Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have experienced extreme hardship since European settlement. There is an obligation to make amends. National Reconciliation Week brings focus to this. It also emphasises the tremendous knowledge of Country Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have that we all have much to learn from.
Our staff work across Australia on the Country of many different Traditional Owner groups. It is beholden on us to learn more about the unique connection of these groups to land and water so that we can respectfully reflect this in our work.
URPS has recently prepared a Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) to start our reconciliation journey. This document outlines our actions towards reconciliation over the next year including:
- Providing educational events and resources that teach our team how to apply correct protocols and language to our work.
- Attending external reconciliation events so we can share learnings and experiences with the wider URPS team.
- Commissioning an Aboriginal artwork as an internal and external focal point of the company commitment to reconciliation.
Another of our RAP actions is to build relationships through the celebration of National Reconciliation Week. This year’s theme is “Be a Voice for Generations”. Through our Reflect RAP, URPS will be one of many voices for reconciliation. We will also help to amplify the voices of others so that they can be heard even louder.
URPS acknowledges the Kaurna and Bunurong/Boonwurrung peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land, sky and waters on which our offices are located. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and extend this respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
