Heinemann Oceania’s first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) has been endorsed by Reconciliation Australia, becoming the first travel retail operator to gain the validation.
Under its Reflect RAP, Heinemann Oceania commits to establishing respectful ongoing relationships with First Nations peoples and stakeholders within its sphere of influence and local area, promoting positive race relations, increasing cultural learning among team members, and improving economic outcomes for First Nations peoples and communities.
According to Heinemann, its Reflect RAP builds upon the implementation of the company’s reconciliation actions to this point. This includes participating in annual First Nations events such as National Reconciliation Week, NAIDOC Week, and recognising other annual commemorative dates and their significance.
Heinemann Oceania also includes an ‘Acknowledgement of Country’ in daily business, and engaged a First Nations Elder to perform a ‘Welcome to Country’ at the opening of its new Gold Coast Airport domestic store.
Additionally, the company has partnered with Evolve Communities to continue its competency development.
“I am immensely proud to take this step towards reconciliation as a signifier of our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging,” Heinemann Oceania managing director George Tsoukalas said. “This is also an advancement of Heinemann’s vision of becoming the most human-centric company in travel retail.
“We recognise that our stores and our team members are often the first and last touchpoint of international visitors to Australia, and we believe we have an important role to play as a platform for First Nations diverse cultures and businesses. I look forward to realising our RAP commitments together with our team.”
As part of the RAP development process, Heinemann Oceania commissioned an original artwork by Joanne Stanford, a proud Gamilaraay, Yuwaalaraay, Yuin and Wailwan Yinarr (Women in Gamilaraay) who currently resides on Dharug Country.
The RAP was developed by a working group of Heinemann Oceania and Heinemann Asia Pacific team members who volunteered time to usher the RAP through the drafting and approval process, along with the advice and guidance of First Nations consultant Maria Watson-Trudgett.
The working group reports to the RAP Steering Committee made up of Heinemann Oceania’s senior leadership team and chaired by the managing director. The RAP Working Group is chaired by Heinemann Oceania head of people and culture Carol Nazha.