In May 2022, Reconciliation Australia welcomed Hub Australia to the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) program with the formal endorsement of our inaugural Reflect RAP. While it’s been on our radar for years, this marked the start of our formal commitment to reconciliation, as we join a network of more than 1,100 corporate, government and not-for-profit organisations in this program.
The first step in an ongoing commitment
Hub Australia recognises that as a result of multi-generational injustices and inequities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples face unique challenges and barriers in accessing and leveraging the opportunities many non-Indigenous Australians are able to access.
As a business, we are uniquely positioned to support First Nation-led businesses by making our workspace solutions available to, and approachable for, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“Since being founded in 2011, one of the key values of Hub Australia has been our commitment to impact-driven initiatives,” says Brad Krauskopf, CEO and Founder of Hub Australia.
“From our B Corp certification to our Flexi Impact program, we have always been guided by the ethos of operating in a manner that is beyond profit – and being welcomed into the RAP program further reinforces this ethos.
“Achieving formal endorsement of our Reflect RAP is the next step in our journey toward deepening our understanding of how we can leverage our structure to support the national reconciliation movement,” says Brad.
Our Reconciliation Action Plan
Since 2022, we’ve been formally endorsed by Reconciliation Australia for our Reflect RAP. Our Reflect RAP helps us to sustainably and strategically build relationships between indigenous-led businesses, develop opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – and foster respect for the world’s longest continuing cultures and communities.
“This is the first step of what I’m sure will be a prosperous initiative in strengthening the business’s commitment to reconciliation, and the relationship we have with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culture, and influence,” Brad says.
Our RAP is structured to fulfil and advance three main pillars:
- Relationships: To build and encourage relationships between First Nations-led businesses and non-Indigenous businesses.
- Respect: To foster respect for the world’s longest continuing cultures and communities.
- Opportunities: Develop and expand opportunities within Hub Australia and our local community for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Working within this RAP, Hub is committed to:
- Maintaining and growing the First Nations networking group we established in 2021 by donating the space and hosting the group’s networking events.
- Reporting on RAP progress regularly at company-wide meetings to ensure all staff are engaged and across these activities.
- Engaging with First Nations stakeholders within our community to seek guidance and advice.
- Securing procurement through First Nations led businesses, and showcasing them at our member events attended by our network of 7,500+ members nationwide.
Internal – and external – initiatives
Since its inception, we’re excited to have rolled out several initiatives. Firstly, we have communicated our commitment to reconciliation to all Hub staff. And we’ve researched best practices and policies in areas of race relations and anti-discrimination so that we can use data to inform our decision-making process.
We have increased our staff’s understanding of the purpose and significance behind cultural protocols, including Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country protocols. And we continue to raise awareness of NAIDOC Week by organising internal events and promoting external events in our local area.
As an Australian business, we’re also committed to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned or led businesses. One of the ways we do this is through our annual complimentary Flexi Impact memberships, which supported businesses including Uncle Charlie’s Tastes of Country, Ngurra Advisory, Kira-Lea Dargin Indigenous Consultancy, ITH Capital Partners, and Spirit Hive.
In celebration of our Workwell Week in 2023, we engaged Alchemy Orange to install a hanging art feature utilising native materials with healing properties at Hub Collins Street. We have also sourced our non-alcoholic craft beer from Sobah for our RELAX events across Australia during National Reconciliation Week.
Moving forward, we’ll continue to be on the lookout for opportunities to work or partner with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned businesses.
What’s next after Reflect RAP?
Our Reflect RAP endorsement only marks the start to our reconciliation journey.
We are now in the process of developing our next RAP, Innovate RAP, and will soon submit that for endorsement.
On top of that, Hub Australia will continue to share resources and pursue continued procurement through a Supply Nation membership.
These are just the first steps in a long journey. While it might be a long one, Hub maintains that it’s an important journey to take.
Hub Australia is committed to building a better future for people and the planet. Read more about our impact-driven initiatives.
