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The National has today announced it will improve employment and career opportunities for Indigenous people in the most innovative scheme of its type in the financial services industry. The National's CEO Australian Financial Services Mike Pratt said the National's Indigenous Employment Program will lift participation of Indigenous people in the National significantly, bringing real benefits to the National and to the community. "We are very proud to be industry-leaders in this vital work," Mr Pratt said today. "Through our partnership with the Diversity@Work employment agency and the Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business, we are doing much more than merely recruiting more skilled Indigenous people. "Through Diversity@Work, the National will proactively seek Indigenous candidates for job vacancies. However, the program also includes mentoring support for recruits and cross-cultural training for employees in areas in which Indigenous recruits will be placed "Importantly, we have established an 'Indigenous Reference Group' comprising key Indigenous leaders that will provide ongoing advice and will build support for the program within Indigenous communities. "We are breaking down barriers that typically result in Indigenous people being under-represented in the workforce. And we are doing so in a truly consultative way. "These measures make the National's Indigenous Employment Initiative unique and will enable us to get the most out of the increased diversity in the workforce that we expect of this program. "These measures make the National's Indigenous Employment Initiative unique and will enable us to get the most out of the increased diversity in the workforce that we expect of this program. In June the National joined 'Corporate Leaders for Indigenous Employment', a body of leading Australian business enterprises, Indigenous leaders and government representatives, committed to improving equal employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The National's Indigenous Employment Program complements the 'Diversity Guiding Coalition', chaired by National Group CEO Frank Cicutto. This group focuses on creating demographic diversity within the National to build an inclusive and vibrant corporate culture that attracts, retains and leverages diverse talent. The program will be launched today by Hon Tony Abbott, Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business and Ms Marion Hansen, Victorian ATSIC Commissioner in the Foyer of the National Australia Bank, 271 Collins Street, Melbourne from 5.00pm.
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