NAIDOC Week is a time when all Australian’s come together to recognise the rich histories, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This years theme “Keep the Fire Burning: Blak, Loud and Proud,” speaks to the enduring strength and community spirit of Indigenous cultures, connections to Country, kinship ties and histories.
NAIDOC Week is also an opportunity to reflect on our commitment to reconciliation and caring for Country. In May, Ingham’s launched its Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), which helps us to understand how we as an organisation can create positive change for First Nations peoples in our business, supply chain and community. The plan also highlights the importance of caring for Country, a responsibility we share with First Nation peoples through our sustainability commitments and our Ingham’s Way, which details the values and behaviours we aspire to uphold in the way that we work.
This week, we’ve celebrated NAIDOC together with some of our sites, highlighting the themes of strength, community, and connections within First Nations communities.
To further our understanding and appreciation of First Nations cultures, we welcomed Indigenous-owned organisation Koorier Enterprises to our North Ryde team, located on the traditional lands of the Wallumedegal peoples of the Darug Nation.
During their visit, knowledge-holders Jodie Ryan and Joshur Bell, from the Biridja clan of the Gomeroi nation and the Ngunnawal Nation, and Karen Beetson from the Mandandanji Nation, led our team in engaging activities that explored cultural connections and history. This included a moving eucalyptus water cleansing ceremony led by Aunty Karen, symbolising the giving power of water and its connection to Country. Of all the natural resources we rely upon, water has one of the most direct link to our operations. Our water usage decisions impact the traditional lands of nearly 30 Indigenous groups where we operate and the sustainable actions we take each day go hand-in-hand with our desire to support First Nations peoples in doing good things today to make tomorrow better for our communities where we work. Karen also highlighted the importance of community and the impact of colonialism, using the strings of a woolen ball to represent shared experiences and the severing of connections, followed by mending the string to symbolise rebuilding relationships through our reconciliation journey.
Our Inclusion, Equity and Diversity framework is underpinned by our commitment to The Inghams Way. By fostering a culture of inclusion through events like NAIDOC Week, we create a safe and supportive environment where our people have the courage to bring their best selves to work – a key ingredient in building a better tomorrow for our people and communities.
We are proud to present Inghams’ Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan.
In the spirt of reconciliation, Inghams acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, and pays our respect to their Elders past and present.