Listening, Learning, and Acting: ntegrity’s Stand on January 26

January 26 marks the beginning of the genocide of the world’s oldest continuing culture. It’s the beginning of the systematic, intentional murder, abuse, and exploitation of First Nations people in Australia. 

We want to be a business on the right side of history, by being intentional about January 26th. As a group of people who help brands craft their voices and messages, it’s important that we acknowledge our influence, and use it to contribute to make this country better, kinder and more respectful to all Australians. At ntegrity, we support a date change, a day we can all come together to collectively reflect on our history, what has been built, what has been broken, and what we can celebrate about our Country. We support reconciliation. 

In the lead-up to January 26, we have actively sought to deepen our understanding of the perspectives and complex emotions on this significant day by listening to our engagement partner, Children’s Ground and the First Nations communities they serve. Our goal extends beyond simply making a statement of support, and we want to move beyond just having cultural awareness. We want to deepen our learning, we want to create allyship and we want to have uncomfortable conversations to gain a comprehensive understanding of Australian history and the ongoing impacts of colonisation. 

This is not a token element of our corporate social responsibility, we’ve been passionate about making this part of our DNA as a business since 2016 and we want people and companies to take action. Some ways we are doing this: 

1. Supporting a date change

We offer our Australian-based employees the chance to swap the public holiday and take another day off in lieu. 

2. Providing opportunities to listen and learn

We purchased and sent Aretha Brown’s Decolonise Yourself cards to our Australian based employees, “a tool for raising awareness, sparking dialogue, and encouraging others to take responsibility for their own learning and growth”. 

3. Donating

We make an annual financial contribution of $10,000 to Children's Ground, a First Nations organisation, with a First Nations approach. 

So on this January 26, and throughout the year, as encouraged by Children’s Ground, we will be reflecting on the past, acknowledging the truth of Australia’s history and celebrating the strength and resilience of First Nations people throughout that history until now, and into the future. First nations people are strong, the strength of the people and their land is to be admired. 

We are at the start of our Together Plan journey —  our internal commitment and plan to build a lasting partnership with First Nations communities. It is a journey of continuous listening, learning, and growth.

We hope you do the same.