A Message From Our CEO
It gives me great pleasure to formalise our vision and plans for deeper, more meaningful engagement and respectful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities with the launch of ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia’s (CDC) Australia-wide Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
As one of Australia’s leading transport providers, the core of what we do is connecting people to places and the communities.
Developing an inclusive and respectful culture that embraces the diversity of the communities that we serve and people that we employ is my personal commitment and our company’s commitment. This will also foster a culturally inclusive workplace and result in services that support, understand and respect the aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
With CDC’s vast operational footprint across Australia and our transport services closely linked to millions of people in the communities we serve, we are well positioned to play a leading role in fostering respect and positive relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and our wider community. As a diverse organisation, we are equally excited and in a good place to create an inclusive environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to consider for employment and business opportunities. We also have a good opportunity to connect our employees to a better understanding of Australia’s history and the cultures that exist across the nation.
CDC has started our RAP journey in our New South Wales operations in 2021 with our CDC NSW Reflect RAP, in effect from July 2021 to July 2022. Launching the ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia (CDC) Reflect RAP, which covers all our businesses nationally, is an important and logical next step in our reconciliation journey.
We recognise that this journey requires constant focus, leadership and accountability. The RAP outlines the actions that we will take to prepare CDC in our reconciliation commitments across all our businesses nationally and actions in successive RAPs. This sets the foundation and a guide to increasingly foster collaborative relationships with Australia’s First peoples on whose land we operate.
This RAP is something that we are all proud of at CDC. I am excited to be part of this journey and our commitment to connect our people and our communities by building genuine relationships and longstanding partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Islander peoples, working closely with Reconciliation Australia to achieve a more united Australia.
Nicholas Yap
Chief Executive Officer
ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia
Our Reconciliation Vision
Our vision for this Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) is to create a culturally inclusive, educated organisation while being a partner that supports, understands and respects the aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
At CDC, people are at the heart of our operations. From our employees to the broader communities that we serve, being a culturally inclusive workplace and service is the start of the journey to recognise, understand and respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
We are also committed to creating real and genuine opportunities through recruitment and professional development, as well as through our partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community organisations, service providers and suppliers.
Our priorities and deliverables in bringing our vision to life are underpinned by Reconciliation Australia’s four core pillars, Relationships, Respect, Opportunities and Governance.
Our RAP Artwork
Connecting to Country and People, 2022 by Luke Penrith
For thousands of years First Nations clans and tribes used traditional trading routes across their country and neighbouring nations.
The artwork is a modern day route, which connects people to different villages, suburbs and towns.
Throughout the journey the landscape changes from the large circular tunnels along the coastline, across the green and brown mountains and valleys, and through the open plains, past rippling rivers, waterholes and mountains.
Supporting the journey is a network of orange paths. These paths and roundabouts create moments of communication and acknowledgment between people, and link people, places and communities in genuine connection.
Projects With the Community
Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation
We proudly support our major partner Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation, which works tirelessly to support Stolen Generation Survivors and their descendants and share their stories with audiences across New South Wales with their Mobile Education Centre Bus. Our drivers enjoy driving their Mobile Education Centre Bus to engagements where the Kinchela Boys Home Uncles share their stories and messages of healing. Our staff and management have developed a deeper understanding of the reconciliation process by experiencing stories of the Kinchela Uncles.
Larrakia Nation and Stars Foundation
We have built a close relationship with the Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation and support them with a strong line up of projects and initiatives in the community. The Larrakia Nation Peoples have been invaluable in helping us raise cultural awareness and understandings of the local Indigenous culture within our driver and employee ranks.
Our relationship with the Stars Foundations is important to us as education is a top priority for CDC Northern Territory. The Stars Foundation supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls to improve health and education outcomes.