Recruiting and retaining of Indigenous Probations Officers: Steps to creating diverse workplaces that reflect community cultures

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to define different types of culturally commensurate experiences, events, activities and interventions which Indigenous people find relevant for improving cultural diversity.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on interviews and surveys with Indigenous Probations Officers, the authors define a framework of nine experiences and events relevant to the organization, team and cultural development.

Findings

The key finding lies in proposing a framework of what Indigenous Probation Officers finding lies view as commensurate experiences, activities or interventions which recognize their cultural context (American Psychological Association, 2003).

Research limitations/implications

The key limitations to this study are the size of the sample and the inability to conclusively argue that the framework of experiences developed can claim to represent those important for improving recruitment and retentions of all Indigenous Probation Officers. Further exploratory research of this type is necessary to add to this research in guiding future research and practice.

Practical implications

The definition of a multicultural experiences offered here might be useful in encouraging Probation Officers and others in developing a deeper appreciation of cultures of Indigenous peoples and other groups.

Social implications

The purpose is to better understand an Indigenous perspective on enhancing a connection to culture within the Corrections system.

Originality/value

Rather than using a list of competencies to shape behaviors and experiences that people practice, the underlying assumption is to encourage cultural multiculturalism framework competency development by focusing on experiences and events important to objectives related to improving diversity.

Citation

Morven, F. and Cunningham, J.B. (2020), "Recruiting and retaining of Indigenous Probations Officers: Steps to creating diverse workplaces that reflect community cultures", Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Vol. 39 No. 2, pp. 145-165. https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-06-2019-0183