Reconciliation is about strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, for the benefit of all Australians. The development of NDY’s second Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) conveys our ambition to advance our reconciliation journey.
Reconciliation Australia’s RAP program provides a supporting framework for NDY to positively contribute to the social, cultural and economic outcomes and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities. NDY’s RAP sets out clear, actionable commitments for the next year across the key pillars of RAPs:
- Relationships
- Respect, and
- Opportunities.
Since our first RAP was endorsed in March 2020, NDY has and will continue to engage with many representatives from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to educate our people and create a more harmonious society. We believe our own people can be agents for change, with the potential to drive attitudinal change in their own communities.
NDY aim to be recognised as a company that engages compassionately, constructively and collaboratively with Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander peoples and stakeholders involved with or affected by projects we are involved in. We will actively create and promote employment, education, professional development and supply chain opportunities for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and organisations, specifically within the engineering industry where our core expertise lies.
The NDY RAP Working Group (chaired by NDY’s People & Culture Director) together with the Australian Executive Team will drive and coordinate the implementation of our RAP commitments.
NDY endeavourw to continuously improve its approach to reconciliation, building on its successes, reporting on progress and setting new, more ambitious goals through future RAPs.
Our actions
In 2024 we paused and reflected on the progress that NDY and our Country has made towards reconciliation with First Nations peoples in Australia.
We refreshed the terms of reference of our Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group to make sure that we have the skills, business focus and geographical representation required to set our next RAP up for success.
The process for developing our 2025-2027 Innovate RAP involved the following guiding principles and objectives:
- Applying NDY’s values of leadership, collaboration and accountability to ensure that our RAP aligns with who we are and how we show up.
- A shared commitment to listen to understand – especially in a post-referendum context.
- A desire to make a meaningful and impactful difference in a way that is aligned to the core work that we do as a business.
- A focus on increasing learning for our employees when it comes to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, truths, peoples and cultures.
- Forming a new RAP Working Group who can bring fresh insights into reconciliation, integration into our core business and who can influence and impact change.
We took a step back. Listened. Thought deeply about the meaningful actions that we could take to, in our sphere of influence, create a more reconciled Australia.
The robust approach of the RAP framework guides us to focus on the areas that will have the greatest impact. Over the past year, taking on feedback from First Nations advisors from our 2021-2023 RAP, we have reflected on where we believe we can make meaningful and impactful change. NDY is focussed on:
Building relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
We will build relationships with First Nations people, business and organisations through “in-practice” collaboration with a focus on influencing through our core work of engineering in the built environment.
Building STEM and engineering pathways for First Nations people
Playing our role in the sector in raising awareness about engineering as an educational pathway and profession for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We will focus on sparking the imagination and aspiration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Growing reciprocal relationships
Entering into two-way reciprocal relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses to support their growth and the use of their unique expertise in our work with our clients.
Connecting
Supporting our leaders to deepen how they connect the RAP to their “every day”.
Acknowledgement
NDY acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, skies and all living things across the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nations in Australia in where we live and work. Specifically, we pay our respects to the Noongar, Kaurna, Yuggera, Ngunnawal, Wurundjeri and Cammeraygal peoples as the Traditional Owners of the lands where our offices currently stand. We respect the enduring and unique connection to lands and waters, kinship connection, language, traditional laws and lore, customs and ceremonies. We pay respect to each Nations’ Elders past, present and emerging.
At NDY we are enriched by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ contributions to our organisation and we commit to working together to build a prosperous and inclusive Australia.
