Supporting First Nations businesses, increasing employment opportunities, promoting reconciliation events and growing bush tucker and native vegetation are among the commitments in Greater Western Water’s inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan launched last week.
Wadawurrung Traditional Owner Ash Skinner performed a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony to open the launch event at Wunggurrwil Dhurrung Centre in Wyndham Vale on Friday August 18.
GWW Managing Director, Maree Lang, said developing the RAP involved critical self-reflection and constructive feedback from First Nations colleagues and community.
“While it’s our first RAP as Greater Western Water, it recognises where we have come from through the efforts of our previous organisations.
Together we worked to understand where we were at as an organisation and what is achievable for the two years that this RAP commits us,” she said.
The Innovate RAP seeks to foster consultation and collaboration between GWW and the First Nations community.
Ms Lang said building commercial relationships were a particular focus of the RAP
“Working alongside First Nations organisations is integral to achieving our goals, and this is particularly true of our work with Traditional Owners, with whom we are building not just strong relationships but healthy business partnerships.”
The RAP features artwork from Wadawurrung artist B.J.C which was selected through The Torch, a not-for-profit that delivers Indigenous arts programs in prisons and allows artists to keep the proceeds from the sale of their work.
Cade Lucas.
