African Heritage as a Condition of Employment

cookie2 on 22/09/2021 - 21:40
Last edited 23/09/2021 - 19:12 by 1 other user

Looking on seek at jobs etc and came across a government primary school role that stated the following as a Condition of Employment.

This role is identified as available for African heritage applicants only. Confirmation of your African heritage may be requested.

Just intrigued to know if I'm the only jobseeker out there, feeling like race is an obstacle in the job market before I even get to the interview.

I don't think it's right for race to be a Condition of Employment. Language, i get it. But race? This just feels like blatant positive discrimination aka discrimination.

It's hard enough to find a job, now my heritage can either get me a job, or close the door in my face.

How do others feel about it? Thoughts?

Link below should work
Check out this job on SEEK: Transitions and Cultural Safety Officer - North-east African from Flemington Primary School - https://www.seek.com.au/job/53802042

Btw to anyone wanting popcorn, I've got a few from a recent half price promo, we can share 😁

***Update ***

Although my intention was to genuinely get others opinions, i have noticed that the job ad has now been removed off multiple platforms including Seek. Does make one wonder why.

Poll Options

348
Ok with me
278
Not ok at all
37
Don't care

Education & Work

Comments

- - morse on 23/09/2021 - 19:47
    
    Kinda sounds like you do want it to.
Trying2SaveABuck on 23/09/2021 - 11:46

+6

Yes it is racism, no the media wont care

If it was 'English/Anglo Heritage only' you would have The Project do a 30min segment on systemic racism to virtue single
- Autonomic on 23/09/2021 - 16:27
  
  +2
  
  You're waaaay more likely to be hired or promoted if you're white in Australia. Media doesn't care.
  - [Deactivated] on 23/09/2021 - 17:04
    
    Inconvenient facts don't deserve a neg. I know a lot of people simply do not want to admit it.
    - Trying2SaveABuck on 23/09/2021 - 23:39
      
      You dont fight racism with more racism - this is my issue with the BLM movement it become about 'black lives' only they got offended by the statement 'all lives matter' - it isnt about equally as soon as you only focus on one group, it becomes about superiority
      
      They started tearing down historic icons of 'white people' mostly becuz they were white sure some of those icons probably deserved to be torn down but some of them didnt
      
      You want to stop racism - be colour blind - look at what people do not what they look like
      - Autonomic on 24/09/2021 - 00:53
        
        +2
        
        @Trying2SaveABuck: This is beyond silly. The way to solve racism is to pretend it doesn't exist? Don't talk about who is disadvantaged by racism?
        
        Trying2SaveABuck on 24/09/2021 - 08:57
        
        +2
        
        @Autonomic: That isnt what i you know it, as i said you dont fight racism with racism. The fact people think you do is why we will never be rid of it.
        
        The truth is 'white' people aren't the only ones who are racist, all humans are capable of prejudice i feel like people seem to ignore this fact. When talking about 'racism' it is ok to call someone a 'white guy' or prefer to 'white b*itchs" or "White People" - Change the word to "black" and it all of a sudden is 'not ok' all you're doing is using racism to fight racism which is resulting in more racism.
        
        Autonomic on 24/09/2021 - 09:48
        
        +2
        
        @Trying2SaveABuck: Sorry what does any of that have do with the widespread discrimination minorities face in employment in Australia?
        
        Trying2SaveABuck on 24/09/2021 - 11:06
        
        +1
        
        @Autonomic: Actually migrate australians children tend to fair better then those who have been here for generations in school and work outcomes…
        
        You dont hear the media say that often becuz it doesnt fit the narrative…
        
        Autonomic on 24/09/2021 - 11:19
        
        @Trying2SaveABuck:
        
        Almost 95 per cent of senior leaders at the chief executive or ‘c-suite’ levels have an Anglo-Celtic or European background. Of the 372 chief executives and equivalents we identified, 97 per cent have an Anglo-Celtic or European background.
        
