Celebrating NAIDOC Week

This year’s theme, “For Our Elders,” signifies how “across every generation, our Elders have played and continue to play an important role and hold a prominent place in our communities and families.”

To celebrate the week, team members from our Longford Plants have been invited to attend Ramahyuck’s NAIDOC Flag Raising Event on 3rd July and learn more about the Indigenous culture and heritage of the Gunaikurnai community based in Sale. Ramahyuck District Aboriginal Corporation is a leading provider of primary health care and related social and family support services to the Gunaikurnai and other Indigenous people in the Gippsland region.

“We have worked with Ramahyuck for the past two years and it’s great to be able to contribute significantly to the work they have been doing to support not only the Aboriginal community but also the wider community in Sale,” commented Andrew Williamson, Longford Operations Superintendent.”

As part of our Gippsland Basin Joint Venture, we have been able to contribute towards a new dental sterilizer to support their dental clinic’s daily operations and solar system installation for their head office.

Over the last few years, we have sought to engage with the Indigenous groups surrounding our operations and incorporate Aboriginal cultural practices in our workplace. At this year’s Longford & Offshore Community Stakeholder Dinner, members from the Gurnaikurnai community were invited to hold a Welcome to Country and didgeridoo performance to our community members in Sale.

Team members from our Long Island Point Plant also had the opportunity to participate in Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association’s Tree Planting Day earlier this month. The Planting Day was part of the Healing Water Country Project between Willum Warrain and Western Biosphere, and one that ExxonMobil has significantly contributed to financially. The project will help to support conservation efforts whilst restoring water quality and natural drainage in and around Warrangine Creek in Hastings. 

“It was great to understand the significance of the project to the local Aboriginal community in Hastings and know that we are creating an environment where nature can flourish. I had a wonderful time learning about Willum Warrain’s Gathering Place and I’m looking forward to building our relationship with the Traditional Owners of the Mornington Peninsula, the Bunurong Land Council,” commented Kimmi Sandeman, Stakeholder Engagement Advisor for Esso’s Environment team.

A tutoring program funded by Esso Australia, to support Aboriginal children in the Gippsland region is also planned to commence in July, and this was made possible through our newly established relationship with the Aboriginal Literacy Foundation.

ExxonMobil Australia also continues to work closely with Supply Nation to identify Indigenous businesses that can help supply all the different things we need to help keep the energy flowing to Australians.

ExxonMobil Australia continues to build on the importance of celebrating and acknowledging the richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language and culture and know that our relationships with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community are paramount in ensuring everyone has a voice within our community.