TRILITY Reflect Reconciliation
Action Plan
March 2021 to March 2022
Managing Director statement
TRILITY is proud to present our first Reflect Reconciliation Action
Plan (RAP) 2021-2022. This is the start of an exciting and long-term
commitment. It is a significant step to show how we will contribute
to reconciliation in Australia.
With our Reflect RAP, we want to increase the awareness of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures across
the company. The objectives set out in this RAP will help us do that.
It is also consistent with our core values of Integrity, Progressive,
and Commitment.
We are an Australian and New Zealand company committed
to being a ‘partner of choice’ in delivering water, wastewater,
and environmental services. By implementing our RAP, we will
have a greater appreciation that strong relationships and mutual
understanding with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
are vital to successfully achieving this commitment.
Water is essential to all Australians. We believe there is much to
learn from the Traditional Owners who have managed Country
sustainably for over 60,000 years. We can all learn from the ongoing
rich contribution Aboriginal and Torres Islander peoples and their
communities make to the Australian community.
I am delighted to endorse this Plan, and I am excited to continue
to advance our efforts toward reconciliation.
Francois Gouws
Managing Director
Francois Gouws
Managing Director
Read more at trility.com.au
TRILITY Reflect Reconciliation
Action Plan
TRILITY team members Matt Reusch, Maintenance Coordinator and Jane Stokeld,
Water Quality Engineer - Townsville City Council Water Supply Upgrade Project,
Queensland
Smoking ceremony (conducted by Daniel Chalker),
turning of the soil event Macarthur Water Filtration
Plant, New South wales
We work alongside our partners in optimising their facilities,
processes and performance – creating value through the full
water and wastewater cycle, enhancing their competitiveness and
protecting the environment. Our approach and design principles to
water management and environmental solutions use our experience,
innovation and proven technology to develop a solution to suit each
client’s needs.
TRILITY plays a vital role in our modern world by providing water,
wastewater and environmental solutions which contribute to a
better quality of life for those communities we serve, across Australia
and New Zealand. We have extensive operations, spanning from the
far south of Tasmania to the most northern tip of the country and
across the Tasman.
TRILITY has operated in Australia since 1993. Previously known
as United Utilities, we have a 25-year track record of delivering
significant water infrastructure projects in Australia and successfully
operating them for our clients. Some of our projects have included
finance, design, construction, operations and maintenance as a
complete service offering, making us a leader of DBFO / BOOT
project delivery of water infrastructure in Australia.
We have designed, built and / or operate over 70 treatment plants
in Australia with a combined capacity of 1,800 megalitres per day
through our national workforce of approximately 300 people. These
plants fall under 21 operating contracts incorporating DBFO, BOOT,
DBO, D&C and O&M contract models. Several of these contracts
have included financing of the project.
We have extensive operations, spanning from the far south of
Tasmania to the most northern tip of the country and across the
Tasman. Our business combines many services, solutions, products
and applications to suit each client’s needs. We keep pace with
rapidly evolving technology, markets, regulations and climate
conditions. Our solutions are built on our heritage and our expertise,
a dedication to do it right, and a passionate commitment to provide
our services effectively, efficiently, safely and responsibly.
TRILITY has 8 employees who have notified us that they self-identify
as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. Within this RAP,
we will explore culturally appropriate ways to ensure there are
opportunities for all staff to self-identify to build great understanding
of our employee base.
TRILITY is broadly a national company, with most of our operations
in regional areas of Australia. TRILITY has offices in Adelaide
(x2), Melbourne (x2), Gold Coast, NSW Central Coast, Perth, and
Launceston. TRILITY also has staff permanently based at more than
40 operational locations around Australia.
TRILITY’s core business is delivery of water, wastewater and environmental
services. TRILITY is involved in the delivery of 100s of water infrastructure
projects, currently servicing over 600 facilities. Our solutions are built on
our heritage and our expertise, a dedication to do it right, and a passionate
commitment to provide our services effectively, efficiently, safely and
responsibly.
Our business
Read more at trility.com.au
TRILITY Reflect Reconciliation
Action Plan
A key corporate value is Integrity. We act with integrity in everything
that we do. We will see each other:
•
Treating everyone with honesty, fairness and respect
•
Recognising the contributions of others, great and small
•
Admitting and learning from mistakes
•
Being open and transparent, and openly sharing knowledge
and information
•
Recognising and fulfilling our responsibility to the community
and to the environment
•
Acting and communicating in a way that engenders trust
•
Being comfortable to communicate openly and honestly
with each other
•
Using appropriate language and behaving professionally
The main reason for developing a RAP is that we believe it is the right
thing to do and it aligns with the general expectations of our staff,
customers and the communities within which we operate. The aim of
this plan is to provide further opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people in our workplace, better use our purchasing and
supply chain to provide opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander businesses, better targeting of community initiatives and
promoting better understanding between all Australians. It will further
embed Integrity in our organisation through some of the points listed
above. It will formalise ad hoc local community initiatives. It will see
TRILITY proactively seeking to provide better economic and social
opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. As a
company we aim to better understand the rich histories and cultures
of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
A secondary reason for developing a RAP is to support business
growth opportunities.
