Education and industry have a unique opportunity to work together and guide the next generation of Indigenous graduates to become future leaders.
Christina Coleman knows firsthand how vital support and connection is for Indigenous students, throughout their studies and as they enter the workforce.
When her own undergraduate studies were cut short due to difficult circumstances, she dedicated her career to advocating for others, first in youth work, then the prison system and mining industry - and now the corporate world.
“At 18, I didn’t know what support mechanisms were out there. But now there’s so much more conversation about what’s available to support Indigenous students. I think that’s just phenomenal,” she says.
While Christina’s roadmap to employability had its twists and turns, she’s now opening doors for other Indigenous students to achieve their potential in the corporate world as First Nations Talent Acquisition Manager at multinational consulting firm EY.
“I build connections with universities and bring a cultural lens to talent acquisition at EY. One of the biggest challenges for Indigenous students is a lack of understanding what opportunities are actually available in industry. I’m really thankful to be able to have those conversations with universities like UNSW and lessen the gap between campus and corporate.”
Christina believes that partnering with universities should be a two-way street, and industry organisations should focus on supporting and connecting with Indigenous students early in their university journey rather than simply looking to fill a talent pipeline.
“For Indigenous communities, trust and communication are first and foremost in who we are and what we do. If we can’t build trust, how can we communicate? It’s not just about what we can gain from the university, but what we can do to support the university and students.”
By partnering with UNSW, EY gives students early exposure to the corporate environment through work placements and internship programs as well as graduate and early-career recruitment opportunities.
The UNSW Nura Gili Centre for Indigenous Programs works with UNSW Employability and organisations like EY to support and prepare Indigenous students for the workforce during their time at university by providing a culturally safe environment where they can thrive.
At the UNSW Indigenous Careers Symposium, held in October 2024, Nura Gili director Scott Parlett spoke of the importance of putting students at the centre to empower them to achieve their potential.
“Every student has a unique story to tell, they have their own journey, experiences, challenges, struggles, barriers and visions for personal and professional success. Education and industry have the opportunity to be genuine, listen to our students, shape and guide them as the next generation of leaders, no matter what their definition of success may be,” he said.
Nura Gili offers a supportive and inclusive environment for students to build meaningful relationships with others, maintain cultural and spiritual connections and develop skills, networks and career pathways that align with their aspirations.
For graduates entering the workforce, there’s plenty that employers can do to create a more inclusive environment, from increased cultural respect and understanding, to creating mentorship and support networks.
It’s also important for employers to consider – and remove – any systemic barriers that may prevent Indigenous graduates from achieving their potential. In EY’s case this meant bringing in greater flexibility around academic requirements, removing standardised testing and simplifying the application process.
“I think what we’re doing at EY is gaining a lot of support, because people want different. They want to look at how we do things through a different lens. And when we’re connecting with Indigenous communities, especially at university, we need to understand what students are thinking and feeling. Students today are so well aligned with their value and potential that the ball is in their court,” says Christina.
“We’re on the precipice of creating change and that’s phenomenal. We’ve got so many Indigenous people in our communities now who are showcasing that they’ve done a degree or an MBA and the younger generations are taking that on board and seeing they can do it too.”
Christina Coleman,
EY First Nations Talent Acquisition Manager
Organisations have an opportunity to make an extraordinary impact on the future by taking a proactive approach to Indigenous recruitment and working with educational providers like UNSW Employability to support students to achieve their full potential and become leaders in their industries.
“We’re on the precipice of creating change and that’s phenomenal,” says Christina. “It’s not just about inspiring students today, we’re having an impact on future generations. We’ve got so many Indigenous people in our communities now who are showcasing that they’ve done a degree or an MBA and the younger generations are taking that on board and seeing they can do it too.”
Learn more about the tailored support and programs offered at Nura Gili or explore opportunities to partner with us at UNSW Employability.
This article was brought to you by UNSW Employability.