PwC and PwC Indigenous Consulting launch advanced reconciliation plan
PwC Australia and PwC Indigenous Consulting have released a joint Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan, with a number of initiatives and commitments.
As a strategic framework for driving an organisation’s contribution to indigenous reconciliation both internally and in the communities in which it operates, Reconciliation Australia’s structured Reconciliation Action Plans consider five dimensions of reconciliation – race relations, equality and equity, institutional integrity, historical acceptance, and unity – with the RAP programme covering four stages of the reconciliation journey; Reflect, Innovate, Stretch, and Elevate.
The latter strategic level – Elevate – is for organisations that wish to take on a leadership position in advancing national reconciliation, and have a proven track record of successfully embedding RAP initiatives. Together, professional services firm PwC and separate Indigenous majority-owned and managed member PwC Indigenous Consulting (PIC) have now launched their first joint Elevate endorsed RAP, covering the 2019-2023 period with a range of commitments.
“We are proud of the contribution PwC has made to reconciliation, but we know there is still much more to do,” said PwC CEO Luke Sayers. “We are committed to bringing our skills, expertise and amazing people to the challenge of making positive progress towards reconciliation. At PwC, our purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems. In Australia, reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is fundamental to achieving this and is core to Australia’s shared national identity.”
Among the commitments as set out under the joint PwC RAP – which continues a reconciliation journey the Big Four firm set out on in 2010 – are initiatives to; increase contestable spend with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suppliers; institute a pilot to fast-track the growth of 15 indigenous leaders which will be scaled to at least 50 nationally if successful, and; to employ 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over the next four years through a tailored recruitment program.
“The RAP program inspires social change in workplaces across Australia, generating economic and behavioural transformation with far-reaching, positive impacts,” said Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine, who noted PwC’s strong track record on the core RAP values of relationships, respect and opportunities. “By raising the bar of its RAP ambitions, PwC and PIC continue to lead national reconciliation action in the professional services sector.”
In a joint statement, Jodie Sizer and Gavin Brown, the co-CEOs of PIC, said; “At PIC, our vision is to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and support self-determination through empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led models and solutions. Reconciliation is a shared journey which celebrates the value of all world views, grounded in respect for the First Australians, and brings enormous potential for the future of our country.”
Established in 2013, PIC is majority co-owned by Sizer and Brown, and sits within the PwC Global network with PwC Australia as its minority shareholder. Sixty percent indigenous-staffed, PIC also has an independent indigenous Chair and a majority indigenous board, and together with PwC employs 45 Indigenous Australians – noted as the largest employer of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander accountants in the country.
