In line with NAIDOC week (July 3-10), Hanson highlighted its Reconciliation Action Plan for November 2021 – November 2023.
In its Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Hanson outlined its vision to ensure its entire team has an educated understanding around Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, heritage, cultures, and contributions, and to demonstrate genuine respect and understanding towards First Nations peoples.
“Commencing an Innovate RAP is a crucial and rewarding period in an organisation’s reconciliation journey. It is a time to build strong foundations and relationships, ensuring sustainable, thoughtful, and impactful RAP outcomes into the future,” said Reconciliation Australia chief executive officer Karen Mundine said in the action plan.
Hanson’s action plan outlines 15 actions across the four key areas of relationships, respect, opportunities, and governance to be achieved by 2023.
Actions 1 to 4 are related to building relationships:
- Establish and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders and organisations.
- Build relationships through celebrating National Reconciliation Week (NRW).
- Promote reconciliation through our sphere of influence.
- Continuously promote positive race relations through anti-discrimination strategies.
Actions 5 to 8 are related to respect:
- Increase understanding, value and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, knowledge, and rights through cultural learning.
- Demonstrate respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by observing cultural protocols.
- Build respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories by celebrating NAIDOC Week.
- Demonstrate respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and communities by supporting the protection and preservation of environments of cultural significance.
Actions 9 and 10 relate to opportunities:
- Improve employment outcomes by increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander recruitment, retention, and professional development.
- Increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander supplier diversity to support improved economic and social outcomes.
- Support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community investment.
Actions 12 to 15 address governance:
- Maintain an effective RAP working party/committee (RWG) to drive governance of the RAP.
- Provide appropriate support for effective implementation of RAP commitments.
- Build accountability and transparency through reporting RAP achievements, challenges, and learnings both internally and externally.
- Continue our reconciliation journey by developing our next RAP.
“We are focused on bringing our Reconciliation Action Plan to life this NAIDOC Week, delivering on our commitment to support and promote opportunities for Aboriginal People to feel respected, acknowledged and welcomed in our business,” it said in a Facebook post.
“Hanson aims to create a workplace culture that embraces Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, one that encourages sustainability and respect.”
View the full RAP here.