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2023-12-22 2:05 pm

Our reconciliation commitments

Acknowledgement of Country

At Bank Australia we respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of all the lands on which we live and work, and we pay our respects to Elders past and present. We recognise their continued connection to the land, waters and culture and we acknowledge their sovereignty has never been ceded. Our head office is located on the land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.

We acknowledge the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk peoples of the Wotjobaluk Nations as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land where the Bank Australia conservation reserve is located. We work in partnership with the Barengi Gadjin Land Council, who represent the Wotjobaluk Nations, in the stewardship of the reserve and thank them for their guidance and wisdom.

First Nations Recognition and Respect - Our new reconciliation strategy

We see First Nations reconciliation, and genuine recognition and respect for First Nations people, as a fundamental responsibility for Bank Australia. As a customer owned bank, we know our customers care about reconciliation and we began our journey in 2010 when Bank Australia became the first customer-owned bank in Australia to develop a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

Now we are pleased to present our new reconciliation strategy – First Nations Recognition and Respect.

This strategy sets out our vision to 2030 for walking together towards First Nations justice, reconciliation, and self-determination.

It also sets out actions that focus on building relationships, partnerships and trust with First Nations, including through culturally appropriate and accessible products and services and sharing lessons learned with our customers and others to help drive change.

It has strong links to Bank Australia’s other priority impact areas: nature and biodiversity, climate action, and affordable and accessible housing, and seeks synergies across these in its implementation.

We will report on the delivery of this strategy to our executive, our Board and our customers.

We look forward to First Nations people and organisations, and customers, joining us on this journey as we increase our efforts on First Nations reconciliation to contribute to a just, equitable and positive future.

Look out for the launch of First Nations Recognition and Respect in 2024!

We proudly supported the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament

While the referendum result was disappointing, the allyship that the Voice movement has built has been incredible to see, and shows that there is a huge number of people who want to see change. Community groups, land councils and Indigenous organisations, businesses, medical and other industry groups, philanthropic organisations, faith groups and over 50,000 volunteers all united together to answer the call of the Uluru Statement and campaign for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice enshrined in the constitution.

We acknowledge this will be a difficult time for First Nations people and Bank Australia will continue to offer our support and allyship.

As a values based bank we remain committed to advancing reconciliation and working with First Nations communities and organisations.

Our impact

As a customer-owned bank, and a certified B Corporation, we balance profit and purpose. We need to be profitable, as good stewards of our customers’ money – and as our impact report shows, we’re achieving this – but we can also choose to actively create impact beyond financial returns, for people and the planet.

Learn more about our impact →

Our impact

As a customer-owned bank, and a certified B Corporation, we balance profit and purpose. We need to be profitable, as good stewards of our customers’ money – and as our impact report shows, we’re achieving this – but we can also choose to actively create impact beyond financial returns, for people and the planet.

Learn more about our impact →