Yarrangi is DEST’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Recruitment and Career Development Plan. Yarrangi also refers to the Yarrangi Steering Committee which is the consultative group within DEST that leads the development of Yarrangi, and coordinates the local networks of Indigenous Australian staff in DEST.
The name Yarrangi means ‘belonging to us’ and is from the Gooniyandi language, which is spoken by approximately 100 people in the Fitzroy Crossing area of Western Australia. The name reflects the need for people in all parts of DEST to recognise Yarrangi as belonging to them, and to work together to meet the desired objectives.
DEST is committed to helping improve the lives of Indigenous Australians through education, science and training. DEST is also well recognised for developing and delivering policies and programmes for Indigenous Australians. The strong cohort of Indigenous employees, including 45 per cent of the staff in our state and regional network, is crucial to the department’s success in working with our Indigenous clients. If you are interested in working on Indigenous issues check our website regularly for opportunities to work in Indigenous-specific areas.
While many Indigenous Australians choose to work in Indigenous related areas, the perspectives and knowledge of Indigenous Australians is equally valued in all areas within DEST. Therefore, Indigenous Australians are strongly encouraged to apply for all employment opportunities within DEST.
The Australian Public Service (APS) has a merit based process for selecting the best people for positions. This process typically requires applicants to demonstrate in a written application their capabilities against a set of criteria. For assistance in applying for job in the APS, including DEST, visit the Australian Public Service Commission website at www.apsc.gov.au/indigenous/gettingajob.htm 
As a part of Yarrangi, DEST has a range of support initiatives in place specifically for its Indigenous Australian employees. These initiatives range from study scholarships to mentoring programmes. To find out more about the sorts of things DEST is doing for its Indigenous staff, take a look at the Yarrangi Plan, and specifically the Yarrangi Action Plan.