The First Nations Engagement in Transition to Net Zero project is removing barriers for First Nations peoples in accessing training and employment in the decarbonisation workforce.
What is the decarbonisation workforce?
The decarbonisation workforce involves jobs where people are helping reduce carbon emissions, move the electricity network to renewable, or ‘clean’, energy sources and improve energy efficiency. Clean energy jobs also include work to capture carbon, for example through land care and biodiversity support.
Closing the Gap
The Australian Government has a National Agreement on Closing the Gap to enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and governments to work together to overcome the inequality experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and achieve life outcomes equal to all Australians.
This includes working with First Nations peoples on a package of reforms to ensure First Nations peoples can access the education, training and support needed to obtain well-paid secure jobs, as outlined in the Closing the Gap Priority Reform Four.
First Nations engagement in transitioning to Net Zero
As part of the broader Net Zero Plan, Australia is committed to growing its decarbonisation workforce and making sure workers have the skills to support Australia’s transition to net zero emissions.
The emergence of new, decarbonisation labour markets presents an opportunity to deliver on the National Agreement as well as the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy 2024–2030 through support for First Nations peoples to participate in and benefit from the clean energy transition.
The department has partnered with Ninti One to ensure First Nations peoples are prioritised as part of the transition. The First Nations Engagement in Transition to Net Zero project has developed practical resources to support employers and training providers in building culturally safe work and learning environments, and to support First Nations peoples in exploring pathways into clean energy jobs and training.
Community consultation
The Community Report gives an overview of the project and includes detail of who was engaged, what was heard, what was learned and detail of the resources created.
- View the Community Report
Hear First Nations peoples’ stories about working in clean energy careers
The Net Zero Storybook includes real stories of First Nations peoples working in or engaging with the sector, bridging cultural knowledge, lived experience and sector opportunity in a visually engaging and accessible way.