03 Jul 2018
Joining the GBCA RAP Committee was a case of opening my eyes up to some of the issues Indigenous Australians face in the community. I wanted to learn more about why reconciliation is important to our organisation if we are to continue demonstrating leadership in sustainability.
I had very minimal experience with Indigenous Australians. I had some knowledge through history lessons at school and university, but I think connecting with people on a human level is where you can truly understand our similarities and celebrate our differences.
To learn how Indigenous Australians, their culture and heritage can be considered at the heart sustainable placemaking.
Aside from the launch of the GBCA RAP earlier this year, there have been many highlights, such as organising our Indigenous Dance Class with Culture Unlock and tasting Aboriginal delicacies afterwards at our bush tucker barbeque.
The GBCA staff have embraced our reconciliation journey by supporting the Committee and launch of our RAP document, as well as also being enthusiastic about taking part in activities like the site tour of Barangaroo, where we learnt about the history of the powerful Cammeraygal woman it’s named after.
Reconciliation and Indigenous engagement can provide positive impacts on the sustainable built environment, because we have a lot to learn from the sustainable practices of First Australians. The knowledge that has been passed through the generations around how to care for the natural environment is invaluable and we should honour this as an industry.