Over the past two years, our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Working Group have been exploring how we as a business can strengthen our relationships with the region’s First Peoples and how we might make a greater contribution to the challenge of creating equitable outcomes through the value created by our business.

Port Waratah CEO, Hennie du Plooy, believes this is an important step for the business to further our understanding and respect for First Nation Peoples culture and perspectives, and to strengthen our relationships and partnerships to create greater outcomes for our communities.

“We are committed to building and promoting an inclusive culture where First peoples’ cultures, perspectives and lived experiences are recognised, respected and valued,” Mr du Plooy said.

“I am proud of the way in which we developed our Reconciliation Action Plan. Relationships and understanding are first and foremost in the approach from our RAP Working Group and Senior Leadership. 

“Our Leadership and RAP Working Group members have attended a series of First Nations cultural understanding experiences and team members will strengthen their knowledge and connection through in-country days and learning outcomes in the coming months.

“As part of the RAP development process, we have changed practices in our business.

“We have expanded our Community Investment and Partnership Programme with the introduction of an additional priority area, Partnerships for Reconciliation and we are hopeful that this extension of the programme will broaden our potential impact and contribution to the community as a whole.”

Our RAP Working Group was formed in 2022 and comprises of members from across the business, including Senior Leadership and with thanks to external advisor, David Newham from Indyamarra Cultural Education, guiding the development of our RAP, which has been endorsed by Reconciliation Australia. We thank Gavin Kelly, local artist and Worimi man, for the inspirational artwork created to illustrate our Reconciliation Action Plan.

The artwork is bordered in grey with the blackened edge representing coal. The paths from the coal meet in the middle which represents Port Waratah Coal Services and the inbound and outbound movement of the coal. The green separated by water shows two lots of land with coal being transported between them passing through Port Waratah Coal Services on the way. The animals depicted are of the local Country, land and waterways. The campsites and people coming together and dancing, show an enduring connection to this place that goes back thousands of years.

The RAP includes our vision for reconciliation, community activities and considered actions that are going to be undertaken over the next two years to deliver our commitments. Read more about our reconciliation commitment or view our published RAP.

“We are proud to host an event to launch our RAP alongside our local First Nation communities, employees and other valued stakeholders on Friday 26th July,” said Mr du Plooy.

Artwork created by Gavin Kelly to illustrate Port Waratah’s Reconciliation Action Plan.