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First Nations Conference brings connections on Country
First Nations employees from across the state came together with the Executive Leadership Team for two days of connection and culture as part of our annual First Nations Staff Conference.
Meeting on the lands of the Tubba-Gah people of the Wiradjuri nation in Dubbo, the conference allowed attendees to share their knowledge with fellow First Nations employees, along with taking part in workshops alongside senior leadership to identify ways to empower all our people and achieve positive outcomes for the people we assist.
We were honoured to have Uncle Lewis Burns perform a Welcome to Country and conduct a smoking ceremony. Uncle Lewis also facilitated the creation of an artwork featuring totems significant to attendees - a Platypus and a Goanna - and two meeting circles representing the coming together of First Nations staff and Society NSW leadership.
With attendees travelling from Country’s as far and wide as Nganyaywana (Armidale), Gumbaynggirr (Coffs Harbour), Dharawal (Nowra), and Wiradjuri (Wagga Wagga), the opportunity to connect through culture was seen as living proof of the goals set out in our Reconciliation Action Plan.
“Being surrounded by my fellow Vinnies mob for those few days, connecting and having the opportunity to have our voices heard by the ELT, was truly powerful. It felt empowering to normalise discussing real issues with frontline mob and to see those concerns presented at the highest levels of the organisation”
The Society NSW launched our current Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), spanning 2024 to 2026, at last year’s First Nations Staff Conference in Coffs Harbour. Strong progress has been made in the first full year of the RAP with 65% of deliverables completed, 26% currently in progress and 9% yet to commence.
The results of our latest Employee Engagement Survey demonstrate the impact of intentional, culturally grounded work. In 2025, participation from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees more than doubled, rising from 5% in 2023 to 12%.
The cultural exchange experienced at the First Nations Staff Conference has also extended to our State Support Office at Lewisham with the First Nations Engagement team revitalising the walls of our boardroom with a mural representing the journey taken by the people we assist.
“[It’s] a continuous path that neither begins nor ends with Vinnies,” explains Samantha McGuire, mural artist and First Nations Engagement Manager.
“It reflects our role as one part of a much larger story, where individuals and families navigate complex and
interconnected experiences.
“Beyond the central pathway lies the broader landscape of life; the influences, relationships, and challenges our people face, from housing and employment to family dynamics and food security. Interwoven throughout are sacred totems; kangaroo, goanna, and emu - watching over and guiding the people we assist with cultural strength, resilience, and protection.
“Within the pathway, the handprints of Vinnies staff symbolise the collective effort of those who make the 'Good Works' possible, from our CEO to the enabling services working quietly behind the scenes.
“This piece is a reminder that we are all connected in the ongoing story of care, community, and cultural respect. Each of us playing a part in walking alongside the people we serve.”
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