Inclusiveness in action

As part of diversity activities, ABB in Australia launched a three-year Reconciliation Action Plan in 2013 formalizing a commitment to create social, employment and business opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (indigenous Australians).

The plan establishes training and employment programs to enable indigenous Australians to access jobs throughout the company. It also considers how to provide more opportunities and effective outcomes for indigenous customers and supply partners.

The plan focuses on three key areas: relationships, respect and opportunities. As far as relationships are concerned, ABB aims to develop closer ties to indigenous communities and businesses across Australia by strengthening commercial ties and participating in activities such as the annual celebration of their history and achievements.

For a company that seeks to act responsibly towards the communities where we operate, it is vital to get a deeper understanding of indigenous culture, history and contemporary issues, and participate in reconciliation activities. We are therefore focusing on educating our workforce on the rich history and culture of indigenous Australians through cultural training sessions, and believe this will contribute to a greater sense of reconciliation.

Our goal is to increase the presence of indigenous Australians at all levels of our organization and to support future generations through educational programs. Our sponsorship of the successful Galuwa Engineering Experience program for 29 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander high school students in 2013 is just one example of our commitment to educating future generations.

Building strong and mutually beneficial relationships between indigenous Australians and the broader Australian community makes both business sense and is an example of our commitment to corporate responsibility activities in Australia.