next generation of Indigenous employees
more inclusive and enriched corporate culture
greater socio-economic flow-on to Indigenous families and communities.

How is the EPI achieving real jobs for Indigenous Australians?

Australia’s major employers have the goodwill and ability to employ a large number of Indigenous Australians. The EPI is building on this goodwill to achieve large-scale employment outcomes.

The EPI rewards real, long-term outcomes. EPI providers only receive an outcome fee when an eligible job seeker achieves a minimum term of employment with the organisation. This approach generates a strong incentive for EPI providers to meet contractual obligations.