We would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land we stand upon today and pay our deepest respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We recognise and respect their culture, beliefs, history, and enduring relationship with the land.
At Barker Ryan Stewart, we understand that our words are only as good as our actions and recognise that we cannot create meaningful change in the broader community without acknowledging that every individual, company and organisation in Australia serves a role in reconciliation.
We believe the implementation of our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) is an important step that allows us to apply our guiding value of believing in better, into becoming better by taking meaningful action in our reconciliation journey.
As outlined by Reconciliation Australia, the purpose of a Reflect RAP is to build strong foundations that help prepare an organisation to meaningfully engage in reconciliation. Our Reflect RAP has been formally endorsed by Reconciliation Australia and provides a framework for achieving our deliverable actions over the next 18 months.
By embracing Reconciliation Australia’s deliverable actions, we will embed further understanding, value and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories and rights into our services, policies and company culture.
Our reconciliation journey to date
At Barker Ryan Stewart, we understand that reconciliation is an ongoing journey and through the implementation of our RAP, we not only reflect on our journey to date but demonstrate our ongoing commitment to further evolving as a business.
We are extensively appreciative of the opportunity to work alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on numerous projects to date, including working in consultation with several Aboriginal Heritage Advisors and archaeologists, including Heritage Now, to develop impact assessments for numerous infrastructure and property development projects.
We have worked alongside the Aboriginal Land Council and provided services for The Pemulwuy Project in Redfern for the Aboriginal Housing Company. Our services have also qualified Barker Ryan Stewart’s placement on the Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council’s panel of pre-qualified suppliers.
Through the implementation of our RAP, we outline our commitment to initiating and cultivating future collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-owned businesses and organisations.
Our ongoing commitment to reconciliation
Barker Ryan Stewart’s philosophy encourages us to give back to the communities in which we live, work and play by supporting a wide range of charities and not-for-profit organisations. Our commitment to reconciliation will extend to offering our services on a pro bono basis for projects targeted at reducing the disparities faced by First Nations communities, including in the healthcare, employment, and education sectors.
The implementation of our RAP will occur across all levels of the company by adapting internal communications, relationships and interactions with our team, clients, stakeholders and the wider community.
Some of the key ways we aim to progress in reconciliation include:
- Providing further cultural training to our team,
- Formally acknowledging traditional custodianship in our reports, correspondence and services,
- Researching and encouraging partnership and collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-owned businesses, organisations and stakeholders, and
- Implementing strategies for the recruitment, retention and professional development of First Nations team members.
To ensure we meet the deliverable actions in our RAP, we have established a RAP Working Group consisting of team members across our diverse disciplines and office locations. Our RAP Working Group is committed to attending external National Reconciliation Week activities, NAIDOC Week activities, and conducting reviews of HR policies and cultural learning needs.
We look forward to progressing in our reconciliation journey over the next 18 months by meaningfully engaging in reconciliation throughout all areas of our organisation.
