Fostering greater cultural understanding
December 20, 2022
Hesperia is committed to delivering meaningful improvements in social, environmental, and economic outcomes for the communities in which we operate.
To support this, Hesperia has empowered its employees to contribute time, skills, and funding to our community through a range of initiatives including culture and the Arts, First Nations empowerment and economic participation, environmental conservation, mental health, and youth wellbeing.
As part of this commitment, Hesperia recently undertook Cultural Awareness Training and volunteered our staff at the two-day Danjoo Koorliny Social Impact Summit 2022.
This year’s summit, held at Kaarta Koomba (Kings Park) focused on the environment with themes of connecting with, and healing Boodja (Country) through Aboriginal knowledge and sustainable cultural practices.
Hesperia’s Community Development Lead Sarah Booth said it was a great opportunity to volunteer at one of the most important coming together occasions of the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal business and leadership community in Perth.
“The focus of this year’s event was healing country, and the group heard from an incredible line-up of speakers, including Professor Stephen Van Leeuwen, Glen Kelly, and a host of other inspiring leaders working in First Nations and environmental spaces,” Sarah said.
“Hesperia staff volunteered as venue assistants, event moderators and event support. It was hugely impactful for our team to see so many people coming together to support the protection and preservation of country.”
To support the empowerment of the Aboriginal community and foster greater cultural understanding within the team, Senior Traditional Owner of Whadjuk Country, Danny Ford OAM and Whadjuk Noongar woman, Rosemary Walley recently provided Hesperia staff with cultural awareness training.
Danny and Rosemary spoke about traditional culture, the history and impacts of colonisation, and where to from here, including how Hesperia can work better to improve partnerships and relationships with Aboriginal people.
Hesperia continues our commitment towards inclusive engagement in 2023 via our first REFLECT Reconciliation Action Plan.
