David Jones has reaffirmed a commitment to its Reconciliation Action Plan, as part of its support of National Reconciliation Week.
National Reconciliation Week ran from May 27 to June 3, with a range of activations aimed at creating a more equitable and reconciled nation.
While many fashion brands joined Blackout Tuesday in an attempt to spotlight racial injustice, few joined in the 20th anniversary of this landmark event.
David Jones is among over 1,000 organisations that have formally committed to reconciliation through the Reconciliation Action Plan program.
David Jones commenced the program in October 2018 with a series of initiatives dating through to October 2020.
Developed under the guidance of advisors from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities by its Reconciliation Action Plan Steering Committee, it has 16 action points.
This includes developing employment and supplier opportunities for indigenous communities, as well as a three year partnership with the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation (ALNF) to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families.
AFL legend Adam Goodes, of Adnyamathanha and Narunnga descent, acted as an indigenous adviser to the business through the formative stages of its reconciliation journey.
This week, David Jones took to social media to publicly recommit to its efforts.
“As National Reconciliation Week draws to a close, we reflect on its 2020 theme, ‘In This Together’.
“David Jones is a community made up of thousands of people from here and around the world.
“We have a responsibility as a business to help close the gap, confront discrimination and inequality, and work harder to achieve better outcomes in Australia.
“We‘re focused on what our community partnerships and our own actions can achieve, including our Reconciliation Action Plan.”
According to the plan, it is due to submit drafts for a future program in September, 2020.