        Within the ASX 200 companies, there appears only to be eight CEOs who have a non-European background
        
        Of the 30 members of the Federal Ministry, there is no one who has a non-European background, and one who has an Indigenous background. It is similarly bleak within the public service, where 99 per cent of the heads of federal and state government departments have an Anglo-Celtic or European background (that’s one of 103). Universities don’t fare much better: just one of the 39 vice-chancellors of Australian universities has a non-European background.
        
        https://humanrights.gov.au/about/news/opinions/australian-le…
        
        BobLim on 24/09/2021 - 12:26
        
        @Autonomic: And how many "backgrounds" can one person hold simultaneously?
        
        Using "of the ones we identified" is pretty vague too - how thorough was this "identification" process? How many are under 50yo?
        
        If the younger demographics show much greater eminence in people from non-European backgrounds, perhaps an age-diversity quota on these arbitrary occupations can "solve the problem" in one hit?
        
        Autonomic on 24/09/2021 - 12:35
        
        @BobLim:
        
        Using "of the ones we identified" is pretty vague too - how thorough was this "identification" process? How many are under 50yo?
        
        Read the report and find out. These occupations aren't "arbitrary", either. They are the positions that determine the trajectory of the country.
        
        Trying2SaveABuck on 24/09/2021 - 13:04
        
        +2
        
        @Autonomic: European - Doesnt mean 'White' dude if you read the word European and think that everyone is white then i think the issue might be you….
        
        Autonomic on 24/09/2021 - 13:43
        
        -1
        
        @Trying2SaveABuck: It's called a heuristic. Are you actually disagreeing that government is overwhelmingly white or is this just some nitpicking?
        
        BobLim on 24/09/2021 - 13:12
        
        +1
        
        @Autonomic:
        
        how thorough
        
        Answered my own question - not very.
        
        S2.2 looks like it boils down to "we had a google and just recorded what felt right at the time". I would've thought asking them might be more fair?
        
        Digging in, it seems that "Anglo-Celtic" would be the default for someone whose family is primarily based in Australia back a couple of generations, unless the unnamed researcher reckoned they look European or non-European.
        
        If we believe a common narrative, surely a high-profile individual's curated public image would emphasise those attributes which drive them to further success - i.e. apparently their "lack of diverse background" is the key to the C-suite - why mention a refugee grandparent when their parent is a 5th generation local farmer?
        
        Autonomic on 24/09/2021 - 13:20
        
        -1
        
        @BobLim:
        
        S2.2 looks like it boils down to "we had a google and just recorded what felt right at the time". I would've thought asking them might be more fair?
        
        They researched them to the best of their abilities. You want a DNA test? Seems like you're missing the forest for the trees. Even there were so many inaccuracies that you DOUBLED the number of non-european individuals in leadership roles, you'd go from 95% to 90%. Still completely unbalanced.
        
        BobLim on 24/09/2021 - 13:32
        
        +1
        
        @Autonomic: If someone's trying to use such a "study" as evidence of systemic discrimination (racism in your words) and drive a campaign for change then yes, I expect much more rigour.
        
        Clearly there's a disconnect between the population diversity data methodology and the one applied to these individuals - S3.1 says they used census data where individuals have specifically self-identified ancestry links, then the study has made another grandiose and unqualified "estimate" of the population. Did they not search for public information on everyone's names, and check whether they "look European"? Not even on a sample?
        
        Autonomic on 24/09/2021 - 13:52
        
        @BobLim:
        
        I expect much more rigour.
        
        Good thing they did then:
        
        Such a methodology is consistent with
        academic and industry studies of cultural
        background, as well as some international
        monitoring practices.
        
        I don't see any disconnect. If there's census data, they'll use census data. If not then they have to do their own research.
        
        Again, are you actually disputing that leadership positions are overwhelmingly white? Or are you just trying to nitpick the study as a layman?
        
        Trying2SaveABuck on 24/09/2021 - 13:30
        
        +2
        
        @Autonomic: Just to prove my point this is a picture of the ENGLISH football team in the last Euros
        
        https://www.google.com/search?q=British+national+football+te…
        
        They would all be considered 'European' and Anglo Celtic - half of them are decants of African and Asian countries….
        
        If you think this is a once off, Google the French national team……
        
        Then the German……
        
        Keep in mind every player in the picture earns well over 30m Australian Dollars a year….
        
        Im not saying racism doesnt exist but when people say English you think White pasty people - i can tell you that England has changed so has most of Europe.
        
