In the spirit of reconciliation, Asuria acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.'
Once again, Asuria is proud to have taken part in another stellar NAIDOC Week.
Being a genuine ally for our First Nations people is a key priority for us at Asuria, as we work towards reconciliation and closing the gap between First Nations People and the rest of the population.
This year's NAIDOC theme was 'Heal County'.
Over time, concerns have increased for the protection of Country, which includes the lands, waters, sacred sites, and cultural heritage of our First Nations People. Heal Country asks us to listen to those concerns and to seek reform.
To acknowledge Heal Country and celebrate Indigenous culture and success, Asuria took part in several events across Australia.
We started with the virtual launch of our newly revised Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) for May 2021 – May 2022, which you can now find on Reconciliation Australia.
Our teams in Victoria were in for a treat, as staff headed down to our Bendigo Site for a beautiful smoking ceremony presented by the well-respected and loved Aunty Marilyne, a Dja Dja Wurrung Elder.
A few of our team members were fortunate enough to then visit the Wanyarram Dhelk Frog Ponds with Aunty Marilyne.
Sadly, COVID-19 put our Sydney NAIDOC Week plans on hold, but that didn't stop us from coming together virtually.
This year, we were fortunate enough to be joined online by Tyrone Hall, owner of Thikkabilla Vibrations. He enlightened staff with a Dreamtime story of ‘How the caterpillar turned into a butterfly’. He also answered some questions about Indigenous Culture and finished the session by performing a beautiful song.
In South Australia, as part of the Local Jobs Program, a grand morning tea with superb food and entertainment was held, featuring a traditional Didgeridoo ceremony. We also had an Asuria stall at the event to promote our services to the community, providing information on our Transition to Work Program and ParentsNext Program, both of which offer strong support for our Indigenous job seekers.
Everyone at Asuria had a fantastic NAIDOC week, and while the celebrations have come to an end, our commitment to reconciliation and the importance of Heal County continues for Asuria.