Walking forward together is core to our Creating Communities philosophy. We engage people and organisations to find common ground and build social value.
Our Reconciliation Action Plan is central to this work. It reflects our deeply held belief in equality and social equity showing the pathways through which we seek to walk forward together with First Nations peoples to achieve this.
We are deeply thankful to all those who have contributed to our reconciliation journey, with special mention to Neville Collard, Marissa Verma, Walter and Doolan-Leisha Eatts, and Kim Bridge for their involvement in guiding the development and implementation of our RAP. We would also like to thank the Martu Leadership Group, Karlka Nyiyaparli Aboriginal Corporation (Karlka), Western Desert Lands Aboriginal Corporation (WDLAC) and all other Traditional Owners, Elders and Custodians who have partnered with us on our projects. Their contributions and the contributions of other First Nations people to our work have profoundly shaped our thinking, approaches and outcomes on projects.
This NAIDOC Week we are pleased to share our latest Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan Report.
In 2018, we formalised our commitment to First Nations peoples with our first Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Now, as we come to the end of our first plan, we are pleased to share some of our key learnings, achievements and highlights over the past two years.
We are proud to be working as part of the Newman Futures project – a partnership between the Shire of East Pilbara, BHP and the Department of Communities – to ensure a brighter future for everyone in Newman, with a strong economy and a powerful, united community.
From the outset of this project, our team adopted a collaborative approach, co-designing the Newman Futures project strategy with Karlka and WDLAC, the two prescribed body corporates representing the Nyiyaparli peoples and the Martu peoples.
These strong relationships with Nyiyaparli and Martu leaders has been crucial to this projects success.
Earlier this year, we were all part of a historic cultural moment in Newman.
Karlka and WDLAC signed a Cultural Compact inviting Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, to walk a new pathway of mutual respect to build a strong future together. We are excited that signatories across a range of industries in Newman are now signing up to be a part of this movement.
We partnered with Martu film makers Curtis Taylor and Nathan Mewett to develop a short film showcasing the aspirations of young people in the area.
We worked together with project partners on an education roadmap and two Western Desert strategies that focus on remote transport infrastructure and services.
In partnership with architecture and design firm Hames Sharley, Nyiyaparli and Martu leaders are leading the co-design process for the ‘Home in East Newman’ project. This project will ensure East Newman is a safe and comfortable place to live that speaks to the history and culture of the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Throughout all this work, we have been privileged to work closely alongside Martu and Nyiyaparli leaders, to learn and find new ways to support the community together.
Elevating the voices and heritage of First Nations people in the property development sector.
We have worked with First Nations peoples on a range of our land development projects, finding ways to connect with the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land and incorporate culture and connection into our community development, placemaking and activation.
We joined DevelopmentWA’s Subi East project team to lead the public engagement and develop a Cultural Context and Place Narrative to ensure the area’s rich history and cultural diversity was embraced in the Masterplan.
We also incorporated learnings from working with Whadjuk Noongar Traditional Owners into the environment and sustainability planning for the Rehabilitating Roe 8 and City of Cockburn Wetlands Centre Redevelopment.
Throughout our land development projects we seek to work with Traditional Owners and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to ensure that their stories of land, culture and connection into our Community and Economic Development Plans.
As a company, we’ve grown and developed over the past few years, and it is our hope that we continue to do so as we pursue our reconciliation journey.
For Creating Communities, it has been 27 years, but for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities that came before us, it is far beyond 60,000 years.
Recognising and understanding the depth and breadth of knowledge, of connection to community and land, is integral for us as a community development and social planning company.
We believe in moving forward together – and we are committed to doing just that, hand in hand with our partners from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
We have a long way to go on our journey but are excited to embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, together.
