Intrepid Travel has taken its next step on the long road to reconciliation with Indigenous Australians, announcing a new Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
The B Corp-accredited company launched its first RAP in February last year, formalising its commitment to support reconciliation and closing the gap between Australia’s first nations people and non-Indigenous Australians.
The new RAP outlines the steps Intrepid took toward reconciliation last year – for example, showing respect for Uluru’s cultural and spiritual significance in 2019 by ceasing to provide alcohol on Uluru sunset tours.
“In that first year, we ensured all our Australia trip itineraries were respectful to First Nations peoples and cultures, and we offered cultural awareness training to all our staff,” Intrepid CEO James Thornton said.
“We still have a long way to go and we are committed to deepening our reconciliation commitments.”
The new plan commits to:
- New ways of procuring goods and services to support First Nations businesses.
- Establishing an internship program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people interested in sustainable tourism.
- Partnering within the travel industry as well as with like-minded, purpose-driven businesses such as B Corps to promote the importance of reconciliation.
- Formalising a new partnership with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander non-profit organisation via The Intrepid Foundation.
- Introducing an Acknowledgement of Country on all Australia tours by the tour leader, off the back of new training.
- Reviewing HR and recruitment procedures and policies to remove barriers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in our workplace.
- Continuing to publicly report RAP achievements, challenges and learnings annually in the Integrated Report and committing to greater transparency.
“Through implementing an Innovate RAP, Intrepid Travel will strengthen its approach to driving reconciliation through its business activities, services and programs, and develop mutually beneficial relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders,” Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine said.
More information on Intrepid’s new RAP can be found here.