        The world is multi-cultured
        
        Autonomic on 24/09/2021 - 13:53
        
        @Trying2SaveABuck: Yeah and? Take a look at a picture of all the Australian MPs and you can count the non-white ones on one hand.
        
        Trying2SaveABuck on 24/09/2021 - 14:50
        
        -1
        
        @Autonomic: non-white? - i think you are a racist boss
        
        A lot of MPs are from 'diverse backgrounds' - just off the top of my head Penny Wong (Malaysian), Albanese (Italian), Kenneth Wyatt (indigenous), Mathew Guy (Ukrainian) etc i could go on but i think i made my point…..
        
        Either you're a racist or you been watching to much project but i think we have one of the diverse countries in the world - im not blind there is racism but as i said all people are capable of prejudice
        
        p1 ama on 26/09/2021 - 00:49
        
        +2
        
        @Trying2SaveABuck: This is so, so stupid. I've always found that it's silly to focus on racism at the individual level - you just get down to the "you're racist, no you're racist, no you're racist" argument which is what you lot are having right now.
        
        Racism is not school yard bullying (i.e. calling people white bitches or Asians chinks or whatever) - all of this is a distraction to the broader point. It is about whether discrimination has been institutionalised and what we can do to fix it.
        
        I'll give you an example - I know of a guy at work who put in a recommendation for a junior to be promoted because the junior reminded him of a younger version of himself. They are the same race. When it came to the promotion round, that particular junior got promoted, but another junior (who I know very well and would vouch for) did not get promoted. I wouldn't go up to the guy at work and call him a racist to his face - he's not a bad person, but this is why we need things like sensitivity training so that well-meaning people don't fall into the trap of being unintentionally discriminatory.
        
        This is how racism looks in the 21st century, it's no longer the 1940s where people of different skin colours were forced to use different bathrooms and go to different schools. Of course, we live in a much better society now, but it would be unwise to think that it was completely egalitarian.
        
        Also, I think the whole "picking the token diverse guy" game is stupid as well - it's not about counting how many "diverse people" there are in parliament or whatever. Most people don't give two kahootz about that, it is about whether everyone has the same opportunities. In many instances they do not, and I think we need to recognise that.
        
        Either you're a racist or you been watching to much project
        
        Man, you're a pretty obsessed dude - I don't know why you keep bringing up "The Project" - who even watches that. It's like you've just latched onto this stereotype of how most normal people think and behave based on a show that literally has a dismal rating and hardly anyone watches.
havabeer on 23/09/2021 - 12:09

+2

In the context of the position I think it is ok. Maybe.
This is my pragmatic perspective, normally I would be completely against this type of hiring, but in special and specific positions like this one, there is clear benefits to it. You or anyone might be totally qualified for the position, but your effectiveness in the position might be far more difficult.

It could well be argued though that by taking the position that engaging with the clients with the benefit of being the same race, is ultimately not the message of transitioning that fits with the idealistic bigger picture.

This is one of those problems the left has, wishy washy morals and good intentions aren't a desirable combo.
- sarahlump on 23/09/2021 - 14:11
  
  +5
  
  Im p sure anybody looking at this for more than a couple of moments can see the reason behind this job posting. p sure op just wants controversy for entertainment whether they realise it or not.
  
  OP is a karen.
  - cookie2 on 23/09/2021 - 19:33
    
    +1
    
    Took longer than I thought actually. But thanks for being predictable in the end.
    
    I don't know if you've bothered to notice, but while I've been bagged, I haven't attacked anyone for their opinions.
    
    So if anyone here wants controversy, i think it's the person that's name calling.
Windows98 on 23/09/2021 - 12:17

+2

Good attempt at starting a flame war. A job looking for a cultural safety officer at an African primary school is requesting an African applicant? Omg it's reverse meta cannon political correctness gone wrong. What a world.
Mosher on 23/09/2021 - 12:53

+2

Any deals on shoe polish as It might come in handy when applying for the position
D3HUN on 23/09/2021 - 13:27

+1

Some of the people responding here and the job ad just shows ignorance.

What the heck is 'African heritage'? Africa is a continent, with incredibly varied population, habits, customs, languages, etc. There is no such thing as 'African culture'. There are culture groups within Africa.

