Our reconciliation journey is a reflection of our guiding principles and core philosophy, which is centred around ‘enabling communities to flourish’, and is ultimately a benchmark for which we measure the outcomes we achieve for our clients.
As a national practice, we are deeply respectful of First Nations Peoples and their connection to the lands where we live and work. We commit to work together with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, to ensure a growing awareness of inclusivity through the three pillars of reconciliation:
- Relationships - between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
- Respect - fostering an understanding of and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, rights and experiences.
- Opportunities - developing and implementing culturally appropriate, partnership-centered solutions that uphold the unique rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) represents more than actions; it empowers our people and the broader built environment industry to not only improve economic, employment and social outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples, but also to make a genuine difference.
“A reflection is to hold something up against itself.”
Our Reflect RAP is an invitation to question the ways we worked in the past, and a commitment to forge a just and shared future for all.
As part of this journey of reflection, we commissioned Wandandi Noongar and Ait Koedal artist Tyrown Waigana (Crawlin Crocodile) to create a digital artwork that represents our introspection as a national practice currently operating in six studios across Australia.
“The final design features six squares on a panel facing inward, resulting in a dynamic piece that communicates the core theme of ‘Reflect’. There are six squares to each panel, representing each of Hames Sharley’s studios across Australia. The black circles and lines under the surface represent the national connectivity, despite their geographical distance.” - Tyrown Waigana, Crawlin Crocodile
We acknowledge that this journey is an ongoing process; our vision includes the development of further action plans through consultation with Reconciliation Australia, and continued relationships with cultural organisations.
We thank Noel Morich and Brendan Moore from the Yunga Foundation for their critical knowledge and cultural leadership; the Mirri Mirri organisation for their cultural learnings; and artist and designer, Tyrown Waigana (Crawlin Crocodile), who was commissioned to create our ‘Reflect’ artwork.
The implementation of our action plan relies on effective governance through a nominated working group, with the support of leaders within our organisation to weave the thread of reconciliation through our systems and behaviours to enable transparency and accountability.
Our Reconciliation Working Group includes Alex Quin, Isabel Tascon-Guillaume, Ryan Dunham, Hannah Fredriksson, Sonja Duric, Alex MacDonald, Rheanna Murdoch and Megan Keher.