James Packer launches plan for 2000 indigenous jobs at Crown by 2021 - 18th March 2013

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Crown Melbourne Crown Perth Crown Limited James Packer Social and Community Employment

CROWN chairman James Packer has formally launched the casino company's reconciliation action plan (RAP), aimed at creating more than 2000 jobs for indigenous people by 2021.

Mr Packer today joined the Victorian Premier Denis Napthine to launch the plan designed to provide long-term, sustainable employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Crown has developed indigenous employment programs at its two Australian properties Melbourne and Perth.

“Our commitment to offer 2000 job opportunities to Indigenous Australians remains today as strong as ever,'' Mr Packer said today.

“In 2009 when Crown created its first Indigenous employment programs and commenced recruiting and supporting Indigenous people, we knew we had the potential to be an instrument of change. And yes, while we have only really begun our journey, we have learnt a great deal and made progress.''

He said the key to Crown's employment programs, recognised as one of the best in corporate Australia, was to treat every Indigenous worker “as an individual and giving them the mentoring, respect and support they need to stay in the job and reach their full potential”.

“But it is only a start and yes we are the first to admit we have a long way to go to meet our goals,'' he said.

Crown Melbourne now employs 35 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Another 70 indigenous people are employed in Perth.

NAB also today launched its reconciliation action plan (RAP), on the same day as Reconciliation Australia credited the bank with its first-ever ‘Elevate’ status in recognition of the Bank's continued commitment to its Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The bank is currently utilising its fifith RAP.

The status is said to be the gold standard of RAP report benchmarking.

"I am very proud of our work with Indigenous Australia and our new Elevate recognition from Reconciliation Australia. Our latest RAP demonstrates NAB’s transparency and commitment to this important work and our belief that all Australians should have the opportunity for a better future," chief executive Cameron Clyne said today.