As part of our NAIDOC week celebrations, we talk with Emma, a Client Service Officer from our Bowral Office. Emma tells us what NAIDOC week means to her and a little about her experiences with us.
I think NAIDOC week is an important week of the year as it is a reminder of the history of Indigenous people of Australia. The more knowledge people have about the history the more chances we have of being understanding and truly reconciling. It’s about promoting the achievements Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have had over the years and shows their history, culture, beliefs and to fight for their rights towards social justice and to teach New Australians to understand what the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have experienced.
I think it’s important to celebrate NAIDOC week, as every year we celebrate this week, the more we realise we are all part of one nation and we are all one together with lots of different history and culture and I think this builds respect and knowledge for all.
By Argyle celebrating NAIDOC week it shows that Argyle respect and value the history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It shows that we want Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to feel welcome within Argyle Community Housing and it shows that we want to learn from them as well.
From a staff point of view I think one of the major things Argyle has done well to learn about people from an Indigenous back-ground, is to encourage the staff of Argyle to attend courses on the history of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, so staff can have a true understanding and respect of what the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have experienced and still experience. This also allows staff to have a better understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s culture. We have also been implementing smaller things along the way, such as having Indigenous items in our offices to celebrate the history and future of Indigenous people and culture. Argyle has also been actively building relationships with Indigenous organisations in our communities.
The future brings many opportunities, however I think the import thing for Argyle to carry out in the future is to continue learning more about people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds and celebrate the achievements that are made along the way, no matter how big or small the achievements.
An Aboriginal person that has inspired me greatly is Mandawuy Yunupingu. He demonstrated his passion for reconciliation through the music he loved so much, he also put great effort into bettering his education so he could get involved in the community and make changes, such as combining traditional aboriginal and western education and showing they can work along-side each other.
