BWM Dentsu Group (including Haystac, Cox Inall
Communications, Cox Inall Change, and Cox Inall Ridgeway - an Indigenous
social impact agency) has today announced its strategic partnership
with Swinburne University and internship program for Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander students looking to enter the creative and media
industries.
The Indigenous internship is one of
the first of its kind in the sector, and is being undertaken by the BWM
Dentsu Group as part of its recently implemented Reconciliation Action
Plan (RAP), a document created with the intention of building a bridge
between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.
The
partnership aligns with Swinburne University's own RAP, which achieved
Elevate status - the highest possible RAP level - in 2017. In addition,
the partnership is in line with the university's long history of
championing professional placements and internships to enhance the
skills and employment prospects of its students.
Co-designed to provide opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander students, the internship is expected to help address the
underrepresentation of Indigenous people in the creative industries1.
Says
Belinda Murray, managing director of BWM Dentsu Melbourne: "We want to
ensure the creative sector is a welcoming, dynamic, safe and nurturing
environment for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. On
top of this, we're also excited to improve BWM Dentsu Group's creative
offering by opening ourselves up to the diversity of thinking that this
talented group of young people will bring to the agency.
"Through
this partnership with Swinburne University, we aren't just helping
young people find their feet in a new industry, we're also helping our
industry grow and thrive as a result of improved inclusion and
diversity."
Says Professor Andrew Gunstone,
executive director of reconciliation strategy and leadership at
Swinburne: "Swinburne, and the Moondani Toombadool Centre, prides itself
on its commitment to student success. This program presents a fantastic
opportunity for Swinburne Indigenous students to gain exposure to the
creative industry, while also aligning with Swinburne's vision to create
future-ready learners, and our RAP's commitment to self-determination
and reciprocity.
"We're thrilled to be working
with the BWM Dentsu Group to offer Swinburne Indigenous students such a
wide and compelling range of opportunities. Together, we're excited
about creating experiences that extend student knowledge, bring
Indigenous knowledge to industry, and foster understanding. Everyone
benefits from that kind of partnership."
Students
involved in the program will begin their internship in January 2019 in
the BWM Dentsu Group's Melbourne office, and work across all the
agencies in the BWM Dentsu Group. The Group plans to roll out a similar
program in its Sydney office later in 2019.
All
agency staff will participate in cultural awareness training to
increase their broader knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander matters, people, culture and heritage.
1
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the number of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working in the Information
Media and Telecommunications was 1,687 in October 2017, while Roy Morgan
data suggests the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people in the Arts and Media industry is too small to report on at all.