National NAIDOC Week 2022 (3 July – 10 July) is a time to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is also a time for all Australians to learn about First Nations culture and histories as well as participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.
This year's theme is Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! which encourages all Australians to fight for systemic change. This can include seeking proper environmental, cultural and heritage protections, Constitutional change, a comprehensive process of truth-telling, working towards treaties or calling out racism.
At The Benevolent Society, we’re committed to promoting Reconciliation, championing our First Nations people and increasing understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories and achievements.
Read on to find out how we Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! at The Benevolent Society and how you can get involved in your local community this NAIDOC Week.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Partnerships
We are proud to work alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations to meet the needs of families, children and communities. Collaboration is key to innovation and sustainability, and we’re committed to exploring partnerships and stronger collaborative relationships.
The Benevolent Society embraces our diverse workforce, our communities and clients by showing our support specifically to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned businesses that enables them to succeed and grow into successful commercial businesses. We are a member of Supply Nation, Australia’s first and leading advocate of Indigenous businesses in the supplier diversity space. Supply Nation’s verification process ensures that all business listed on indigenous Business Direct are, not only Indigenous owned, but are regularly audited for changes in company structure.
In January 2019, 14 islands across the Torres Strait received services from the Mura Buai Torres Strait Wellbeing Service as a result of a partnership between the Mura Kosker Sorority Inc. and The Benevolent Society. To design and deliver services to families and communities in need, this partnership is a model which can be adapted by governments, mainstream and community-controlled organisations seeking to grow and support the capacity of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled sector.
The Benevolent Society is also a proud supporter of Family Matters, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led national campaign that ensures children and young people grow up in a supportive and culturally appropriate environment. Our involvement highlights the commitment of our strategic plan to reduce the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children entering Out of Home Care.
To find out more or partner with us, visit our page here.
Culturally Appropriate Services
The Benevolent Society understands that culturally appropriate services can reduce barriers to access services and cultivate trust within the community to ensure that our First Nations clients have better experiences, less confusion and reduced stress.
Our Browns Plains Early Years Centre hosts Jarjums (meaning “children”) play groups for children up to five years old and their parents/caregivers. Our Jarjums playgroups helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children develop a positive sense of cultural identity, through learning and understanding their family and cultural ways. Parents and carers are provided with a supportive and culturally safe environment, where they can develop and maintain their pride in their family and cultural identity.
To find out more about our Browns Plains Early Years Centre, visit our page
here.
For First Nations carers, a Yarn Up for Carers Peer Support Group is also available through the Carer Gateway initiative. Carers can gain support from each other, share knowledge and their carer experience.
To view times and sign up for the Yarn Up for Carers Peer Support Group, visit our page here.
Our Innovate RAP
Our Reconciliation Action Plan outlines how we work with our First Nations People who will benefit from our shared efforts. Our latest RAP, Innovate, was implemented between 2019 and 2022 with an updated RAP scheduled to launch later this year.
Key achievements from our RAP Innovate included:
- Engaging with Indigenous Employment Partners to support our guiding principles for engagement and implementation outlined in our first Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Employment Strategy
- Consulting with our First Nations Workforce to develop and establish the first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Capability Framework
- Embedding principles of the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care’s (SNAICC) Genuine Partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled approaches in the development of our RAP Partnership Strategy
- Providing key leadership staff with formal and structured cultural learning through the engagement of a First Nations consultant, The Black Card
- Increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership in strategic positions of influence and authority, including the establishment of senior identified positions in Practice and Business Development
To find out more about our Commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, please visit our page here.
Indigenous Career Opportunities
At The Benevolent Society, we believe that we’re stronger by working together. We are committed to providing a space that is culturally rich, empowering and a safe environment for all our people which is why Indigenous employment is deeply embedded in our vision.
Hear from some of our First Nations staff here and view all open careers opportunities here.
Celebrate NAIDOC Week in Your Local Community
NAIDOC Week isn’t just celebrated by Indigenous communities but is also celebrated by government agencies, schools, local councils and workplaces all across Australia. This year, there are over 300 events including art exhibits, educational seminars and live music to celebrate the diversity of our first nations people.
To view all upcoming events in your local area, please visit the NAIDOC Week Events Calendar.
To find out how you can Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!, read more about this years theme here.