First Nations Employment Index 2025
Client: National Indigenous Employment and Training Alliance (The Alliance)
Service: Research & Engagement
The First Nations Employment Index is a national, biennial study that shines a light on the state of employment equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia’s largest employers.
Murawin was contracted for the inaugural index in 2021 and we’re extremely proud to have been asked to return for the 2025 edition. Murawin was engaged to lead the qualitative research in partnership with the Social Research Centre (SRC), who undertook the quantitative survey for participating organisations, under the stewardship of the National Indigenous Employment and Training Alliance (The Alliance).
Working with 34 participating employers, collectively representing more than 1.1 million employees and around 30,000 First Nations staff, we set out to uncover the stories behind the numbers. Through culturally grounded methods, we explored the experiences of First Nations employees navigating the complex terrain of recruitment, retention, leadership, inclusion, and organisational accountability.
Our Approach
Murawin’s approach was informed by Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDS) principles and the need to centre First Nations voices. We developed the qualitative research model in alignment with an agreed conceptual framework , and secured ethics approval through Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS). Our research team then travelled across the country, listening to stories from First Nations employees, line managers, and executives in one-on-one interviews and group yarning circles.
The yarns revealed not only moments of pride, empowerment, and strong leadership, but also recurring patterns of invisibility, burnout, and the impact of systemic barriers. Many participants described feelings of stagnation in roles that felt tokenistic, or a lack of culturally safe support structures to enable them to thrive. Others spoke of powerful connections to community and the importance of working in organisations that respected First Nations knowledge, identity, and values.
As the insights emerged, Murawin worked closely with SRC to integrate these qualitative narratives with the quantitative findings. Our goal was to ensure that every theme, every recommendation, was grounded in lived experience, not just statistics. The result was a multi-dimensional picture of the workforce, where numbers were enriched by stories.
Image Source: Listen, Yarn, Act Framework | First Nations Employment Index 2025
Image Source: First Nations Employment Index 2025
Findings and Impact
The research uncovered a number of systemic issues that continue to affect First Nations employment outcomes. Racism, often subtle, structural and unresolved, remained a common theme.
Many First Nations employees felt the weight of cultural load and described a lack of formal recognition for the extra emotional labour they carried. Leadership pathways were another key challenge, with a significant number of participants unable to name a single First Nations leader within their organisation. This absence of visible role models was linked to feelings of disconnection and limited opportunity.
Yet alongside these challenges were clear signals of what works. Culturally safe recruitment practices, such as informal yarning-style interviews and outreach through community networks, were named as pivotal. Employers who offered flexibility, community-focused work, and tailored leadership programs were seen as places where First Nations employees could see themselves growing, not just surviving.
These insights, presented through both the national report and tailored Benchmark Reports for each employer, are already helping reshape how organisations think about inclusion, accountability and structural change.
Image Source: First Nations Employment Index 2025
Legacy
For Murawin, this project was not just about research, it was about truth-telling, trust-building, and creating the conditions for real change. It reinforced the importance of First Nations-led inquiry, and the role of storytelling as both a method and an outcome. In the wake of the 2023 Voice referendum, this work stands as a powerful reminder that systems change begins by listening deeply.
With over 140 stories woven into this edition of the Index, our team was proud to return to deliver the 2025 edition and help amplify the voices of First Nations peoples. Being asked back is a testament to the quality of our work and the importance of centring First Nations stories to back up the numbers. The insights from this important report will continue to inform the national conversation and, we hope, drive tangible improvements in workplace equity, now and for generations to come.
Image Source: First Nations Employment Index 2025