Anyhow, not my battle, just wanted to get it out so you can think about it.

Although I doubt (re: op's point) that they would hire someone who might be a third generation South African (you know, with European heritage), but yeah…
trapper on 23/09/2021 - 13:36

+4

Requiring any particular 'heritage' sounds pretty racist to me.

Job requirements should be about skills, knowledge and experience.
- sarahlump on 23/09/2021 - 14:08
  
  +1
  
  What other ways would you suggest a person could appropriate a culture not their own to relate to and be trusted by a culture other than by inheritance? inheritance doesn't necessarily mean you were born into something.
  - trapper on 23/09/2021 - 14:15
    
    +3
    
    Experience of course.
    
    Someone of non-African heritage who spent the last 30 years living and working in Africa would have far more knowledge of African culture than someone who immigrated to Australia at age two and spent the last 30 years growing up here for example.
    - Ughhh on 23/09/2021 - 18:20
      
      Will the vulnerable children and families see that non-African heritage person as their own though? You can't support someone if they don't trust and allow you to support them.
      - trapper on 23/09/2021 - 18:24
        
        +3
        
        @Ughhh: Maybe we should teach them not to be racist?
        
        I mean it's basically no different from a racist Karen demanding a white doctor.
        
        Ughhh on 23/09/2021 - 18:27
        
        +2
        
        @trapper:
        
        Maybe we should teach them not to be racist?
        
        LOL that's a pretty insensitive comment. Do you have any idea on what it's like to be in a foreign country and not know anything?
        You have no idea what's those people went through to get here.
        
        You can't just tell people to trust you.
        
        Also, not trusting and willing to share your issues and struggles with someone does not make you a racist.
        
        cookie2 on 23/09/2021 - 19:38
        
        -1
        
        @Ughhh: I think you're fishing by saying it's insensitive. Maybe they're right.
      - cookie2 on 23/09/2021 - 19:37
        
        @Ughhh: You could also say that trust is built.
        
        Ughhh on 23/09/2021 - 20:06
        
        +2
        
        @cookie2: Makes more sense to hire someone who is more qualified in all relatable areas from the get go.
        This is a support position for a particular vulnerable group. Not just an ordinary teaching job. Empathy would be a good quality to have.
  - cookie2 on 23/09/2021 - 19:36
    
    Marriage? Lived experience and living somewhere?
sarahlump on 23/09/2021 - 14:07

-2

Discrimination happens, it's happened in Australia ever since the first boat invaded. Racism, sexism, any kind of discrimination is widespread and pretty in your face in Australia.

Discrimination in the workplace is pretty widespread in Australia. That means that the default selection criteria for any position if it's not stated is implicitly for a white person, and usually for a white man.

Laws to protect people from discrimination in the workforce, in education providers, etc are under assault right now and people actually debate whether or not they should be allowed to put forward legislature that allows discrimination.

If you don't want discrimination to be so widespread in Australia be a part of the solution; there are a range of actions you can take to help improve the country in small and big ways every day.
I don't think OP is interested in it tbh but that's just my reading.
- cookie2 on 23/09/2021 - 19:39
  
  Well you misunderstand.
Emerald Owl on 23/09/2021 - 14:08

+1

If they are going to hire certain people, I would rather them be frank so I know not to waste my time. Is it racist? Yes.
There are plenty of white Africans who may have far more cultural understanding than some with “African heritage’’.
HangryCakeStore on 23/09/2021 - 14:35

+4

REVERSE DISCRIMINATION is what this is and its still racist

All those that voted "Ok with me" are probably trying to be part of this woke trend and doesn't absolve any of your past racist ways, you're still a damn racist.
[Deactivated] on 23/09/2021 - 14:50

+2

Why not? Like some jobs are open only to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
Drakesy on 23/09/2021 - 15:20

+5

I think given it's a cultural officer, it would be good to have a background so you can actually relate with the kids.
Maybe the last one couldn't relate on a cultural level and left or the kids don't respect anyone who isn't from African heritage?

