Our Commitment to Reconciliation

Women & Leadership Australia forms part of global education company, Navitas, which is headquartered in Perth, Western Australia. In July 2022 Navitas proudly launched its first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The Navitas ‘Reflect’ RAP identified practical plans for action and tangible ways to build mutually beneficial relationships with First Nations stakeholders, and demonstrate respect for First Nations cultures, histories, knowledge and rights. It also laid a foundation for us to explore meaningful ways to increase access to education and improve employment outcomes for First Nations peoples, and to increase supplier diversity to support improved economic and social outcomes.

 

In October 2024, Navitas launched the next stage of its Reconciliation Action Plan with its ‘Innovate’ RAP.

 

“An Innovate RAP is the time to strengthen and develop the connections that form the lifeblood of all RAP commitments. The RAP program’s framework of relationships, respect, and opportunities emphasises not only the importance of fostering consultation and collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities, but also empowering and enabling staff to contribute to this process, as well.” Said Karen Mundine, CEO Reconciliation Australia.

As an organisation, Women & Leadership Australia is proud to work and engage with First Nations women through a number of initiatives. We offer full attendance grants for First Nations women to attend the Australian Women’s Leadership Symposiums, and we were delighted to facilitate the 2019 Indigenous Women’s Leadership Symposium, led by Indigenous Engagement Advisor, Kat Henaway.

 

The leadership of First Nations women in Australia is important to us, and we seek opportunities to highlight the achievements of exceptional First Nations Women leaders through the Australian Awards for Excellence in Women’s Leadership. You can see the full list of recipients here.

 

We look forward to continuing and expanding our work with First Nations people into the future.

You can read the
Navitas RAP here

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this document includes reference to a First Nations colleague who has passed and may also contain images or names of other deceased persons.

About the Navitas
Reconciliation
Action Plan (RAP)
artwork:

“This artwork has been designed to reflect the Navitas values and commitment to transforming lives through education with the use of Whadjuk Noongar patterns and symbols. These include the large circle representing the Navitas community and its connection to people. Circles in Noongar/Whadjuk stories generally describe a meeting place. Within each layer of the circle there are patterns that represent Navitas in unique ways. Repeated circular patterns reflect the many campuses and sites that Navitas and its colleges operate globally. I have used shapes to represent more than 6,000 employees; one resembles the letter ‘TT’ which means Man while the other more curved TT means Woman in Whadjuk. The upside ‘U’ is used across Australia by many artists including myself to represent a person who is neither gender or age specific. I have also incorporated patterns to represent weaving, binding and strengthening Navitas through the creation and implementation of its Reconciliation Action Plan. Dancing people represent Navitas in the community in all its diversity. I have adapted original Navitas symbols used to demonstrate conviction (the raised, closed fists) and rigour in enhancing the professional reputation of Navitas (modified magnifying glass). There are other more subtle symbols and patterns that reflect partnerships with more than 30 Universities around the world and commitment to caring for people and the environment.
The artwork produced for the Navitas Innovate RAP represents the next stage of the Navitas journey. As well as incorporating the new Navitas colour palette, it demonstrates a focus on improving First Nations cultural representation within Navitas. To that end, First Nations body markings have been added to the ‘person’, ‘man’ and ‘woman’ symbols. These markings are used in celebrations and integral to representing who we are, and our song lines. Two linear patterns have also been added to the artwork to represent the journey ahead.”

– Marcia McGuire, artist

About the artist, Marcia McGuire

Marcia McGuire is a Whadjuk, Ballardong and Yamatji Aboriginal woman from Perth Western Australia. Since she was a young girl, Marcia has felt a strong connection to art; she loved to draw and paint, never missed art classes and always achieved top results in art at school. Inspired by her ancestors’ traditional art, dreamtime stories and culture, Marcia loves to create and design art that incorporates traditional customs and designs into everyday living, so that First Nations culture continues to be represented and celebrated in modern culture.

 

As an artist, Marcia is always looking for ways to bring her people’s culture into everyday living. “It’s no lie to say I live, breathe and dream of art in everything I do.”

 

In 2021, Marcia was engaged by one of our Navitas colleges – SAE Creative Media Institute – to produce a mural for the Perth campus, which was unveiled as part of National Reconciliation Week celebrations. The beautiful artwork acknowledges the traditional Whadjuk women who gave birth on the land where the campus is built.

 

In 2022, Marcia was engaged by Navitas to produce this artwork for its inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan.

 

In 2023, Marcia was asked to reimagine this artwork to incorporate elements of our reconciliation journey to date, and our vision for the future. We are grateful to Marcia for her gift of cultural storytelling through art.