Media Release

The Institute partners with key players to attract greater numbers of Indigenous people into accounting

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (the Institute) has joined forces with a number of organisations as part of the Aboriginal Employment Champions Network, a government initiative which is aimed at increasing Indigenous employment and training opportunities in accounting and professional services.

The network comprises seven different clusters each dedicated to a particular industry group.

In South Australia, the Institute has partnered with the Big 4 and mid-tier firms, government bodies and a university to form the Professional Services Industry cluster.

The aims of the cluster are to:

• Increase the number of Indigenous South Australians working in professional services
• Build aspirations of school students to increase the number of Indigenous people with both vocational and undergraduate qualifications, with an emphasis on accounting/business administration, and
• Increase the cultural competency of employers in accounting and related roles such as bookkeeping and administration.

Former Managing Partner Ernst and Young SA, Mark Butcher, chairs the industry cluster group and says it is an important step to attracting greater numbers of Indigenous people into accounting.

At a recent Institute forum held in Adelaide, with the Centre for Accounting, Governance and Sustainability (CAGS) at the University of South Australia, there was much debate about how to attract greater numbers of Indigenous students into the accounting profession.

The Institute’s General Manager for SA/NT, Mark Jones said, "Measuring success of the initiative will come down to boosting the number of Indigenous people participating in accounting and related roles. Long term having Indigenous employees become Partners of professional services firms would be the ultimate achievement."

"The Institute is committed to collaborating with Indigenous communities and organisations, employers, universities; government and the profession to ensure Indigenous people have every opportunity to access the education and employment opportunities they need to build a path into the accounting profession."

Notes to editors:
In South Australia, the Institute, the Big 4 firms, The Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology (DFEEST), the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), Flinders University, The University of Adelaide, Perks, Parsons Brinckerhoff and Kelly & Co all form part of the Professional Services Industry cluster.

Article last Updated 23 February 2012