The implications of cultural values in workplace cultures : Australian indigenous employees within mainstream Australian organisations

This paper focuses on aspects of cultural values, which may influence the employment and retention of Australian Indigenous people in mainstream organisations. Initially the paper explores the concepts of culture, mainstream Australian culture and Indigenous Australian culture. Comparisons and distinctions are then made between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian culture and society. Finally a discussion is centered primarily on the Indigenous cultural values created in The Dreaming and underpinned by the classificatory Kinship System. Utilising the literature on workplace values and cultural dimensions, the incongruence between mainstream organisational values and those held by many Indigenous Australian employees, raises some of the likely problems Indigenous Australians may face when confronted with mainstream work practices.