Reconciliation
Action Plan
for the years 2015 and 2016
Aerial view of Broome
Our vision for reconciliation
Our business
CHC’s commitment to reconciliation in Australia means
creating long-term relationships with local Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander groups where we have operations,
based on mutual respect, which can lead to employment
opportunities for local people in our organisation. It is
also a chance for CHC employees to better understand
the cultures of the local communities in which
we operate. We will be better equipped
to meaningfully contribute to these
communities through education
and training opportunities,
supporting local business and
contributing to community
development projects. For
example, CHC long-term
goal for reconciliation will
be to have Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander people
working across all spheres
of our business, including
operating helicopters and
transportation services.
CHC Helicopter is the world’s leading provider of
helicopter transportation services, operating the largest
and most modern fleet of more than 260 medium and
heavy helicopters in over 36 countries. CHC offers
helicopter services for the offshore oil and gas around the
globe as well as emergency medical services and search
and rescue. CHC provides the highest standard
of safe, reliable, compliant and efficient
helicopter services, wherever our customers
operate. Our purpose is to help our
customers and the communities we
work in to go further, do more
and come home safely. At all of
the CHC’s operations we are
committed to enriching the lives
of others, particularly by creating
opportunities for involvement in
our industry. We believe we can
provide sustainable economic
development and play a role in
strengthening the social conditions of
the communities in which we operate.
CHC Helicopter has had operations in Australia for more
than 40 years serving the oil and gas industry off the
coast of the north and north west of Australia, providing
emergency aeromedical services to government agencies
around Australia and rotary search and rescue capability
to the Royal Australian Air Force. Of our 600-strong
Australian workforce, we currently have no employees who
identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander but our RAP
forms part of our commitment to change that.
A CHC EC225 helicopter in flight
2
CHC Helicopter (Australia) Reconciliation Action Plan for the Years 2015 and 2016
Our Reconciliation Action Plan
CHC Helicopter operates across Australia in both remote
and regional Australia as well as major urban centres.
We are a growing industry, providing helicopter services
to a much larger industry and this is the reason we are
committed to a Reconciliation Action Plan. We believe
that we can offer opportunities for local people to learn
valuable skillsets that can be transferred.
Our RAP has been developed with input from our base
managers in Broome and Karratha, our Human Resources
team, our Training Manager and our Communications
Director. This team will form the core of the RAP
champions in our business during its formative period,
but we expect to include mentors, Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander employees and external parties in our RAP
Working Group from the second year onwards. We have
chosen tangible targets that can be measured,
so we can monitor our progress and
demonstrate our success.
Artist: Aubrey Tigarn
(Pearl Shell painting)
Photographer: Brett Barnett
Photography
Aubrey Tigarn is a respected
elder and law man from the Bardi
and Jawu people. He lives on the
peninsula north of Broome with his
family.
He has been making Riji since he was
initiated at the age of 21. He has trained as a
jeweller and is a renowned carver. His preferred medium is pearl
shell, however having grown up in bush with his traditional family
he is proficient in the making of all types of artefacts belonging to
the Bardi and Jawu people. He is also a song and dance man.
Aubrey is very involved with the Kimberley Land Council and
is an executive member on their committee. He is also on the
committee for the Aboriginal Affairs Department.
Djarindjin on Cape Leveque
CHC Helicopter (Australia) Reconciliation Action Plan for the Years 2015 and 2016
3
Relationships
Building stronger long-term relationships based on mutual respect with the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community can
lead to greater two-way opportunities which benefit local people, enhance local knowledge for CHC, and allow us to support the
initiatives of our customers.
Focus area: Our initial focus will be creating relationships with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who are part of the
communities at the location of our major oil and gas operating bases.
Action
Responsibility
Timeline
Target
1. Establish a RAP Working Group.
Communications
Director
April 2015
•
The RAP Working Group will be comprised of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and
other Australians.
2. Celebrate NRW by contributing to activities
hosted by our customers Shell Australia and
Woodside Petroleum and participating in
community events in Broome and Karratha.
Broome Base
Manager and
Karratha Base
Manager
27 May- 3
June, Annually
•
Contribute to at least one event hosted by Shell
Australia and Woodside per year.
Participate in community organised NRW
celebrations in Broome and Karratha.
Hold an internal event to recognise NRW.
•
•
3. Explore a community partnership with a
children’s or youth group, in line with CHC’s
Communities focus.
4
Communications
Director
CHC Helicopter (Australia) Reconciliation Action Plan for the Years 2015 and 2016
June 2015
•
Identify suitable partnership opportunity in Broome
or Karratha.
Respect
CHC employees acknowledge and respect the contribution of Australians and of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and
the importance of cultures to Australia’s social fabric. Enhancing our cultural knowledge is a chance for CHC employees to better
understand the local communities in which we operate. We believe that respecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander cultures and
histories improves the prosperity for all Australians and can add value to our business.
Focus area: CHC will focus on contributing to our customers’ efforts in the communities in which we serve them as well as creating
opportunities for CHC to participate in community organised events.
Action
Responsibility
Timeline
Target
1. Engage employees in understanding the
protocols around acknowledgement of
country and welcome to country ceremonies
to ensure there is shared meaning behind the
ceremonies.
Communications
Director
June 2015
•
2. Train mentors in the workplace to help
apprentice and trainee employees navigate
our workplace and improve cultural awareness
in CHC workplaces.
