Sponsored by Woodside Energy Ltd.
About the Sponsor
Woodside is an Australian oil and gas company with a global presence, recognised for its world-class capabilities—as an explorer, a developer, a producer and a supplier.
Underpinned by 60 years of experience, we are Australia's most experienced liquefied natural gas (LNG) operator and largest independent oil and gas company. Wherever we work, we are committed to living our values of integrity, respect, discipline, excellence, working together and working sustainably.
Our operations are characterised by strong safety, environmental and social performance in remote and challenging locations. We recognise that meaningful long-term relationships with communities are fundamental to maintaining our licence to operate and we work to build mutually-beneficial relationships across all locations where we are active.
Promoting Indigenous Recognition Award
The Promoting Indigenous Recognition Award acknowledges local government initiatives that promote recognition of the unique place and contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia, through engaging Indigenous peoples in local communities.
In general terms, this Award involves acknowledging in your local community Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians as the first inhabitants of this nation. It is also about celebrating, sharing and valuing our Indigenous culture and history. In particular, 2019 will be an important year for recognising the role Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages play in local communities, with the United Nations declaring the year International Year of Indigenous Languages. Language has a significant role in maintaining the sustainability, vitality and strength of communities.
In 2019, this Award encourages the acknowledgement of Australia's rich cultural landscape and the work going on in local communities to revive and strengthen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages is a big part of this landscape. This Award has traditionally acknowledged that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history is valued and provides a unique contribution to this nation. With the International Year of Indigenous Languages raising awareness across the world, this award is well placed to showcase and celebrate the diversity of activities in your local community that support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages. Language is more than words.
Meaningful engagement involves listening to Indigenous and non-Indigenous members of the community, bringing them together to discuss the best way of recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and history in the community and implementing this together.
For example, local governments could enter projects for this award which involved:
- hosting community event/s or run a project/s to raise the awareness and understanding of the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages in Australia's contemporary society and to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians participation in the United Nations International Year of Indigenous Languages 2019 (IY2019)
- undertaking projects that support the revival, maintenance, use or teaching of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages in collaboration with local communities, authorities and/or service providers
- hosting community event/s to raise awareness and understanding of the movement to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in the Constitution
- developing an interpretative trail, signage, murals, sculptures and/or other material (such as booklets) acknowledging and promoting an area's Indigenous history and/or language with the involvement of the Indigenous and non-Indigenous community
- undertaking a project for formal dual naming of significant landmarks (in English and the local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language)
- establishing initiatives which bring together the Indigenous and non-Indigenous community on a regular basis to share skills or experiences. An example might be establishing a mentoring program where Indigenous community Elders visit school children, or community language classes
- meeting regularly with Indigenous residents to provide advice and inform local government activities and policies in a meaningful way
- developing and implementing (or co-hosting) an activity or event focused on a specific area (such as language, sport, arts/singing/performance, education, parks/gardens or other local government amenities, etc.) to build positive relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians
- developing and implementing (or co-hosting) an activity or event focused on a specific theme (such as reviving or teaching local languages, ‘growing’ effective families, supporting inclusive neighbourhoods, improving the natural environment, etc.) to build positive relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous residents
- undertaking innovative projects that improve the accessibility of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, which might incorporate the use of new technologies and using the local Indigenous language in online formats. For example, including local languages in websites alongside local place names, stories and local cultural information and history
- implementing innovative initiatives through a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in partnership with the local Indigenous Community.