Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd (“Viva Energy”) today launched its inaugural “Innovate” Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) which aims to build connections and foster reconciliation with Indigenous people* through its business activities, services and programs.
Viva Energy CEO, Scott Wyatt, said that the company’s inaugural RAP celebrates Indigenous culture, promotes reconciliation, builds respect and will help raise cultural awareness amongst our employees, customers and stakeholders.
“Our operations in Australia stretch from coast to coast, and we recognise the connection and contributions of Indigenous people to our country and the important role our business can play towards reconciliation and greater acknowledgement of Australia’s first people,” Mr Wyatt said.
“At Viva Energy, we aspire to ‘help people reach their destinations’, so from the outset we have strived for our community programs to be more than words, but be a meaningful part of the way we do business day to day.
Viva Energy’s RAP follows the establishment in 2016 of an Indigenous Participation Plan (IPP) which has already pursued a range of initiatives to build relationships and promote reconciliation:
- Supply of Low Aromatic Fuel – 33 million litres pa supplied to remote communities across Northern Australia through the Weipa, Townsville and Darwin terminals to help reduce petrol sniffing.
- Indigenous Community Partnerships – supporting Indigenous community projects such as partnerships with `the Cathy Freeman Foundation, National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy, Council for the Aboriginal Alcohol Program Services and Koorie Heritage Trust
- Procurement from Indigenous businesses - Awarded a three year, multi-million-dollar diesel road freight contract to Weipa Bulk Fuels, a joint venture of Indigenous owned and operated Northern Haulage Diesel Services (NHDS)
- Support for CareerTrackers interns - Partnered with CareerTrackers to host an annual intake of Indigenous interns.
The IPP commitments and learnings have been incorporated into Viva Energy’s first RAP, together with new commitments around indigenous employment, acknowledgement and celebration of Indigenous events, and increased staff engagement.
Mr Wyatt said that he is proud of the progress that Viva Energy has made, and looks forward to working with employees to progress the actions we have publically committed to pursue in Viva Energy’s first RAP.
“We are particularly excited by the opportunity to present our commitments in the common RAP framework and how this will create a platform for working in partnership with like-minded businesses and stakeholders to achieve a greater impact” Mr Wyatt said.
“In developing our RAP, we have worked with our staff, Indigenous communities, customers and stakeholders to develop something real and relevant.
“It is also recognised that this is a start and we will continue to learn and grow on this reconciliation journey.”
Viva Energy’s full Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) can we viewed here
* 1The term Indigenous is used to respectfully refer to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
About Viva Energy
Viva Energy is one of Australia’s leading energy companies and supplies approximately a quarter of the country’s liquid fuel requirements. It is the exclusive supplier of high quality Shell fuels and lubricants in Australia through an extensive network of more than 1,250 service stations across the country.
Viva Energy Australia owns and operates the strategically located Geelong Refinery in Victoria, and operates bulk fuels, aviation, bitumen, marine, chemicals and lubricants businesses supported by more than 20 terminals and 50 airports and airfields across the country.
www.vivaenergy.com.au
Viva Energy acknowledges and pays respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We particularly pay respects to the Traditional Custodians of the land, across the nation where we conduct business.
We also acknowledge our gratitude that we share this land today, our sorrow for the costs of that sharing and our hope and belief that we can move to a place of equity, justice and partnership together.