We have been talking about implementing a RAP for about 18 months.
We now have a senior Sponsor within the company, with Managing
Director endorsement, who is passionate about having a RAP. We have
also appointed a RAP Champion, Tim Overland, to drive the developing
and implementing of the Reflect RAP. The Champion attended a
Reconciliation Australia RAP workshop in February 2020.
TRILITY participated in the 2020 Workplace RAP Barometer Survey
to best understand how reconciliation can be improved.
We propose implementing the Reflect RAP over a period of 12 months.
It will lay the foundations for us to move towards an Innovate RAP
when we are properly prepared.
As a company we aim to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples to address social, economic and cultural barriers.
We are committed to ethical values and principles that promote equal
opportunities in all aspects of people management and business
practice. A key component of this is our commitment to providing
opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This is
demonstrated in our Bamaga plant (Cape York, North Queensland),
where we employ local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,
and our team is fully embedded within the community.
We also recognise we are only at the start of our reconciliation journey.
Our partnerships/current activities
An example of where TRILITY has supported the upskilling of local
communities is in Doomadgee, Queensland. Doomadgee, a town and a
locality in the Aboriginal Shire of Doomadgee, struggles to adequately
maintain its water treatment assets. To assist with this, we routinely
send one of our skilled operators to the area to upskill and assist the
local community with their operations and maintenance activities.
All employees located at our Bamaga plant have undertaken a
Certificate III in Water Operations. One employee joined us under a
Traineeship Program after completing a work experience program
through the local high school. TRILITY paid for this training and we
continue partner with the local high school to provide work experience
opportunities with the aim of increasing local Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander employment.
TRILITY Reflect Reconciliation
Action Plan
Read more at trility.com.au
Our Journey
TRILITY’s team members Greg Millican, Team Leader South System, and
Matt Reusch, Maintenance Coordinator - Townsville City Council Water
Supply Upgrade Project, Queensland
TRILITY team member James Filewood
Trade Assistant, Modular Solutions West/Central
TRILITY Reflect Reconciliation
Action Plan
TRILITY employee cultural training delivered by DAC
Francois Gouws TRILITY MD and Kevin Conna Sydney Water’s Acting GM at the time of
the turning of the soil event Macarthur Water Filtration Plant, New South Wales
TRILITY employee cultural training
delivered by DAC
TRILITY team members Matthew Gulliver,
Asset Manager, and Kalan Bruan, Business
Manager Data Analytics
Crystal Creek North Queensland
TRILITY vehicle in field - Northern Area
Peninsula, Bamaga
Read more at trility.com.au
Caption
Caption
Action
Deliverable
Timeline
Responsibility
1.
Establish and strengthen
mutually beneficial
relationships with
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander stakeholders and
organisations.
• Identify Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander stakeholders
and organisations within
our local area or sphere of
influence.
April 2021
RAP Champion, with Operations
and Solutions Leadership Team
input
• Research best practice
and principles that
support partnerships with
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander stakeholders and
organisations.
May 2021
RAP Champion
2.
Build relationships through
celebrating National
Reconciliation Week
(NRW).
• Circulate Reconciliation
Australia’s NRW resources
and reconciliation materials
to our staff.
May 2021
Manager Human Resources
• RAP Working Group members
to participate in an external
NRW event.
27 May- 3 June, 2021
Current RAP Working Group
• Encourage and support
staff and senior leaders to
participate in at least one
external event to recognise
and celebrate NRW.
27 May- 3 June, 2021
Executive Director Growth
3.
Promote reconciliation
through our sphere of
influence.
• Communicate our
commitment to reconciliation
to all staff.
Ongoing reporting March,
June, September and
December 2021
Head of Communications,
supported by RAP Champion
and Executive Director Growth
• Identify external stakeholders
that our organisation
can engage with on our
reconciliation journey.
Ongoing reporting March,
June, September and
December 2021
RAP Champion
• Identify other like-minded
organisations that we could
approach to collaborate with
on our reconciliation journey.
June 2021
Head of Communications
4.
Promote positive
race relations through
anti-discrimination
strategies.
• Research best practice
and policies in areas
of race relations and
anti-discrimination.
April 2021
Executive Director Growth
• Conduct a review of HR
policies and procedures
to identify existing
anti-discrimination
provisions, and future needs.
April 2021
Manager Human Resources
Read more at trility.com.au
Relationships
TRILITY Reflect Reconciliation
Action Plan
Read more at trility.com.au
Action
Deliverable
Timeline
Responsibility
5.