Kind of like how you have aboriginal support workers who go around ensuring people on the streets are safe and not being antisocial.
You'll get a better response if it's someone from your own clan.
- HangryCakeStore on 23/09/2021 - 15:48
  
  -2
  
  Pretty ignorant, highly doubt most the voters would think to provide cultural support for ALL ethnic communities.
  - Drakesy on 23/09/2021 - 17:00
    
    not sure if sarcasm?
    - Ughhh on 23/09/2021 - 18:23
      
      +2
      
      Sarcasm requires some form of intelligence though 🤔
      - HangryCakeStore on 23/09/2021 - 23:07
        
        -2
        
        @Ughhh: I guess you guys only think in black and white, sad.
        
        Ughhh on 24/09/2021 - 06:14
        
        +2
        
        @HangryCakeStore: Thanks, that suggest we at least think. Now I feel harsh about my previous comment 😔
        
        Do you go raiding viet communities and asking why they don't support Italians? Or asking why charities aren't giving food hampers to rich people. Lololol
- Cluster on 23/09/2021 - 16:35
  
  +3
  
  I think people are being too precious about 'reverse discrimination' regarding this specific job. It does sound like a job that would benefit from someone being of an African background if the job specifically deals with children from that area of the world. And of course, someone is always going to be the smart ass who says 'what about white people from South Africa?' Obviously people from a background of the colonizers of Africa need not apply if the children they'll be working with are not of the same background.
  
  I would add however that Africa is a huge place with many diverse groups of people who have little in common with one another in terms of culture or language. Trying to find someone who ticks all the boxes is impossible, but we can try for the best fit.
Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 23/09/2021 - 15:46

+5

OP likely won't have any experience or knowledge of African cultures or speak any African languages, so no chance in hell of getting the gig regardless of background.

I question the reasons OP is posting this for.
- cookie2 on 23/09/2021 - 19:42
  
  Was i unclear in my reasons? I have been genuine throughout and stayed engaged BECAUSE I care.
MrBear on 23/09/2021 - 15:54

+3

How can it be racist if you are a white and African?
Ciderfizz44 on 23/09/2021 - 16:20

Call their bluff or go black face in the zoom interview.
Vote for Pedro on 23/09/2021 - 16:57

+3

This feels like when sky news after dark hosts complain and cry foul when a bloke is hard done by or ‘discriminated’ against. Meanwhile, same after dark hosts down play poor treatment of women.
kartoffelviking on 23/09/2021 - 17:12

Just intrigued to know if I'm the only jobseeker out there, feeling like race is an obstacle in the job market before I even get to the interview.

The above seems to be the issue at hand here, and while I'm not a jobseeker myself at the moment, I can almost guarantee that you are not the only jobseeker out there, who feels that race is an obstacle in the job market. So I believe you are not alone, which may be of some comfort.

I'm also pretty sure, that in the vast majority of cases where race is felt as an obstacle, there is nothing explicit in the job ad that is causing this. That job ad you found seems to be an outlier, and I fully expect you will feel different about most other job ads you see.

PS. I have noticed that in a couple of Thai and sushi food places I enjoy, the staff seems to be exclusively of some Asian heritage. While the food is great, it doesn't seem quite right.

PPS. What exactly is the question for the poll?
- cookie2 on 23/09/2021 - 19:44
  
  -1
  
  Its it ok for race to be a condition of employment.
  - kartoffelviking on 23/09/2021 - 22:37
    
    Thanks for clarifying. My answer would be 'Yes, sometimes', which I guess is closer to 'Ok with me' than 'Not ok at all', but in practice means 'Don't care'. I wish you had added a "sometimes" option :-)
    - cookie2 on 24/09/2021 - 09:42
      
      Yeah i wanted to amend my poll options too. thought i shouldn't have said "not ok at all" but instead said "not ok" but I wasn't sure if i could play around after people had posted so i left it. i also should've done the "don't carex to instead be "sometimes". Thanks for the feedback and your opinion.
RnO on 23/09/2021 - 17:33

