Former Warrnambool woman helping Indigenous Australians secure work

Bayley Mifsud, 23, is the Indigenous engagement lead for Officeworks.

The proud Kirrae and Peek Wurrong woman, who was born on Gunditjmara country and grew up in Warrnambool, has just received two accolades for her efforts in helping Indigenous people join the company.

She was named in the top 30 under 30 in international office products magazine OTI and won the Wesfarmers RAP employment champion award.

In addition to that she has a range of products that are adorned in her artwork available nationally at Officeworks.

"It's a range that shares culture, and gives back to Indigenous communities, as 50 cents per product sold will be donated to the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation, which is contributing to the important revival, maintenance and revitalisation of Indigenous First languages," Ms Mifsud said.

"Being able to continue the sacred tradition of storytelling through art, continuing what my elders and ancestors have done in the past is something I will never take for granted," she said.

"I want to inspire all individual people's stories across the world and interrupt them in a way that connect them back to Australia's true First Nation's People."

Ms Mifsud started the role at Officeworks in January 2020.

At that time, the company had 180 Indigenous employees.

Since then, Ms Mifsud has overseen the employment of a further 270 Indigenous staff members.

She said she was incredibly proud to say Indigenous staff members now made up 4 per cent of the company's workforce.

Ms Mifsud said she loved each and every moment of her job. "There are no words that can express how rewarding it is to be able to change someone's life by helping them to get a job," she said.

"It doesn't feel like work, which is incredible."

Ms Mifsud said she had been working hard to educate people about the impacts of unemployment on individual Indigenous people and their community.

"I can see the negative affects this has on people and their community," she said.

Ms Mifsud said she had also been educating managers that Indigenous applicants may not have as much work experience on their resumes due to factors that were out of their control.

Her grandmother, who is now 83, was born in the bush in Bendigo.

"Jobs for our people provide financial stability and a better life," Ms Mifsud said.

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