Promoting Reconciliation
Together we solve. It's time
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.”
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.
