27/05/2024
Omni has officially launched its inaugural Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), marking a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to advancing reconciliation with Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Omni’s vision for reconciliation is a united Australia that values and celebrates the cultures, histories, and perspectives of Australia’s First Nations peoples while acknowledging past injustices. The RAP aims to support education and employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, foster cultural awareness, and increase engagement with First Nations-owned businesses.
The Innovate RAP builds on Omni’s existing relationships with Supply Nation, the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, First Nations artists and the GO Foundation. The plan is overseen by Omni’s General Manager of Sustainability, Christine Hawkins along with Geoff Brown, Omni’s General Manager of Assurance, RAP Champion and proud Gunditjmara man.
Omni has chosen to create and implement an Innovate RAP to develop and strengthen established approaches of advancing reconciliation. This plan aims to embed reconciliation into all aspects of Omni’s operations, from procurement and employment practices to community engagement. The RAP will focus on the five dimensions of reconciliation: race relations, equality and equity, unity, institutional integrity, and historical acceptance.
Key initiatives of the RAP include:
• Indigenous Leader Scholarships at the University of Western Australia.
• Supporting preschool Book Buzz programs in remote communities through the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
• Hosting annual events for National Reconciliation Week, NAIDOC Week, and Indigenous Literacy Day to increase employee engagement.
• Increasing engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suppliers both directly and through Supply Nation.
• Promoting a library of First Nations literature in each Omni office, curated by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
• Commissioning artwork from local First Nations artists for display in Omni offices as a visual Acknowledgement of Country.
• Distributing custom Acknowledgement of Country cards designed by local First Nations artists.
Omni’s RAP journey began in 2015 as an extension of its early community support program. This formal RAP builds on previous internal RAPs from 2016-2018 and 2020-2022, which promoted respect and worked towards improving equity and equality for First Nations peoples through procurement, event promotion, and donations.
Omni would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Geoff Brown and Cody Field for their leadership and dedication in driving this initiative forward. Their efforts have been instrumental in shaping Omni’s commitment to reconciliation and ensuring its integrity and integration into our daily operations.