Westpac Bank's huge recruitment campaign has a VERY big catch if you want one of their jobs
- 'Lead our mob': Westpac slammed over hiring practices
- READ MORE: Westpac apologies after tense customer call
One of Australia's biggest banks has been slammed for advertising a range of job opportunities which are only open to First Nations candidates.
Westpac is seeking to fill multiple openings in legal and risk divisions and consumer banking, but only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants will be considered.
'If you identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and are seeking to advance your career, we want to connect with you,' said the LinkedIn ad titled: 'Lead our Mob'.
The announcement comes as the backlash against diversity, equity and inclusion policies in the US ripples out across the globe, questioning targeted hiring practices.
Now Westpac's move has been blasted by TV political analyst, Prue McSween.
'Too many corporations and institutions are driving a wedge between us,' she told Daily Mail Australia.
'They are seeking to demonstrate they are “progressive” and bending over backwards to tell their customers that they are the good guys.
'As a bank customer, I want to know that they have hired the best people to look after my money and provide a good service.
Westpac has called on only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates to fill a range of positions across the bank
Westpac is seeking to fill multiple openings in legal and risk divisions and consumer banking, but only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants will be considered
'Surely merit, the ability to demonstrate that you have the attributes or potential to do the job, are the most important criteria, not the colour of your skin, your gender or whatever alphabet you choose to identify with.'
Westpac came under fire in 2022 when the Australian Financial Review (AFR) reported it had overstated its rates of Indigenous employment.
The firm had reportedly claimed in a Reconciliation Action Plan that 4 per cent of its employees identified as Indigenous.
But internal documents leaked to the AFR put the bank's permanent Indigenous headcount at 190 in 2017 - well below the claimed 850 employees.
According to Westpac's most recent reporting, approximately 1.1 per cent of its employees are now Indigenous although it aims to reach 1.5 per cent by year's end.
A Westpac spokesman told Daily Mail Australia: 'Increasing Indigenous representation in our workforce is an important priority for Westpac.
'We have a range of targets in place as part of our existing Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and we report our progress every year.'
All big four Australian banks have strategies in place to increase their shares of Indigenous employees.
Former Westpac chief executive Peter King is pictured with Indigenous rights activist Noel Pearson in 2023 where he announced the bank's support for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum
Commonwealth Bank of Australia has set a goal of three per cent ATIS representation in its domestic workforce by December next year. In September 2023, 1.2 per cent identified 'most strongly' with ATIS ancestry.
Meanwhile, according to NAB's 2024-2027 RAP, one per cent of its Australian workforce self-identified as ATIS in October 2023.
In May 2021, 185 of ANZ's 27,000 employees self-identified as Indigenous. In FY2023, 1.18 per cent of its external hires identified as ATIS.
Dr Ezaz Ahmed, lecturer in human resource management at Charles Sturt University told Daily Mail Australia the country's biggest banks should take their DEI policies further.
'Among the banks, diversity policies have seen measured progress through initiatives targeting gender equity, Indigenous employment, and cultural representation, though continued improvement is still needed.'
Ms MacSween added: 'Westpac is just one in a long line of banks, who have decided that their role is to lecture, educate, shame and scold us into complying with their views.
'Who gave them the right, the superior position to do this?
'It would actually be nice to see our banks focusing on what their job is, which is to provide customer service and make banking easier, rather than seeking to shame us, scold us, rip us off to make more profits and waste shareholder money.'
