Dick Estens is the founder of the Aboriginal Employment Strategy, a model for Indigenous employment which helped turn around the future of NSW country town Moree. The strategy which was set up in Moree in 1997, now places 450 Aboriginal people into employment every year and has expanded into Tamworth and Dubbo.
All staff are Aboriginal. They visit businesses to seek a commitment to work with the Employment Strategy not only to provide employment to Aboriginal people, but to build partnerships and acts as mentors to ensure success for the employer and the employees.
The success of the Aboriginal Employment Strategy relies on building self-esteem and pride, and also peer pressure to succeed, from within the Aboriginal community. The judges said Dick Estens' success in Moree was a great example of what can be done and how it can be used as a blueprint for other Indigenous communities. A racial hotspot 10 years ago, Moree now displays great self-esteem and initiative. Aboriginal people are delivering for their community and in charge of their own destiny. Similar strategies will be rolled out into six regional sites by the end of 2004.
Winner