+10

As someone who was born and raised in an African country (Mauritius). I moved here at the age of 19 on my own and had to work hard to get to where I am today. I can say that I strongly disagree with this. If the job required me to speak my native language then absolutely it's okay but I don't think that I should have the job based on my ethnicity. If the job required asian, Indian or Australian descent only, I would feel like this is unfair and discrimination! We look up to our own people and elders back home but we also need to accept the fact that we are no longer "home" anymore and if we cannot look up or respect and relate to the opinion of people of other cultures, then that's something we need to address as a community. We left home because of a lot of unfairness and hardship and came here for a better life, this is our new home and we must show everyone that we are capable of adapting to these things.
- Ughhh on 24/09/2021 - 06:39
  
  +1
  
  Check out this job on SEEK: Transitions and Cultural Safety Officer - North-east African from Flemington Primary School-
  
  Yeh those 6yo should be able to adapt by themselves and cope. No need for a support person who the kids can relate to to support and guide them through the transition.
  - RnO on 24/09/2021 - 09:19
    
    +4
    
    You completely missed my point. At no point did I say these kids or in fact anybody should just adapt by themselves. I didn't adapt by myself either, I was supported along the way by many good and generous people. My point is that you can have capable support from qualified professionals of any heritage or race. Sure the odds are smaller but if you have done your studies, understand the language and the culture then why shouldn't you be considered for the position? So you are telling me that when I first moved to Australia that I shouldn't of been considered for a role in community work as I wouldn't of been capable to help Australian kids who grew up in particular hardship because I'm not of Australian heritage?
    - Ughhh on 24/09/2021 - 13:14
      
      Are those Australian kids refugees and possibly victims of war in a foreign country, who need support transitioning in Australia?
- morse on 24/09/2021 - 10:24
  
  +3
  
  Correct me if I'm wrong but Mauritius doesn't have a huge amount of people fleeing violence and persecution like a good proportion of the kids this program is targeted at would have faced. Some of these children are refugees themselves or their parents were. Many will be impacted by lower socioeconomic status, non-english speaking parents and direct and intergenerational trauma. Many of these kids will have faced covert and overt racism, which may lead them to trust someone with a similar background to themselves more. I think the intent is to have the person who takes the role have some understanding of this from their own life experiences. The position also doesn't preclude other people from other cultures working with these kids and their community/parents, it's just one role amongst many.
  - RnO on 24/09/2021 - 11:28
    
    Fristly your message didn't answer my question regarding whether or not I should be allowed to work for the Australian community as an immigrant with no "Australian heritage". Secondly, have you been to Mauritius? Did you google it and see just the pretty sandy beaches and underwater waterfalls that show up on Instagram? Did you grow up in a third world country yourself? Have you ever felt the effects of racism and discrimination? Were you born in a country where you knew that if you got sick you would most likely die due to lack of medical care? Or are you speaking on behalf of other people? Have you suffered from intergenerational trauma? (All genuine questions, not trying to be condescending).
    
    I'm not here to try and convince you or infact anybody else about what is right or what is wrong. I just wanted to offer my experience and what my opinion was, which I'm entitled to as you are. Im not here to go back and forth to convince or argue with everyone about what is right or wrong. But I will say that if you think that it is ok to not be selected for a job because of your "heritage"
    even though you have the capability to do so then that's your opinion. I just hope that you never find yourself discriminated against and missed out on opportunities like I have because of the way you look, sound or dress. It's not nice to be unfairly disadvantaged because of something you had no control over. And just because it's happened to me doesn't mean that it should happen to other cultures too, Asian, Indian, european, white etc… If that's an unreasonable opinion then I'm done here. Have a nice day!
    - Ughhh on 24/09/2021 - 13:21
      
      whether or not I should be allowed to work for the Australian community as an immigrant with no "Australian heritage".
      
      There's a lot of "me me me" there, when its supposed to be about those refugee kids. No one said you're not allowed to work. You believe you're a good fit, well perhaps they don't believe so through experience of previous employees.
      - RnO on 24/09/2021 - 14:58
        
        @Ughhh: Judging by your answer, you didn't even read my question properly. Either that or you are by now just arguing for the sake of arguing. In any case, have a nice day!
        
        Ughhh on 24/09/2021 - 16:21
        
        @RnO: It was irrelevant as youre not thinking from those refugees pov. I'd pick your feelings getting hurt over having unsuitable people supporting those kids. Have a good day too, don't get too upset.
This Guy on 23/09/2021 - 17:53

+5

Cookie2, you are confusing heritage for race and writing racist rubbish.

