Today is a very special day for Eire, as we embark on our company reconciliation journey. We have undertaken collaboration and consultation with Reconciliation Australia and the Birpai Lands Council to launch our first Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan.
At its heart, reconciliation is about strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples, for the benefit of all Australians. Reconciliation is an ongoing journey that reminds us all that while generations of Australians have fought hard for meaningful change, future gains are likely to take just as much, if not more, effort. Now more than ever.
For over 45 years Eire has been an integral part of the Mid North Coast community. Our commitment to social responsibility is now amplified through formalising our Reflect RAP. It demonstrates our bold commitment aimed at turning our values into tangible actions that promote inclusivity and awareness. Eire is joining 3000 organisations today across Australia that have also made the commitment to stand at the forefront of reconciliation efforts through a RAP program.
A copy of our RAP is available to all of you here, to share the journey that we are taking our people on. One that solidifies our commitment to relationships, education, engagement, social responsibility, governance and of course respect. By producing this RAP, Eire have committed to increasing our workforces understanding of reconciliation and to foster understanding and respect of aboriginal and Torres strait islander people. At Eire we commit to increasing employment outcomes, education of culture, opportunity, and diversity in our workplaces. We are proud to report that we currently employ 18 people or 9.3% of our team who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. One third of those being female.
Eire are also proud to partner with Aboriginal Communities through our ‘Roads to Home’ partnership, whereby we can fulfill our company purpose which is to build the communities we want to live in. The ‘Roads to Home’ program are a community led planning and infrastructure program, that aims to increase economic, social, health and cultural outcomes for discrete NSW Aboriginal communities by giving them a say in infrastructure upgrades and planning changes.
At our current active site, Purfleet in Taree, 15 local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples attended TAFE and gained their Certificate II in Civil Construction and had the opportunity to work on site each week learning the trade and gaining valuable experience in the industry. Bronwyn and Tiara are both Purfleet residents and are proud to be contributing to this project that will provide improved access for them and their community. Our team have built meaningful relationships with the Purfleet locals to ensure that the work we do meets their community and cultural requirements.
We would like to acknowledge Angela Marr, a proud Birrbay women with connections to the (DUN-GAH-TI) Dhunggati, and (WA-RI-MAY) Warrimay people on the Mid North Coast of NSW. She has been painting for many years for cultural and spiritual reasons. Angela says she loves working with mob to teach cultural arts and traditional language through her work at TAFE NSW. Ang was commissioned to create our RAP artwork and the finished artwork captures the elements of Country beautifully. Featuring our corporate colours, the hive element, the ‘Roads to Home’ partnership and our commitment to community. All intertwined with journey lines, saltwater Country references and the Three Brother Mountains. The artwork that Angela has produced for Eire is now proudly displayed in a range of formats you’ll see today. You will see it on the lanyards you wear, the stickers on hardhats at sites across the state, our RAP document, across our online platforms as well as placed front and center in our reception. Eire plans to continue to weave this beautiful artwork into the fabric of our branding moving forward.
Today Eire are also thrilled to announce one of our official RAP partnerships. Deadly Science is an Indigenous owned and managed not-for-profit organisation and has grown to be Australia’s leading Indigenous STEM charity working with over 800 schools and community organisations across all states and territories.
Deadly Science provides opportunities, learning experiences and resources to regional and remote schools for Aboriginal people to pursue Science, Tech, Engineering and Mathematics careers. As Eire employs a range of Civil Engineers it is important for us to ensure that we are supporting young people and supporting the future of our workforce pipeline. As part of our partnership, we will develop a close relationship with Deadly Science to support the children of our future here at Eire. In 2023 Deadly Science delivered 8000 boxes of resources, 25,000 books, 700 telescopes and delivered STEM programs to 34K children across Australia. Through this partnership with Deadly Science - Eire will be providing 6 additional Deadly Learners sessions to schools in rural and remote NSW.
As Eire progress through the first 12 months of our Reflect RAP we will lean into the process of ensuring we deliver on our commitments to build RELATIONSHIPS, foster RESPECT, create OPPORTUNITES AND ensure GOVERNANCE across all aspects of our business.
Eire would like to thank several people who made our RAP and launch possible – Firstly, to Ang our RAP artist, Uncle Bill and the
team from Birpai Lands Council for their cultural consultation and to the whole Eire Reconciliation Action Plan working group, Sophie Smith, Simone Farell, Georgia Braye, Cameron Eyre and Amy Sullivan for bringing the RAP to life.
