A.G. Coombs’ commitment to bringing its
to life goes beyond actioning its own initiatives and extends to the way it shares its diversity values with its partners, suppliers and clients. The relationships it forms with the communities and clients it engages with and supports are particularly important.
Held annually between 27 May and 3 June,
(NRW) under this year’s theme of “Now More Than Ever,” marks a time when A.G. Coombs joins people around Australia in celebrating the significance of reconciliation. It also provides a platform to demonstrate the Group of Companies’ strength of conviction towards reinforcing and extending its partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to increase respect, understanding and meaningful collaboration.
Supporting reconciliation events with our operational partners
This year, A.G. Coombs had the opportunity to not only host a stand-alone NRW event for its staff and guests at its Melbourne head office, but also to collaborate in three additional NRW events in conjunction with our clients in Melbourne, Sydney and Queensland.
In collaboration with CBRE, the Property Managers for ISPT’s National property portfolio, A.G. Coombs supported the hosting of an NRW Reconciliation Morning Tea at ISPT’s Spring Place in Melbourne on 30 May. Over 50 people attended, including A.G. Coombs management and onsite staff. A Q&A session featured guest speakers Luke Murray, Indigenous Community Engagement Coordinator at Korin Gamadji Institute (Richmond Football Club’s institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth leadership) and A.G. Coombs’ Executive Leader – Social Procurement, Inclusion & Engagement Aaron Clark.
Sydney Airport is one of A.G. Coombs’ clients. Part of the airport’s Reconciliation Action Plan is learning more about First Nations culture and history. During National Reconciliation Week, Sydney Airport hosted a special “On Country with Wildflower” event on 29 May, with A.G. Coombs onsite team attending the event learning about Wildflower’s mission to provide culturally safe employment for Aboriginal youth. They also toured the Terminal 1 International forecourt to see the 16,000+ native species that Wildflower planted.
And in Queensland, A.G. Coombs’ client Griffith University held a series of NRW-themed community workshops on 28 and 29 May where A.G. Coombs supplied Indigenous inspired catering, and their onsite staff participated in over the two-day period.
United in our journey towards reconciliation
“Working together and being able to collaborate and share in journeys towards reconciliation with our partners and clients is something we feel privileged to do. It demonstrates the synergies of our collective values and the strength of the relationships we have developed with our partners and clients over the years,” commented Paul Gilmore, Executive Manager Group Business Development.
“National Reconciliation Week gives us the chance to further support our business partners, while honouring our own corporate social responsibility commitments and resolve to advancing objectives outlined in our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan,” he added.
Learn more about National Reconciliation Week at reconciliation.org.au/our-work/national-reconciliation-week