National Reconciliation Week 2022

Today marks the start of National Reconciliation Week (27 May–3 June).

Organised by Reconciliation Australia, it marks a time for Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and how we each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

The first official National Reconciliation Week was held in 1996 by Reconciliation Australia’s predecessor, the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (CAR), and has continued to grow in prominence and recognition ever since. 

Australia’s oil and gas community works closely with Indigenous communities, with Land Councils, Native Title holders and other relevant bodies all closely involved with operators at every stage of the approvals process. Oil and gas projects throughout Australia create socio-economic opportunities in Indigenous communities, boost training and employment, and encourage regional growth. 

Several APPEA member companies have Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) in place in association with Reconciliation Australia, or engage with communities through initiatives such as youth training, fire abatement programs, carbon offsetting, sports sponsorships, scholarships, and much more. 

RAPs are documents built by businesses around three core pillars — relationships, respect and opportunities. They provide a way for organisations to commit to sustainable, meaningful action to advance reconciliation.

APPEA members with ongoing RAPs in place include:

• Clough
• ConocoPhillips
• INPEX
• Woodside Energy
• Arrow Energy
• Origin Energy
• Valmec
• ANZ

Other members that have previously committed to RAPs through Reconciliation Australia include BHP, Chevron, Curtin University, KPMG and Shell, among others.

The theme of this year’s National Reconciliation Week is ‘Be Brave, Make Change’, a challenge to be brave to tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation in order to make change for all.

It marks an opportunity to celebrate the Traditional Owners of the land, the long and diverse history of First Nations cultures, and brings attention to the work being done to build trust and respect between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians. 

For more information about National Reconciliation Week, head to nrw.reconciliation.org.au.