Acknowledgement of Country – Long Gully

CVGT Australia has completed the long-awaited unveiling of an Acknowledgement of Country plaque at its Long Gully corporate centre.

The ceremony was delayed twice previously because of COVID-19 lockdowns, but the recent easing of restrictions meant the event could proceed safely on Tuesday. The plaques are being installed at CVGT Australia sites across Victoria, News South Wales and Tasmania.

Chief executive officer Jason Russell said the plaques were part of the organisation’s strategic priorities and core values to build strong partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

“We acknowledge and respect the connection and history Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have to the land and we recognise the injustices and inequities they have experienced,” he said.

“We are committed to developing our knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories through reflection and positive actions.

“Earlier this year we published a Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The RAP informs our plans to elevate the voices and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

“One of our core values is ‘Community matters’ and for us to live that value we must act as an enabler of positive change, economic prosperity and improved wellbeing.

“We need to collaborate with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to co-design approaches to support closing the employment gap and address any access and equity issues in relation to our services.

“We are investing in research to understand the barriers to employment and trialling new and innovative approaches to providing complete employment solutions and a better experience for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients.”
CVGT Australia chair Liz Corbett said the unveiling was an important event for the organisation.

“We are really proud and excited to be able to unveil this plaque and on behalf of the Board of CVGT thank everyone for their attendance and support,” she said. “The unveiling itself is a minor action but what it symbolises is a quantum shift for CVGT, on our journey toward Reconciliation.”

CVGT Australia’s Acknowledgement of Country plaques have been designed by Kinya Lerrk, an Aboriginal-owned and operated business, and a member of Supply Nation, a database of Indigenous businesses.

The plaques feature a gum leaf design by Kinya Lerrk co-founder and designer Megan Van Den Berg.