You want support workers, advocates, politicians, emergency workers and representatives of the same heritage as the people they serve. They are generally more effective as they are part of the same community, know how to effectively communicate with in that culture, will know many of the needs of that community so will often earn trust very quickly and show kids of that culture that they can succeed.

These culture limited roles exist because these communities are under served. Often these cultures won't take help from outsiders as they where oppressed by racist government employees or vilified in the media, so have an inter generational distrust of people outside of their community.

The only reasons you would want one of these jobs with out the cultural heritage was if you wanted to steal a wage for no work or you wanted to further oppress that group by making services less accessible to them.
- MessyG on 23/09/2021 - 19:08
  
  Hear hear.
- kanmen on 23/09/2021 - 19:18
  
  +3
  
  Undoubtedly I will get negged just as you have, but I agree. Representation is important. Roles like these are reserved for people from those backgrounds to ensure there are adequate advocates for these minorities as well as advocates that understand the cultures of the people they are advocating for, by lived experience.
  
  The whole reason this 'Transitions and Cultural Safety Officer' role exists is exemplified in the fact that we're even having this discussion. Stopping white-savourism, white-centredness and other colonised-mindset oppression is precisely why this role has been designated to suit the people it serves.
  - This Guy on 23/09/2021 - 22:49
    
    Come on, it's not all bad.
    
    White-savourism has been getting young immigrants laid by young woke activists for the last 50 years. And the sex keeps the activists too busy to do anything violent. I think that's a win-win.
- cookie2 on 23/09/2021 - 19:45
  
  +2
  
  I stopped reading after you called me racist in the first line.
  - This Guy on 23/09/2021 - 22:34
    
    +6
    
    You need to read slower.
    
    The job ad was for culture, not race.
    
    I said you wrote racist rubbish, not that you are one.
    
    But you do you buddy.
  - morse on 24/09/2021 - 10:29
    
    +4
    
    cookie2
    
    genuinely get others opinions
    
    trying to have an open discussion,
    
    also cookie2
    
    I stopped reading after you called me racist in the first line.
    - CocaKoala on 24/09/2021 - 18:19
      
      +3
      
      Haha, here's genuinely interested in others opinions as long as the opinions are similar to his own. Basically seeking confirmation bias.
tessel on 23/09/2021 - 17:59

It happens. Affirmative action or whatever. I completely disagree with any kind of discrimination. Hiring to fill quotas is terrible. I'm sure I'll get people replying otherwise but race, sex, whatever should not play a part at all. Whoever is the most qualified and suited etc for the job should get it. However, the world doesn't see it this way, so just move on.
dcash on 23/09/2021 - 18:24

+6

Just imagine if you advertised a position as being available only for an Australian of British descent. You'd probably be locked up.
- Vote for Pedro on 23/09/2021 - 20:35
  
  +2
  
  Alan? Alan Jones? Is that you?
- HangryCakeStore on 23/09/2021 - 23:01
  
  -2
  
  But its pretty standard who most jobs are more for, have you seen the politicians? They'd occasionally only hire maybe 1 or 2 asians to be politically correct not really representative of Australia
  - dcash on 24/09/2021 - 08:22
    
    -2
    
    What are you on about? There are huge numbers of non-white Australians working FOR politicians. If you are talking about politicians themselves, you do realise that the general public elect them, right? In the case of a Chinese centric area like Ryde (NSW), the deputy mayor is not only Chinese but seemingly a member of the CCP also. You can't get much more non-white-Australian than that!
    - Autonomic on 24/09/2021 - 09:58
      
      +1
      
      Yeah, no. The political party selects who runs and who doesn't. They do not select minority candidates. We're seeing this in real time in Sydney:
      
      https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-14/albanese-tells-tu-le-…
      - dcash on 24/09/2021 - 10:26
        
        @Autonomic: What about Gladys Liu in Federal Parliament? Geoff Lee as a NSW State MP? Simon Zhou as Ryde Council deputy mayor?
        
