NAIDOC week is more than a celebration.

It’s an opportunity to lean in and learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures. Yet so many people still know so little – and it’s often businesses who step in and play a role in educating their employees through cultural awareness training.

Why is cultural awareness training important? Because when you know better, you do better. And at RAA, we think the world’s oldest continuous living culture is worth knowing and celebrating.

Each year we try to create new opportunities for our 1,300 RAA team members to experience and learn more, including workshops on the role of Acknowledgement of Country.

Acknowledgement of Country is not a ‘tick and flick’ at the start of a meeting. When we really engage and connect with purpose and meaning, it becomes an important mark of respect and a genuine acknowledgement of the cultures we have, for hundreds of years, overlooked or misunderstood.

The chance to learn and develop our own Acknowledgement of Country in Kaurna language has been a privilege, and a source of immense pride, for me and the whole team at RAA. ?We are incredibly lucky to have leaders like Jack Buckskin and the team at Kuma Kaaru here in Adelaide who give so much of themselves and their culture – to make us better.

Jack trained and educated my team in state government, and it’s been a pleasure to work with him again at RAA as he passes his teachings onto our Board and leaders.

Overseeing the Aboriginal Affairs Portfolio was a privilege, and I was also extremely fortunate to work alongside and learn from Nerida Saunders. Her commitment and leadership had a profound impact on me and continues to be so important in guiding the state government.

The way RAA has begun its reconciliation journey and commits to listening, learning and celebrating Aboriginal histories, cultures and achievements is one of the many reasons I’m proud to lead this organisation.

As an organisation, we’re taking the next step. We are now implementing our second Reconciliation Action Plan with a focus on employment pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We’re going to be investigating new products and services, and expand existing ones, that address the needs of all Australians, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

A key to our progress is the partnership we have with the Tjindu Foundation. This local organisation which develops and empowers young Aboriginal peoples through culture, education and sport has become a part of the RAA family. Our employees even play the kids every year in the RAA Tjindu footy competition – no prizes for guessing who wins.

In our RAP this year we also want to elevate Aboriginal voices and economic prosperity for First Nations organisations.

And as the state’s largest member-based organisation, we also think we can help connect our 800,000 members with the importance of reconciliation.

But we will never be successful as an organisation, and a community, if we don’t start from a position of respect.

Sadly, respect today, is often sadly lacking. If you shop in Rundle Mall, like me you might have noticed how many shops now display messages reminding customers to treat their staff with respect.

How badly are people treating each other today, that we have to remind people to behave respectfully – even when buying sneakers? Surely, we can do better. Respect is something that was taught in schools – treat others as you’d like to be treated. It’s pretty simple. And reconciliation, and acknowledgement of country, is no different.

So, please embrace NAIDOC week, demonstrate respect, learn more and take the chance to embrace and celebrate our First Nations’ cultures and achievements.

Also, if you’re in the city after dark on Friday and Saturday this week, look up and you’ll see the RAA sign proudly illuminated in the Aboriginal flag colours. It’s one way we can demonstrate respect and help connect people to the incredible culture we often sadly overlook.