We pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their ancestors, their spirits, and their continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. YETI recognises the sovereignty of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples has never been ceded and strongly believes Voice, Truth and Treaty are necessary to heal from the injustices of colonisation.
For YETI reconciliation is about repairing relationships and creating a more just and equitable society for First Peoples. It involves acknowledging the wrongs of the past, working to address the ongoing impacts of colonisation, and promoting understanding and respect between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
By committing to reconciliation, YETI is demonstrating its commitment to creating positive change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and addressing the systemic issues that contribute to the challenges faced by young people. This includes issues such as high rates of substance abuse, youth justice involvement, and poor health outcomes. By working in partnership with community-controlled agencies, YETI is able to support young people in a culturally appropriate and effective manner, helping them to overcome their challenges and build a better future.
By having a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) endorsed by Reconciliation Australia, YETI is publicly committing to taking specific actions to support reconciliation, including developing our relationships with community-controlled agencies and communities, increasing cultural awareness among staff, and promoting reconciliation in the workplace. The endorsement from Reconciliation Australia provides external validation of YETI’s commitment to reconciliation and demonstrates that our RAP is aligned with best practices and national standards.
Embedding reconciliation practices into the workplace requires a commitment from all YETI staff and a willingness to learn and understand First Peoples’ cultures, histories, and contemporary issues. By taking steps such as providing cultural awareness training, encouraging and supporting our staff to be involved in reconciliation activities, and promoting cultural safety and inclusiveness, YETI can help to build a workplace that is supportive and inclusive of Indigenous peoples.
Our reconciliation strategies include a strong focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander recruitment and retention as well as our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Procurement Strategy to stimulate Indigenous entrepreneurship, business and economic development in the Cairns region.