MatchWorks Supports NAIDOC Week celebrations
17 August 2011
MatchWorks got behind NAIDOC Week this year with a number of staff and clients participating in the Melbourne march.
NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life.
MatchWorks has recently employed an Indigenous Employment Consultant in a bid to provide support to the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
Irene Sazdov’s comes from Point Pearce in South Australia and is from the Narungga clan, where she learnt about her Aboriginal culture from her mother and grandmother.
While Irene has lived in Victoria for many years, she remains close with her family, and her community.
She has worked at length with the Stolen Generation though the Victorian Aboriginal and Child Care Agency.
Irene decided that she still wanted to use her knowledge of Aboriginal culture, but in a new and different role.
“I still want to be in a position where I can help people,” she said.
“My role isn’t just about putting people in jobs – it’s about helping them get to that point by mentoring them, making sure they’ve got the right training to stay in the job.”
Irene said her role was important because understanding culture was the first step in helping indigenous people find and stay in employment.
“It’s about helping my community and placing them in the right jobs. It’s also about helping them out with other issues and connecting them to assistance – that may be drugs and alcohol, homelessness and medical issues.
Irene said gaining the trust of her clients has assisted her to provide the support they need.
“They want to know what my history is and where my ancestors are from – and once they’re happy with that – they’ll start opening up to me.
“We can relate because we come from the same background.”