iATSIC

iCHASE Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation (ICN 9135)

Bringing positive change to Indigenous communities

through workforce and community engagement

Our land is our life. If it dies, we die.

Care for Country (C4C) is an iATSIC fundraising initiative focused on healing and re-connecting all Australians with Country.

Our goal is simple: To heal Country and do it safely.

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About iATSIC

iATSIC (iCHASE Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation) is an Indigenous business with registered charity status.

Our goal is to be part of long-term positive change in Indigenous lives, with mutually beneficial outcomes for all Australians.

We do this by:

delivering Engagement-based Safety training: The Art of Engagement.
allowing everyone to be part of healing our land and reducing extreme fires through Care for Country.
providing opportunities for the community to participate in tax-deductible programs, ensuring long-term sustainability.

Our Philosophy

Do no harm – to yourself, to others and to the environment.

Everybody has the right to go home safe at the end of the day.
Everybody has the right to access information in a way they can understand.
Every community is unique, so we customise The Art of Engagement training resources to suit your needs.

We work with you so it works for you.

Engagement and Safety: what’s the link?

Engaged workplaces are safe workplaces.

Disengagement leads to serious incidents. Therefore, disengagement is potentially the greatest workplace hazard.

Statistics show that 86% of Australians are disengaged or actively disengaged (Gallup 2017). Engagement in Indigenous work communities is estimated at 1%.

With engagement, you get safety. It doesn’t work the other way around.

Engaged workforces also bring many other benefits:

they are more efficient and productive
they are more optimistic, leading to better mental health
they bring added legal protection for managers in the face of new industrial manslaughter legislation

There is no downside to engagement.

Broader Benefits

a) The beauty of workforce engagement is that the benefits flow out to the wider community. Our engagement levels affect how we communicate and act. If we are engaged or disengaged at work, we will bring that attitude – good or bad- home.

Engaged families raise engaged children
The ultimate goal is a self-perpetuating cycle of engagement

b) The Art of Engagement is created in PlainREAD (our version of plain English) for added readability – because everyone has the right to understand information.

c) The Art of Engagement builds confidence by using best practice andragogy – because adults need to learn differently.

d) The Art of Engagement improves literacy and comprehension.

e) This engagement system can be applied to any context or industry.

f) iATSIC Programs collectively contribute to 8 of the 17 Closing the Gap Targets.

Our Partners

David Randall – DRA Safety Specialists

David Randall is the Managing Director of DRA Safety Specialists and has been involved in the Work Health and Safety Industry since 1990. He has been the Regional Representative of the Gold Coast Branch of the Australian Institute of Health and Safety (AIHS) since 1990 and was President in QLD &NT from 2008 to 2011.

David recognises the importance of engagement for long-term safety success. He is proud to be partnering with iATSIC to help build engagement (and improve safety) in Indigenous communities.

Shane Webcke

Shane’s passion for safety-based workplace engagement makes him a perfect fit as an iATSIC partner.

Shane Webcke is renowned as one of rugby league’s best front-row forwards. Since retiring, he has become a compelling speaker, author and safety ambassador.

When he played, he didn’t miss anyone on the field, and when he speaks, he doesn’t miss anyone in the room. That’s because he cares about making sure workers go home safe to their families. “If I can change just one person’s attitude, then it will all be worthwhile.”

Dr Prue Millear

Dr Prudence Millear is the Honours Program co-ordinator at the University of the Sunshine Coast and has been professionally critiquing The Art of Engagement since its inception.

Dr Millear is proud to be partnering with iATSIC and is currently running a 2-year research project to evaluate the effects of the training program on Indigenous rangers in the Bunya Mountains (Ethics Approval no: A221730).

She plans to use this engagement-based safety methodology as the basis for research masters and PhDs.

Bunya Mountains Aboriginal Corporation (BPAC)

BPAC is proud to partner with iATSIC and recently signed an MOU to:

co-create safety-based engagement training tailored to Indigenous and other fire practitioners
co-create standardised procedure for Indigenous Cultural Burning practice.
to co-create a suite of PlainREAD safety procedures for rangers.
co-deliver disaster resilience (bushfires) workshops
collaborate to support a range of Care for Country initiatives.

Our Board

Graeme Mitchell

Graeme Mitchell is the co-founder and CEO of iATSIC. Drawing on decades of experience across many industries, he pioneered a unique engagement system aimed at revolutionising workplace safety.

A fundamental mission of iATSIC is to increase employment opportunities for Indigenous Australians and to see them lead the way in workforce engagement.

Stephen Passmore

Stephen co-founded iATSIC with Graeme Mitchell. He currently works in an industry-based Indigenous recruitment and mentoring role.

He was the regional coordinator for the Central Western Queensland CDEP and held the position of Community Development Officer with the Central West Aboriginal Corporation. He also has extensive experience in the rail industry. Steve recognises the positive impact that career-based engagement can have on Indigenous communities.

Leonie Swift

Leonie is a plain English specialist, trainer, content writer and editor. A qualified Librarian, she has over 20 years’ experience in state and local government.

Leonie also holds a Cert IV in Training and Assessment and is a strong advocate for lifelong learning and adult literacy. Leonie is excited to be part of iATSIC’s lead training team, equipping Aboriginal Australians to bring customised engagement training to their own communities.

John Murray

John currently works as an operations manager with an Indigenous Ranger Organisation. Before moving to ranger work, John spent over 10 years in the fast-moving consumer goods industry in various managerial roles.

John has a career focus in the WHS and Training and Assessment field. Having recently completed The Art of Engagement (Safey-based Engagement training), he is excited to be part of iATSIC’s team to help drive and deliver this revolutionised safety training to other Indigenous ranger groups throughout Australia.

Struan Mitchell

Struan has over 10 years’ experience in the rail industry and currently works as a supervisor on the Inland Rail project. Struan was mentored by Stephen Passmore while they worked together in Western Australia.

Struan is proud of his Indigenous heritage and wants to see young, engaged Indigenous people forging careers in the rail industry.

Paul Jones

As a practising Indigenous psychologist, Paul Jones has played a key consultative role in the development of the iCHASE engagement system since 2012.

Paul has a particular interest in youth safety and community-based engagement.

Get Involved

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If you share our vision and would like to help, we’d love to hear from you via the form below!

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All donations over $2 are tax deductable.