Lee-Anne Michelle Daffy

Lee-Anne’s doctoral research will inform governments, the Australian Public Service, various departments and academia of the significance entry-level programs can have in changing the lives of Aboriginal Australian women. Using predominantly qualitative analysis, this study will explore the life journeys of other Aboriginal women of Australia employed in the Australian Public Service recruited through entry-level programs. Aboriginal Australian women have unique and specialised skill sets that can provide a more robust and highly skilled diversity within the workplace. This research will provide the factors that both support and hinder retention of this skilled cohort. Knowing that the Australian Public Service is seeing increased employment rates through entry- level programs yet still a wavering ability to retain Aboriginal staff, this research is important and will uncover a broader understanding of what works and doesn’t. It will explore the factors impacting line managers in their ability to support these women and it will highlight the merit of mentoring in the workplace as well. Using this more holistic approach to gather rich and in-depth data, the research is somewhat like painting a canvas; knowing each component provides part of the picture. It has implications for fundamental shifts in employment outcomes in a way that directly influences levels of self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and, in turn, future generations.