ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
To all Aboriginal Traditional Owners and Spiritual Custodians of these islands, Forico respectfully walks with you towards a future where a voice, treaty and truth telling will be heard and supported.
- We acknowledge that you have not always been heard and we promise to listen.
- We acknowledge that your Culture has a unique connection to Country and we seek to understand and learn from this.
- We acknowledge that access to your Cultural sites has been lost and we invite you back.
- We acknowledge that your ancestors actively cared for this Country and we seek your guidance for future management.
By offering this Acknowledgement we pay our respects to you, your communities and your past, present and future Elders.
OUR VISION
To create a workplace where everyone has an understanding of the Cultural Traditions and land management practices of Aboriginal people which informs our ongoing custodianship of the land we manage.
OUR JOURNEY
We aim to strengthen our relationships with Aboriginal peoples over time, engaging with many Aboriginal community members, businesses and organisations. We look to build strong partnerships and advance our capacity to care for and connect to Country.
A DAILY REMINDER
Forico commissioned a local Aboriginal artist and Aboriginal Elder Aunty Judith-Rose Thomas to produce a unique piece of art to symbolise our connection with the land that Forico manages within lutruwita / Tasmania.
This artwork is proudly located at the entrance to all Forico sites and offices, positioned alongside the Aboriginal, Torres Strait and Australian flags and an Acknowledgement of Country. The display acts as a daily reminder of our reconciliation journey towards connection and learning.
Forico's Reconciliation journey began in 2020 when we launched a 'Reflect' Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). In 2024 we continued our commitment, moving forwards with an 'Innovate' RAP.
Members of staff from across the business form our RAP Working Group, with one person serving as RAP Champion, ensuring appropriate resources are in place to translate our words into action.
BRINGING CULTURE IN
Forico has located an information display at Companion Reserve, a popular spot for visitors accessing wulaninka / Surrey Hills. Here we communicate our understanding of the evolution of the surrounding landscape and the Cultural significance of the area over a period of 42,000 years.
We have sponsored a number of Aboriginal community festivals throughout lutruwita / Tasmania. We regularly engage with Aboriginal tour guides and visit sites of Cultural significance such as tumpalanga / Alum Cliffs in the kooparoona niara / Great Western Tiers in northern Tasmania.
Across all Forico sites we have renamed our meeting rooms, dispensing with the English language place names and adopting palawa kani ones.
Pictured (L to R): the kooparoona niara Cultural Trail at Deloraine; information display at Companion Reserve; meeting room names.
SITES OF CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
Forico works with members of the Aboriginal community to care for and maintain the forestry estate and native vegetation under our management. To date this includes conducting ecological burns on highland Poa grasslands which it is believed were maintained by the Aboriginal population over thousands of years.
We have sought expert opinion from archaeologists and an Aboriginal Heritage Officer regarding two chert quarry sites on our estate at Parrawe in northern Tasmania. This resulted in a community on Country engagement day in May 2023. Several participants have remained involved in the ongoing management of this Cultural landscape.
CADETSHIPS
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
As a recognised Employer of Choice we are committed to respectfully growing the connections made with families and community since the launch of our first Reconciliation Action Plan in 2020. We actively welcome applicants who have a connection to or interest in Aboriginal Culture and community, and we work towards tailoring our employees experience in the workplace to incorporate Cultural learning and engagement.
Please visit our Careers page for current opportunities.