Increase understanding,
value and recognition of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander cultures,
histories, knowledge
and rights through cultural
learning.
• Conduct a review of cultural
learning needs within our
organisation.
May 2021
Manager Human Resources
• Develop a business case for
increasing understanding,
value and recognition of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander cultures, histories,
knowledge and rights within
our organisation.
June 2021
RAP Champion
6.
Demonstrate respect to
Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples
by observing cultural
protocols.
• Develop an understanding
of the local Traditional
Owners or Custodians of the
lands and waters within our
organisation’s operational
area.
May 2021
RAP Champion
• Increase staff’s understanding
of the purpose and
significance behind cultural
protocols, including
Acknowledgement of Country
and Welcome to Country
protocols.
July 2021
RAP Champion
7.
Build respect for Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander
cultures and histories by
celebrating NAIDOC Week.
• Raise awareness and share
information amongst our
staff about the meaning of
NAIDOC Week.
July 2021
Head of Communications
• Introduce our staff to
NAIDOC Week by promoting
external events in our local
area.
July 2021
Head of Communications
• RAP Working Group to
participate in an external
NAIDOC Week event.
July 2021
Head of Communications
Respect
TRILITY Reflect Reconciliation
Action Plan
Read more at trility.com.au
Action
Deliverable
Timeline
Responsibility
8.
Improve employment
outcomes by increasing
Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander recruitment,
retention and professional
development.
• Build understanding of
current Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander staffing to
inform future employment
and professional development
opportunities.
May 2021
Manager Human Resources
• Develop a business case for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander employment within
our organisation
June 2021
Manager Human Resources
9.
Increase Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander
supplier diversity to
support improved
economic and social
outcomes.
• Investigate Supply Nation
membership.
April 2021
RAP Champion
• Develop a business case for
procurement from Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander
owned businesses.
June 2021
RAP Champion
• Implement the business
case for procurement from
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander owned businesses.
September 2021
General Manager Operations
and General Manager Solutions
to select contracts
Opportunities
TRILITY Reflect Reconciliation
Action Plan
Read more at trility.com.au
Action
Deliverable
Timeline
Responsibility
10. Establish and maintain
an effective RAP Working
Group (RWG) to drive
governance of the RAP.
• Form an RWG to govern RAP
implementation.
March 2021
Executive Director Growth
• Draft a Terms of Reference for
the RWG.
March 2021
Executive Director Growth
• Establish Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander
representation on the RWG.
April 2021
Executive Director Growth
11. Provide appropriate
support for effective
implementation of RAP
commitments.
• Define resource needs for RAP
implementation.
April 2021
Executive Director Growth
• Engage senior leaders
in the delivery of RAP
commitments.
April 2021
Executive Director Growth
• Define appropriate systems
and capability to track,
measure and report on RAP
commitments.
April 2021
Executive Director Growth
12. Build accountability and
transparency through
reporting RAP
achievements, challenges
and learnings both
internally and externally.
• Complete and submit
the annual RAP Impact
Measurement Questionnaire
to Reconciliation Australia.
30 September, 2021
Manager Human Resources
13. Continue our reconciliation
journey by developing our
next RAP.
• Register via Reconciliation
Australia’s website to begin
developing our next RAP.
December 2021
RAP Champion
Governance
TRILITY Reflect Reconciliation
Action Plan
10
Read more at trility.com.au
In the spirit of Reconciliation and in preparation for TRILITY’s RAP
artwork piece, TRILITY held a number of workshops where our people
came together with a local First Nations Artist, David Booth, to learn
about Aboriginal art. The workshops formed part of our commitment
to reconciliation by providing opportunities for our employees to
connect and get better understand First Nations people’s connection
with Country as a place of belonging, and relationships to storytelling.
The workshops were held during National Reconciliation Week,
and everyone that attended got to create and paint their own piece
of ‘storytelling artwork’. David then used elements from each of
the artworks and weaved them into the overall design of TRILITY’s
Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) artwork. The sessions were held both
in person and over Zoom, and each of our employees that attended felt
they had gained a better connection to our First Nations People,
as described by our Managing Director.
“At first, I thought an hour out of my day doing artwork was possibly
not the best use of my time. However, I found it beneficial as I now
understand storytelling through art, and I gained more insight into
our First Nations Peoples. I also have a far better appreciation for all
artwork now” Francois Gouws, TRILITY Managing Director
We invite you to watch the video to hear David’s narrative and the
story behind TRILITY’s RAP artwork.
TRILITY is privileged to be working with David, a proud Warumungu
Tennent Creek, NT and Yuggera, Brisbane man who also has
connections to Peramangk and Ngarrindjeri through his partner and
children. To see some more of David’s work, visit his Facebook page.
Creating connection to our First
Nations People and Reconciliation
Artwork by First Nations Artist, David Booth
TRILITY Reflect Reconciliation
Action Plan