NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK 2022
27 MAY - 3RD JUNE 2022
To celebrate this years’ National Reconciliation Week we talked with our business unit leaders about what National Reconciliation Week means to them and to Community Resources as a whole.
MARC HIGGINS - CEO
As we come to the close of this year’s National Reconciliation Week, we asked Community Resources CEO and Wiradjuri man Marc Higgins shares his thoughts on Reconciliation Week.
Community Resources started 35 years ago, as an Aboriginal-led organisation, helping Aboriginal people living on Worimi country find work.
Today, we are a family of +650 people, coming from culturally diverse backgrounds all around the world, working together as one, providing real jobs through our enterprises that help people and the environment.
We are on the journey of returning to our roots of being an Aboriginal-led organisation and working through our own reconciliation. An inclusive journey, that will bring the diverse cultures that make up our CR family together with us as we have conversations with Traditional Owners across the 31 sites and the 12 Aboriginal Nations where we do business asking a simple question; what does reconciliation look like to them; on their Country?
Reconciliation Week commemorates two of the most significant Indigenous legal events of recent times;
the 1967 Referendum that, amongst other things removed, ‘in reckoning the numbers of people of the Commonwealth, or of a State or other part of the Commonwealth, aboriginal natives shall not be counted’ from our constitution and
the 1992 Mabo decision, 30 years ago this year, acknowledging that the captain of HMB Endeavour, Lt James Cook, lied. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were here and the British Crown illegally claimed and occupied this beautiful land we today call Australia and share as our home.
Both are important legal outcomes that provide recognition and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Reconciliation starts with affording recognition and respect to the Traditional Owners of the land you are on. It is about building connections, understanding and enabling the aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
To do that, you need to understand an awful past that no one can change.
You also need to understand the current situation and the ailments that still afflict our people as a direct result of the British occupying our lands.
Reconciliation gives us a chance to acknowledge the past, address current issues and importantly build a better future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
We are all on the reconciliation journey together, we ask that you walk with us remembering that like the emu and kangaroo, ... there is no reverse, we must move forward together.
Come, walk forward with us on this journey of reconciliation. “Be Brave. Make Change.”
Gulbalanha (Wiradjuri language for being at peace, have no fighting, to know and understand each other)
KYLIE FLAMENT - GREEN CONNECT GENERAL MANAGER
We asked Kylie Flament. the leader of Green Connect, to share her thoughts on reconciliation:
‘We need to acknowledge and have real, honest and deep conversations about what has happened, what is happening now, and how we can all play a part in fixing this. Many of us need to talk less, listen more and strive to deeply understand so we can determine a way forward.
I’m always super busy. There is always lots to do running Green Connect. But I have noticed that when I’m with Aboriginal people I really slow down. I embrace partners like the Illawarra Aboriginal Corporation or Warrigal Employment. They are so good at building relationships, having thoughtful discussions. Once there is trust an amazing thing happens. We can have deep meaningful moments. Deep meaningful conversations.
Community Resources is about caring for people and planet. This is precisely what Aboriginal people have been doing for years. We acknowledge their history as the oldest and most successful culture of sustainable land stewardship anywhere in the world.
I believe we have a lot to learn.
At Green Connect we don’t shy away from the big questions. We make safe welcoming spaces for everyone and then we talk about what it’s like to be homeless, transgender, an Aboriginal woman etc. We have a curiosity and openness to our discussions. We need to be careful not to be too scared to ask questions in case we say the wrong word. As a society we need to ask the big questions.
We’re figuring out how to do this. Let’s figure out a way to grow together.
LISA BERRY - COMMUNITY SERVICES GENERAL MANAGER
With 70% of Community Service’s staff being Aboriginal, General Manager Lisa Berry has placed a lot of thought into the best way of building reconciliation.
When I think of reconciliation, I immediately think of building strong relationships based on trust and respect and building a world which is completely free from racism. These are the values I work on every day with my team.
Everyone should have equal opportunity; everyone should get the same chances and choices in life.
When I recruit, I always try and employ an Aboriginal person first. I love to champion my Aboriginal staff and make sure they have every opportunity to grow. They are the future leaders of our organisation and the communities in which we work.
Reconciliation brings us a unity; it is taking us an exciting journey together for the benefit of all Australians. It is vital to acknowledge that all journeys are done at different pace, and everyone is at different place on this journey. We need to support people where they are on this journey. We need to be open and transparent with each other. And there is beauty in the future ahead.
CHRIS RICHARDS - SOFT LANDING GENERAL MANAGER
As part of National Reconciliation Week, Soft Landing GM Chris Richards shares his thoughts on reconciliation.
I feel lucky to have grown up in regional Australia with many Aboriginal mates. We shared a childhood and had strong mutual respect. We fought for and included all our mates as one.
As I grew up, I saw the indisputable barriers that were in these mates’ pathway to adulthood. Barriers that weren’t in mine. As a society, these barriers still exist.
Change and reconciliation will not be achieved without Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples having a genuine voice of their own and an active part in making the decisions that affect their lives.
I encourage everyone to be inquisitive, ask questions, talk with your Aboriginal friends about their families, their culture, and their experiences. And please try and listen more than you speak. Ask what you can do to help the reconciliation process on a consistent day to day basis, both as a mate to your mates, but also as a contributor to the whole, so that together we can create a more equal future.
MATT CURTIS RESOURCE RECOVERY AUSTRALIA GENERAL MANAGER
Matt Curtis, General Manager of RRA says: ‘Reconciliation means that we are all in this together. We need to take pride in the lands we live and work on. There is joy in finding our connection back to the traditional lands and the Aboriginal people who have long owned this land.
Every RRA site has Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander employees, with equal opportunity, supporting each other and moving forward together. I’m proud of our team.
To move forward, we need to listen more and support our Aboriginal communities. We need to acknowledge their rich culture and connection to country. We need to provide more opportunities.
It is RRA’s way to provide opportunities – either a first employment, leadership opportunities or training to open other doors. #Waste2Wages is our motto - we divert waste to create jobs. I am proud of our Aboriginal teammates who are in leadership positions. They have taken our workplace culture to the next level and helped us to thrive.
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Australia and recognise the continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and future. We walk together towards healing.
