Crown Resorts has today (Jul 31) launched its second Reconciliation Action Plan.
Reconciliation Australia has classified the RAP at an Elevate level (the highest and most ambitious category) recognising that Crown is working towards real change and reconciliation for Australia.
Crown has achieved all the targets established in the first RAP, and the second RAP sustains its focus on respectful relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and Crown’s employees.
Significantly, in this new RAP, some of Crown’s Indigenous employees will be placed into leadership programs so that they develop skills and gain experience to help them move into senior management roles in the company.
“Crown believes that providing meaningful employment is the best way for our company to help close the gap on Indigenous disadvantage,” said Crown Resorts Chairman, James Packer.
“I am proud to say that our Indigenous Employment Program is widely considered a best practice model and that, in July this year, we employed our 450th Indigenous employee.
“We recognise there is a lot more to do and we are committed to giving our fine Indigenous employees the opportunity to move into significant management roles as our second RAP progresses,” he said.
As well, new targets in terms of culture, employment, procurement and Crown’s commitment to the broader Indigenous community have been established.
Justin Mohamed, CEO of Reconciliation Australia, said: “Crown Resorts has proved itself a game changer in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment and its broader reconciliation initiatives. With its Elevate RAP, Crown Resorts has set the bar high to benefit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and is determined to succeed in its endeavour.”
As one of Australia’s largest private sector employers, Crown has always understood its responsibility to provide employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
To extend its commitment to reconciliation beyond employment and training, the Crown Resorts Foundation, in partnership with the Packer Family Foundation, has created a $200 million National Philanthropic Fund.
The Crown Resorts Foundation believes that the key to Indigenous employment is having strong education pathways that begin early in life and that’s why a key focus of this initiative is to support key community organisations that are working to empower young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders through education opportunities.