Training Manager and
HR Business Partner
3. Provide cultural awareness training where
appropriate to improve retention of Aboriginal
employees and create a greater understanding
of cultural and heritage knowledge in our
business.
HR Business Partner
•
June 2015
•
•
June 2015
•
•
•
4. Provide opportunities for CHC employees to
participate in NAIDOC Week events.
Broome and Karratha
Base Managers
July 2015
•
Develop, implement and communicate a protocol
document for CHC.
Identify at least one significant event for which a
welcome to country from a Traditional Owner will
be included.
Create a pool of mentors at Broome and Karratha
bases.
Positions advertised in Broome and Karratha.
Identify cultural awareness training partner and
provide sessions in Perth Head Office and bases in
Karratha and Broome.
Provide opportunities for RWG members and HR
managers and other key leadership to participate
in training.
Develop and pilot a cultural awareness training
strategy for your organisation.
Review HR policies and procedures to ensure there
are no barriers to staff participating in NAIDOC
Week events.
CHC Helicopter (Australia) Reconciliation Action Plan for the Years 2015 and 2016
5
Opportunities
CHC Helicopter believes that we can offer interesting employment opportunities that develop into career-long pathways for Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander people. We also believe that CHC would benefit from identifying and encouraging locally-based employees
to join our operations. We believe that developing long-term relationships with local suppliers owned and run by Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people would benefit both the local economies in which we work, but also CHC’s long-term business model for the
regions.
Focus area: For our first RAP, our target is finding opportunities at our biggest oil and gas bases in the north of Western Australia.
Action
Responsibility
Timeline
Target
1. Investigate opportunities within your
organisation to increase Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander employment opportunities.
HR Director
June 2015
•
•
•
•
2. Identify opportunities for Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander businesses in CHC
supply chain.
Communications
Director and Broome
and Karratha Base
Managers
June 2015
•
•
•
•
6
CHC Helicopter (Australia) Reconciliation Action Plan for the Years 2015 and 2016
Review HR procedures and policies to ensure
barriers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
employees are able to be addressed.
Engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
employees to consider employment strategies.
Pilot different approaches to increasing Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander employment within
our organisation including training pathways,
apprenticeships, internships, cadetships and work
experience.
Advertise all relevant vacancies in Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander media.
Review procurement policies barriers to Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander businesses are able to be
addressed.
Investigate becoming a member of AIMSC or
partnering with our local Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Chamber of Commerce.
Educate staff about using Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander businesses.
Develop at least one commercial relationship with
an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business.
Opportunities
CHC Helicopter believes that we can offer interesting employment opportunities that develop into career-long pathways for Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander people. We also believe that CHC would benefit from identifying and encouraging locally-based employees
to join our operations. We believe that developing long-term relationships with local suppliers owned and run by Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people would benefit both the local economies in which we work, but also CHC’s long-term business model for the
regions.
Focus area: For our first RAP, our target is finding opportunities at our biggest oil and gas bases in the north of Western Australia.
Action
Responsibility
Timeline
Target
3. Improve CHC’s commitment to procurement
off Aboriginal businesses.
Communications
Director
December 2014
•
•
4. Create employment pathways for Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander people within CHC.
Training Manager and
HR Business Partner
31 January 2015
•
•
5. Create management development pathways
for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people within CHC.
Training Manager and
HR Business Partner
December 2015
•
Provide Base Managers with information (including
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business
directories) on engaging Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander businesses.
List all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
business opportunities on ICN Gateway.
Inclusion of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
identified position in CHC’s 2015 Engineering
Apprenticeship intake.
Contact Follow Your Dream, Clontarf Foundation
and David Wirrpunda Foundation to explore
potential training pathways.
Explore participation in the Career Trackers
program.
CHC Helicopter (Australia) Reconciliation Action Plan for the Years 2015 and 2016
7
Tracking progress and reporting
Action
Responsibility
Timeline
Target
1. Report progress to Reconciliation Australia.
Communications
Director and RWG
May 2015
•
•
2. Develop RAP for further time periods.
Communications
Director and RWG
May 2016
Report back on the execution of this plan at the
end of CHC’s financial year in May 2015.
Complete and submit the RAP Impact
Measurement Questionnaire to Reconciliation
Australia annually.
Develop CHC’s 2017 and 2018 goals in preparation for
that year.
Artist: Bonny Sampi (Boab tree carvings)
Photographer: Brett Barnett Photography
Bonny Sampi is a Bardi man born in Lombadina, a small
community North of Broome. Born in 1936, Bonny came down
to Broome in 1952 and as he says “I’ve seen Broome grow”.
In his life he has worked as a Drover/stockman all over
the Kimberley’s, Northern Territory and right across to the
Queensland border. He has also been a deckhand and a
tender on the Pearling Luggers.
Bonny learnt to carve Boabs in the 1950s. Bonny only uses
a knife for his creations and his Boabs can be found in
collections all over the world.
Permission received from Paul Boon, formerly of Old Broome Lockup Gallery.
Contact details
Susan O’Byrne,
Communications Director Asia Pacific
CHC Helicopter Services
IBM Building, Level 4, 1060 Hay Street,
West Perth, WA 6005, Australia
Phone: +61 (0) 8 6217 7472,
Mobile: + 61 (0) 419 540 984
Email: [email protected]