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Woolworths Group acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Lands and pays respect to Elders past and present. 

As one of Australia’s largest retailers, we have the honour of serving thousands of communities and millions of people across rural, remote and metro areas.  

Representing the communities we serve, we see opportunities driving tangible and meaningful changes. Of these opportunities is our commitment to Reconciliation.

Our latest RAP tells the story of our Reconciliation journey. Supported by our strategic focuses across Indigenous education, employment, sourcing and health, our RAP plays to our inherent organisational strengths  in the belief that our actions will make a meaningful contribution toward reconciliation and Closing the Gap within Australia.

A brave heart for a better tomorrow.

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Meet artist David Williams, Executive Director of Gillimbaa

David's artwork 'A brave heart for a better tomorrow', tells the story of Woolworths Group's reconciliation journey. 

 David
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Our Vision for Reconciliation

Led by our values of 'we care deeply', 'we listen and learn', and 'we do the right thing', our RAP stays true to Woolworths Group's purpose of creating better experiences for a better tomorrow.

Our vision for reconciliation is an Australia where First Nations peoples have equitable access to the essential products, services and opportunities they need to truly thrive for a better tomorrow.

As one of the nation’s largest food and everyday needs businesses, Woolworths Group has a unique opportunity to make positive and tangible changes to the lives of all Australians, including First Nations peoples.

Big W Clontarf Welcome to Country

First Nations Advisory Board

The Woolworths Group First Nations Advisory Board was formed in August 2021. The eight-member Board has a 75 percent First Nations representation and comprises a combination of Woolworths Group team members, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, and external Indigenous business leaders. The Board provides guidance on our actions towards reconciliation and provide advice on matters related to Indigenous Affairs within Woolworths Group and with Indigenous communities. 

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Reconciliation Action Plan

Brad reconciliation

In consultation with Reconciliation Australia, our journey towards a new RAP recommenced in July 2022. We spent the next 10 months listening and learning to those with lived experience and crafting a plan to address the contemporary opportunities and challenges faced by Indigenous peoples and communities.

Led by our values of ‘we care deeply’, ‘we listen and learn’, and ‘we do  the right thing’, our RAP stays true to Woolworths Group’s purpose of creating better experiences together for a better tomorrow. By moving  from safe to brave, and leveraging our collective strengths, we look to address the targets outlined in the National Agreement on Closing the  Gap, referencing the Closing the Gap 2020 Report

We received Reconciliation Australia's endorsement on our latest Innovate RAP in May 2023 and are now working towards implementing our plan’s actions and deliverables over the next two years.

To effectively drive our plan forward, we’ve invested in building our First Nations capability with the appointment of Woolworths Group’s General Manager for Indigenous Strategy and Affairs, National Indigenous Engagement Manager and Indigenous Employment and Team Experience Lead. These key roles have enabled us to activate our strategies and regularly hold Yarning Circles to foster community while providing a direct line of feedback to our senior leadership and First Nations Advisory Board.

Woolworths Group continues to be supported by our First Nations Advisory Board, formed in August 2021. The eight-member board has 75 percent First Nations representation, composed of a combination of Woolworths Group team members, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, and external Indigenous business leaders, who provide guidance on our actions towards reconciliation.

Our reconciliation journey has many steps left to take, but it's a journey we are ready to continue so we may continue playing our part in Australia's future as a truly reconciled nation.

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Reconciliation Strategy


Woolworths Group's First Nations employment roadmap

As one of Australia’s largest private employers and one of the largest employers of Indigenous peoples, we are in a unique position to attract diverse talent and provide meaningful career opportunities. 

Employment is one of our focuses as part of our RAP and formed a roadmap focussing on First Nations team members hiring, retention and career growth. . Our strategy sets specific employment targets with the aim of incrementally increasing and retaining First Nations representation across the  Group to at least 3.2 percent by 2025

To drive our employment roadmap forward, Cassandra Tratt, a proud  Ugarapul woman, joined Woolworths Group in May 2022 as Indigenous Employment and Team Experience Lead. 

“With many Australians starting their careers at Woolworths, we want to grow our team and support Mob to access the countless opportunities that exist across the business.”

 employment
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Partnerships for a better tomorrow

At Woolworths Group, we are committed to investing in the growth and sustainability of the Indigenous business sector.

We aim to provide support to Indigenous businesses seeking opportunities across the Woolworths Group ecosystem. In 2022, we updated our Group’s Procurement Policy, clarifying the definition of an Indigenous supplier while providing greater flexibility in procurement processes to support spend with Indigenous suppliers.

The Group’s ambition is to build and work with our supplier base in a way that sustainably grows Indigenous businesses.

Contact Indigenous Procurement
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Woolworths Group's partnership with UTS' establishing a First Nations residential college

Woolworths has partnered with the University of Technology Sydney to launch Australia’s first First Nations residential college, which will champion Indigenous excellence and remove barriers that prevent First Nations participation in tertiary education. 

Designed and led by First Nations Australians and supported by the backing of 50 Indigenous leaders, the college will offer Indigenous programs, an Indigenous library, a family-history research centre and an open-to-the-public arts centre. UTS says the college "will be defined by its ethos of pride in Indigenous identity and culture, and its commitment to fostering academic excellence, leadership and service, and global citizenship", with the purpose-built facility encouraging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to choose a residential college that celebrates their identity, cultures and traditions.

First Nations Residential College
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 CEQ AGW partnership

Australian Grocery Wholesalers [AGW] supporting remote First Nations communities

Woolworths Group’s wholesale business AGW has partnered with Community Enterprise Queensland (CEQ) to provide essential goods and services to some of the most remote communities in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) of Australia. 

CEQ, a leader in delivering quality retail and essential services within Indigenous communities, also works with AGW who assists remote store teams with retail training via coaching and mentoring, as well as online support from Woolworths Food Academy.

Over the course of our RAP, Woolworths Group and the AGW team aim to continue growing the CEQ partnership while establishing new partnerships supporting remote and vulnerable communities

Shaun Burton, General Manager, Woolworths Group Wholesale, said: “At AGW, we are focused on delivering convenient, end-to-end, tailored wholesale solutions to our partners across all sectors.”

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Contact us

We encourage you to contact us if you have feedback or questions at indigenousaffairs@woolworths.com.au