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Illawarra-South East Aboriginal
Government Employees Network (I-SE AGEN)

About us

The Illawarra-South East Aboriginal Government Employees Network (AGEN) brings together Aboriginal employees of the NSW Government who work in the Illawarra and South East Regions of NSW. The aim of this group is to increase the support, networking, and opportunities for collaboration between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers employed by the NSW Government. The term ‘Aboriginal’, when used in the context of the Aboriginal Government Employees Network, is always inclusive of Torres Strait Islander people.

Background – how we were formed:

As part of its cross-agency commitment to enhance service delivery and community outcomes for Aboriginal people, the Illawarra and South East Regional Managers Network (I-SE RMN) established an inaugural I-SE Indigenous Workers Forum at Murramarang (near Bateman’s Bay) in November 2004. The major outcome from the IWF meeting was the development of a framework for the establishment of the I-SE AGEN as an annual event. Annual Gatherings are held in September each year. The first I-SE AGEN gathering was held in September 2005 and involved about 70 Aboriginal employees. In between the annual Gatherings, AGEN is supported by a working group known as the Cross Agency Working Party (CAWP). Members of CAWP are appointed each year by the AGEN Gathering.

Download a Report on the most recent AGEN Gathering

What’s happening now?

The CAWP is planning the next I-SE AGEN Gathering, to be held on the 20, 21 and 22 September 2011. In conjunction with the Illawarra-South East Regional Managers Network, CAWP is reviewing two regional planning documents that have previously been developed to support Aboriginal employees and improve NSW Government service delivery to Aboriginal communities. These documents are:

  1. An Illawarra-South East Aboriginal Employment and Recruitment Plan
  2. An Illawarra-South East Cultural Respect Training Framework

Work is being carried out to improve service delivery to Aboriginal communities in the Wingecarribee local government area. The development of two information pamphlets is being finalised. These pamphlets are:

  1. Information for all new Aboriginal Staff
  2. Reconciliation in the Workplace

About this website

This website was initially developed by a Working Group established at the AGEN Gathering 2005. The Gathering wanted the website to provide Aboriginal employees with a way of connecting with each other and getting support for their employment roles. The website also provides a way to share information about work that AGEN and CAWP are doing, or have completed. The original Website Working Group was Emmanuel Fewquandie, Leann Cross, Marilyn Brown, Mick Cutmore, Darrell Brown and Denise McConnachie.

What is on this Website?

  • CAWP Page: On this page you will find an outline of the role of CAWP, a list of the current CAWP members, and an outline of what is happening now.
  • NSW Government Agencies: On this page you will find a list of the NSW Government Agencies that support AGEN. The links between these agencies and AGEN are explained through the joint Terms of Reference.
  • Projects: On this page you will find out more about the range of exciting projects developed by AGEN and the RMN:
    • Aboriginal Employment and Recruitment Plan
    • Aboriginal Cultural Respect Training Framework
    • Aboriginal Culture and Heritage Framework
    • AGEN Pamphlets
  • AGEN Gatherings: On this page you are able to see what is happening with the development of the current annual Gathering. You will also be able to download reports on past AGEN Gatherings.

Getting in touch with AGEN

If you are an Aboriginal employee of the NSW Government, and you work in the Illawarra or South East Regions of NSW, you are eligible to become a member of the AGEN network.

To do this, please send an email including all your contact details to:
AGENnetwork@dpc.nsw.gov.au

As a member of AGEN you can be provided with a list of contact details for other AGEN members.

Feedback and comments

Please direct any comments or feedback on the Website to:

The Project Manager
Regional Co-ordination Program
NSW Premier’s Department

Telephone:  Queanbeyan 02 6229 7806 or Wollongong 02 4253 6303

Email:  AGENnetwork@dpc.nsw.gov.au

About the AGEN Logo

The beautiful Logo used by AGEN was kindly designed and given by Patricia Margaret Maurer in 2005. Sadly, Aunty Pat passed away on 15 December 2005. Her support for helping to establish AGEN and her gift of the logo will always be remembered.