“Be Brave. Make Change.”
That has been the challenge set to all Australians this National Reconciliation Week (27 May – 3 June).
National Reconciliation Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and this year, to explore how we can Be Brave in pursuing the unfinished business of reconciliation and Make Change for the benefit of all Australians.
Bill Mithen, CEO of the Give Where You Live Foundation, said the Foundation has taken action to make change this National Reconciliation Week and beyond.
“The Give Where You Live Foundation is incredibly proud to announce, that we will be making an ongoing financial commitment of 1% of our total revenue each year, to the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.”
“At our 2022 AGM later this year, the Foundation will officially change our rules of incorporation to enshrine this ongoing and enduring commitment to the Wadawurrung People,” Mr Mithen added.
The Give Where You Live Foundation will make its first payment of approximately $40,000 to Wadawurrung in July 2022.
The Give Where You Live Foundation is committed to working towards reconciliation between the Wadawurrung People who are the Traditional Owners of the land in the Geelong region.
Wadawurrung Traditional Owner and Manager Cultural Education Corinna Eccles said,
“It is time for Wadawurrung People to be rightfully acknowledged.”
This is an important decision, for the Foundation and strongly aligns with Give Where You Live Foundation’s purpose of building a fairer G21 Community.
“The Give Where You Live Foundation values being bold, imagining a better way and then pursuing that with courage and care.”
“While this commitment in no way truly represents the value we all gain from the care and custodianship of the land the Wadawurrung have undertaken for millennia, it will be an enduring commitment towards achieving reconciliation and creating a fairer G21 community,” Mr Mithen said.
This Reconciliation Week, and every week, the Give Where You Live Foundation is encouraging the wider community to consider how they can also be Be Brave and Make Change.
“There is a real opportunity for all organisations to play a role in contributing to a more reconciled nation. Philanthropy generates hundreds of billions of dollars of revenue each year, and public companies distribute the same in dividends. All of this wealth is built on foundations of our First Nations Peoples. Imagine the change that would occur if philanthropy and business, made payments to our First Nations People simply as a matter of course. Allowing them the right to focus on their ambitions and aims and determine where that funding is spent.” Mr Mithen said.
The Give Where You Live Foundation wants to take a leadership role and inspire other philanthropic organisations and businesses across the country, to be brave and make meaningful change.
