Keeping the Fires Burning – First Nations Working Group
Reconciliation Action Plan Focus Area: Relationships
Question & Answer with Moana R.
How long have you been involved with the group?
I’ve been part of the group since 2021. As an Indigenous person from Aotearoa/New Zealand with similar lived experiences, I feel compelled to be someone who “keeps the fires burning” — holding space for First Nations representation and presence.
Why are you passionate about being involved?
I see myself in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Their language, symbolism and lore feel familiar and draw me closer to my own cultural heritage and country.
How would you describe the group?
The group exists to champion cultural knowledge and skill, so icare people understand how their work impacts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and Country. We empower others to advocate and act from a place of awareness and respect.
What are you most proud of the Group achieving?
The passion our people bring to being powerful, respectful allies. Also, the delivery of meaningful interactive experiences in addition to NAIDOC and Reconciliation Week.
Moana’s role is within the Customer Advocates Office, and her contribution to the First Nations Working Group is voluntary for which icare is thankful for her commitment.
Listen
With cross functional membership, we meet regularly to share and explore initiatives. We listen through internal and external research, leveraging insight from other government agencies and subject matter experts within the business.
Learn
We engage external speakers to connect with our people, organise events and reflect on learnings via icare social channels.
Act
We have learnt about the ways Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples prefer us to serve them, how to apply relational principles to our work and how to let go of fast-paced project timelines. It is a small stone in a large ocean and is rippling out through the organisation. There is a stronger appetite to do better, with a clearer strategy that aligns roles to strengths, that makes collaboration easier.
