Ventura has officially launched its first Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), marking an important step in the company’s commitment to reconciliation and stronger relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.
Formally endorsed by Reconciliation Australia, the Reflect RAP provides Ventura with a clear framework to listen, learn and build the foundations for meaningful and lasting action across the business.
Ventura marked the milestone with a special launch at its Dandenong Head Office, bringing together employees from across the business alongside suppliers, community partners and guests.
The event opened with a Welcome to Country from a Bunurong Elder and included a yidaki (didgeridoo) performance, giving those attending an opportunity to come together, listen and reflect on the significance of the occasion.
Ventura CEO Carol-Anne Nelson said the RAP was an important milestone, but more importantly, the beginning of a longer journey.
“Our buses connect communities across Melbourne every day, but being part of a community means more than simply getting people from one place to another,” Nelson said.
“Our first Reflect RAP is about listening, learning and understanding where we can make a genuine difference as an organisation.
“We know reconciliation isn’t something achieved through a document or a single event. This RAP gives us a starting point and a responsibility to keep building on the work we have already begun.”
With more than 2,000 employees across 14 depots and operations connecting communities throughout Melbourne, Ventura has an opportunity to use its scale, workforce and community relationships to contribute positively to reconciliation.
Ventura General Manager – Customer and Stakeholder Engagement, Paddy Keys-Macpherson, said those relationships would be an important part of bringing the RAP to life.
“Ventura has always been about connecting people and communities, and our RAP gives us an opportunity to think more deeply about what that means,” Keys-Macpherson said.
“For us, this is about building genuine relationships, listening to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices and making sure the commitments we put on paper translate into meaningful action.
“We’re at the beginning of that journey, and we’re looking forward to continuing to learn from our people, our partners and the communities we serve.”
The Reflect RAP will guide Ventura as it strengthens relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, builds cultural awareness across its workforce and explores opportunities in areas including employment, procurement and community engagement.
The launch builds on activities already taking place across Ventura, including the company’s involvement in NAIDOC Week, which has provided employees with opportunities to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories and communities.
For Ventura, the endorsement of its first RAP is a commitment to keep listening, learning and turning good intentions into meaningful action.
Click here to read Ventura’s Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