        Autonomic on 24/09/2021 - 10:44
        
        @dcash: What about them? 3 out of how many hundreds of elected officials?
        
        dcash on 24/09/2021 - 10:51
        
        @Autonomic: Just three that immediately came to mind, representing all levels of Government in Australia. Obviously there's plenty more, like Mr. Penny Wong and Mehreen Faruqi; real quality people (rofl).
        
        Now can I ask you how many white politicians there are in China? Korea? India?
        
        Autonomic on 24/09/2021 - 11:12
        
        +1
        
        @dcash: I'm going to assume you're intelligent enough to understand demographics & statistics
        
        https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/sep/18/does-…
        
        4.1 % of MPs in Australia’s 45th parliament had a non-European background and 1.5% had an Indigenous background
        
        Keep in mind some 21% of Australians have a non-European & non-Indigenous background. But that's only MPs. It gets better (worse);
        
        Of the 30 members of the Federal Ministry, there is no one who has a non-European background, and one who has an Indigenous background. It is similarly bleak within the public service, where 99 per cent of the heads of federal and state government departments have an Anglo-Celtic or European background (that’s one of 103).
        
        https://humanrights.gov.au/about/news/opinions/australian-le…
        
        I can only assume you DON'T want Australia to be like China or India, so why are you using them as a standard? (although, judging by the federal ministry and federal & state heads numbers, we are the same).
        
        Why not compare us to other developed countries like Canada, US or the UK? Is it because they actually fair far better in diversity in government than we do?
        
        dcash on 24/09/2021 - 12:49
        
        @Autonomic: You mean compare us other countries that are going down the poop-hole because they adopted a "come one, come all" approach that is now massively back-firing on them? Anyone who thinks you can please everybody is just looney. There is no middle ground. If there was, we wouldn't even need to be having this discussion.
        
        Autonomic on 24/09/2021 - 13:02
        
        -1
        
        @dcash: What? So…you DO want to compare Australia to China and India as some kind of ideal?
        
        dcash on 24/09/2021 - 13:44
        
        @dcash: I'm saying that what's good for the goose should be good for the gander.
        
        Autonomic on 28/09/2021 - 12:50
        
        @dcash: The goose in your analogy being India/China or US/UK/Canada?
  - D3HUN on 24/09/2021 - 08:26
    
    F me really, it is like to politicians are hired and not elected, right?
    
    You can ~~elect~~ vote for anyone you want to represent you.
    - Autonomic on 24/09/2021 - 11:14
      
      The party select who runs and who doesn't. We're seeing this in real time in Sydney:
      
      https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-14/albanese-tells-tu-le-…
joelmuzz on 23/09/2021 - 18:40

African heritage really isn't a race though.
You can be any race and qualify if you did immigrate from Africa and are part of the community.

Of course almost no other race does have that background. South African whites were excluded from the community by the whole apartheid thing so…
But there are people of every race who have grown up in Africa and mixed with the local culture so it's possible.

Every Chinese English school wants teachers raised in Australian/USA/Canada/UK because it's about more than just the textbook language. They want the language in cultural context and all of the life experience.
- trapper on 23/09/2021 - 19:23
  
  +1
  
  Australian isn't a race either, so how does "Australian heritage applicants only" sound? Yuck, that makes my skin crawl.
  - iridiumstem on 23/09/2021 - 19:33
    
    It sounds like they want someone from Australia? Weird, but OK. Why?
  - Cheaplikethebird on 24/09/2021 - 08:54
    
    Not really the same thing, being Australian in Australia isn’t really a specialised skill.
funnysht on 23/09/2021 - 19:10

A lot of jobs also say only aboriginal torres islanders apply - more because of cultural issues.
Or female only gyms.

Is it discrimination yeh probably but then would you want to waste your time going to that interview realizing you have no chance?
popsiee on 23/09/2021 - 19:11

+1

Try to get a job in one of those Religious Schools if your aren't of that faith .
Answer no hope .
- Ughhh on 23/09/2021 - 20:12
  
  Im sure there will still be people who won't be able to understand why they weren't hired.
- Chochkee on 23/09/2021 - 20:30
  
  +2
  
  But that’s easily fixed. Convert to that religion. I tried to change my race to African and let’s just say it hasn’t worked. I’ve been criticised for black face and I’m not allowed back to the mall.

African Heritage as a Condition of Employment

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