Promoting Reconciliation

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Promoting Reconciliation

It’s been one year since we launched our joint Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) between PwC and PwC’s Indigenous Consulting (PIC) and we’re excited to share our progress to date with you.

“As we enter the second year of our Elevate RAP - we do so in very different times, amidst COVID-19. We remain committed to our RAP ambitions, however we also intend to be cautious over the next few months, as we recognise our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders are particularly vulnerable, given the higher levels of chronic illness and poorer health. We will continue to work with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders, clients, communities, suppliers and advisory bodies to inform our new ways of working with communities at this time. We acknowledge it is critical that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices inform the health response to this global crisis.”

Tom Seymour, PwC CEO-elect

With National Reconciliation Week approaching the theme “In This Together” is now resonating in ways we could not have foreseen when it was announced last year. It reminds us whether in a crisis or in reconciliation we are all #InThisTogether.

Our RAP is focussed on increasing economic participation, deepening our firm's cultural fitness, and building trusting strategic relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Our Elevate RAP Progress Report 2019 outlines how we’re tracking against our Reconciliation Action Plan for the year between 1 March 2019 and 29 February 2020. We have many milestones to celebrate including:

PwC Australia doubled its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce in 2019
As of February 2019, PwC was on track to exceed our contestable spend target in FY20. Whilst this will be impacted by COVID-19 we’re working with our First Nations suppliers to mitigate disproportionate impacts to their businesses and identify new supply chains aligned to our COVID-19 response.
PwC was a principal sponsor and sent a 22-person delegation (including three members of our Executive Board) to the Garma Festival in August 2019. With support from Reconciliation Australia, PwC designed and co-facilitated an interactive session on how corporate Australia can actively take steps to enact the intent of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
PwC hosted an inaugural First Nations Networking Summit which brought together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees from PwC and PIC to increase engagement and accelerate our efforts to embed a First Nations Voice and truth-telling across the firm.
Entries for the 2019 MURRA Boost Initiative were so impressive that PwC decided to support two winners.
PwC hosted over 500 staff at exclusive pre-screenings of The Australian Dream, followed by facilitated discussions about race and identity, in our offices nationally.

Detailed progress against each of our commitments is outlined in our Elevate RAP Progress Report 2019. You can access our 2019 Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan here.

The PwC & Murra Boost Initiative

The PwC & Murra Boost Initiative is a partnership between PwC and the Murra Alumni of the Melbourne Business School, whereby we provide $30,000 in skills and expertise to support a winning Indigenous Business to support a specific issue that will allow for future growth.

Marrawah Law, an Indigenous owned legal practice is the 2018 winner of the PwC & MURRA Boost Initiative, receiving skills and expertise valued at $30,000.

Marrawah Law is a multi-award winning legal practice formed in July 2018, Marrawah Law represents the combined strengths of three firms with over 75 years’ experience in the practice of law for government, corporate and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients. Their expertise in the areas of native title and cultural heritage law are recognised nationally. The Firm is home to five lawyers and three administrative staff across two offices in Cairns and Brisbane.

"We are very excited to win this year’s PwC & MURRA Boost Initiative and look forward to working with PwC. It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to reach our goals of increasing market share and social media engagement", said Principal Solicitor Leah Cameron.

"On behalf of PwC, I would like to congratulate Leah Cameron at Marrawah Law for winning the PwC & MURRA Boost initiative. PwC and PwC’s Indigenous Consulting are thrilled to help grow and strengthen Marrawah Law business practices and contribute to their future success.” Kim Cheater, PwC National Reconciliation Governance Group Co-Chair.

Established in 2002, Naturecall Environmental is a one hundred percent Aboriginal owned business founded by Managing Director and Muruwari man, Steven Noy. Naturecall Environmental is committed to environmental sustainability, business growth of Indigenous owned companies and Aboriginal education and employment opportunities for Indigenous youth.

"Naturecall Environmental are thrilled to win this year’s PwC & MURRA Boost Initiative. Being given this opportunity to work with PwC will allow Naturecall to take our commitment to social responsibility and Indigenous engagement to the next level and this is something we are very excited about.” Steven Noy, Managing Director at Naturecall Environmental.

"On behalf of PwC, I would like to thank the organisations that applied for the PwC & Murra Boost Initiative this year and congratulate Steven Noy and the team at Naturecall Environment. This is a fantastic opportunity for PwC and PwC’s Indigenous Consulting to help grow their capability and contribute to their future success.” Kim Cheater, PwC National Reconciliation Governance Group Co-Chair.