On 9 February 2016, Spotless CEO Martin Sheppard attended the Prime Minister’s Reception for Young Indigenous Businesses and Entrepreneurs. Spotless Utility employee Judith Georgetown, who had participated in the company’s Indigenous Engagement Program funding and initial pre-employment programs, also attended the event, reported Spotless’ website.
The event brought ‘young Indigenous businesses and innovators together with CEOs of Australia’s largest companies and senior executives from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC).
‘Showcasing the achievements of young Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs and how they’re contributing to Indigenous economic development and the innovation agenda, the event [supported] connections between entrepreneurs and big business.’
As mentioned above, Spotless is currently involved in the Indigenous Engagement Program. This program provides the company with funding to ’employ and retain 400 Indigenous Australian employees until 30 June 2019.’
‘The Employment Parity Initiative is a program that aims to increase the number of large Australian companies with a workforce reflective of the size of the Indigenous population. The initiative aims to get 20,000 more Indigenous job seekers into jobs by 2020.’
Since December 2015, Spotless has engaged five Indigenous employees under the program, including Judith. The company now aims ‘to engage and retain an additional 150 Indigenous employees throughout 2016.’