As the sun filled morning set in on Gadigal land, the first Aboriginal councillor in the City of Sydney’s 180-year history, Yvonne Weldon AM, gave the Welcome to Country as the Woolworths Group team gathered with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) for the launch of Woolworths Group’s second innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
Innovate RAPs are about gaining a deeper understanding of the spheres of influence, strengthening First Nations relationships, engaging staff and stakeholders, and piloting innovative strategies to empower First Nations peoples.
The Woolworths Group invitation for this important RAP milestone is to have “a brave heart for a better tomorrow”.
As part of the RAP, the pledge between Woolworths Group and UTS towards Indigenous education is a deep commitment of transformation, a celebration of culture and positive action, walking together, and being considered in words and actions.
For the launch, Kristal Kinsela and Sean Gordon (award winning UTS Alumni and Woolworths Group First Nations Advisory Board members) reinforced the importance of education in advance of the Voice referendum. And how we should not let this once in a generation opportunity pass by without making an educated vote.
From left to right Adam Bray, Sean Gordon, Alex Holt, Kristal Kinsela and artist David Williams.
David's artwork 'A brave heart for a better tomorrow', tells the story of Woolworths Group's reconciliation journey.
An organisation of Woolworths Group’s scale has tremendous capacity to support knowledge, education and effect change as the largest employer of First Nations peoples in the country with over 4500 self-identified team members.
At the start of the year Woolworths Group did just that. They stood up with a ground-breaking philanthropic commitment to UTS of $10million to build Australia’s first ever national First Nations university College.
In doing so, they placed Indigenous education at the heart of their actions.
This is one of the largest ever philanthropic gifts towards Indigenous education in Australian university history and the impact will change the nation.
Designed and led by Indigenous Australians and welcoming of all nations, the College will model the inclusive society we wish to see, creating the next generation of First Nations leaders and change-makers.
Not only is Woolworths Group committed to the College, which will see impact for generations to come, an ongoing co-created partnership with UTS has been established. The partnership has already given rise to two fully comprehensive scholarships, designed to provide financial support for Indigenous students who may think pursuing a higher education is out of reach.
This commitment from an influential industry leader symbolises the national imperative for change and acknowledges the need to support the human rights of Indigenous self-determination and education.
To stand up and be brave. To do things differently in a year of such momentum and action, the year of a referendum for an Indigenous voice to parliament.
As we gathered on Gadigal land to celebrate the Woolworths Group’s RAP commitment, the energy was palpable.
And as a collective, through the co-designed partnership, Woolworths Group and UTS stood as allies, stronger together, ready to continue the work.
Acknowledging the path to reconciliation is not a one-way street, but a journey we take together.
Woolworths Group and UTS have taken a significant step on this journey to creating a better future for all Australians.