Introduction
Hireup recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as Australia’s First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of the Land.
Hireup endeavours to be a place where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and other Australians work together to develop a community that acknowledges the wisdom and cultural heritage of the descendants of the First Peoples of Australia.
In embracing the notion of reconciliation between Australia’s First Peoples and other Australians, Hireup will ensure that a Welcome to Country or an Acknowledgement of Country is delivered at:
- Any external event hosted by Hireup
- Any gathering of all Hireup staff such as all staff meetings and roadmap week.
- Any online events hosted by Hireup
- In the email signature of Hireup staff.
Hireup is committed to delivering meaningful and respectful Acknowledgements and will ensure its staff feel confident in:
- Recognising the specific and accepted custodians of the land on which the event is being held
- Making a connection between the purpose of the event and the respect we have for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Welcome to Country
A Welcome to Country is where a traditional Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander custodian or Elder welcomes people to their land. The Welcome to Country is a right of the local traditional owners and not a privilege.
A Welcome to Country always occurs at the opening of an event and is usually the first item on the program. The local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander custodians or traditional owners conduct the ceremony and this may be done through a speech, song, ceremony, or a combination of these things.
Not all Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people can perform a Welcome to Country, as it must be given by an appropriate person, such as a recognised Elder within the local community.
In general, a Welcome to Country will be performed at formal events organised by Hireup, where there are dignitaries or special guests in attendance. It may not always be possible to organise a Welcome to Country at such events and functions; in such situations, an Acknowledgement of Country is the minimum requirement.
It is the responsibility of the speaker who follows immediately after the Welcome to Country ceremony to provide an appropriate response. Part of the response should acknowledge the person who has delivered the Welcome to Country. It is not necessary for every speaker at an event or gathering to provide a response or an Acknowledgement of Country.
Acknowledgement of Country
An Acknowledgement of Country is an opportunity to show respect to our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. An Acknowledgement can be performed by any individual, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander or other Australians, participating in an occasion of any kind.
It is the responsibility of the organiser of the event to ensure that the Acknowledgement of Country takes place in a meaningful manner.
Hireup wants to avoid tokenistic or ‘tick a box’ Acknowledgements and therefore requires staff to:
- Recognise the specific and accepted custodians of the land on which the event is being held. For example acknowledging the Cammeraygal people compared to ‘the Traditional Custodians of the Land’
- Making a connection between the purpose of the event and the respect we have for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This can be achieved through storytelling, cadence, and presentation methods.
Email signature
Hireup is proud to be building our community across Australia. In doing so we pay our respects to our First Nations people, the Traditional Custodians of the land. We acknowledge the Elders, past, present and emerging. We seek to build respectful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, working in partnership to ensure that people with disability are able to live the life they choose.
Greenwich - Sydney
When Acknowledging Country in Greenwich, we Acknowledge the Cammeraygal people of the Guringai nation.
In the CBD of Sydney we Acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation.
Version 2 I Revision date: May 2019 I All previous versions are superseded I © Hireup Pty Ltd
This document is reviewed annually unless legislative or organisational changes require earlier review.