Acknowledgement of Country
QLeave acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet and operate our business today, the Turrbal and Yuggera peoples, and pay our respects to Elders past and present.
We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners of this country throughout Australia, and their connection to land and community.
Our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan
QLeave’s Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) will guide our ongoing efforts towards reconciliation and promote better recognition of the unique contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories and cultures to Queensland. Our Innovate RAP forms part of our broader commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and represents the continuation of our reconciliation journey.
The deliverables outlined in our two-year RAP will support our employees and leaders to:
- continue building cultural competence by embedding cultural awareness and capability into all areas of the organisation
- take culturally informed approaches to day-to-day work and decision making
- ensure policy and service delivery reflect, and are appropriate, to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- foster workplace cultures that respect and value the skills, experience and perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees and communities
Read QLeave's Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan.
Our vision for reconciliation
Our vision for reconciliation is an Australia that embraces, values, and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, knowledge and rights. This vision is grounded in respect, recognition and collaboration. We contribute to this by continuing to develop and strengthen the education of our staff in the rich cultural histories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
About the artwork
“Unity in Connection: Embracing Reconciliation”
Created for QLeave’s Innovate RAP, “Unity in Connection: Embracing Reconciliation” by Lani Balzan embodies the significant role QLeave plays in fostering reconciliation and our dedicated efforts towards fostering stronger unity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. At its core, the artwork portrays QLeave, our clients, and our team as integral parts of the interconnected community we operate within.
Read more about the artwork
The gathering symbol portrayed in the artwork serves as a powerful representation of a place that warmly welcomes and embraces all individuals, while also embracing the rich cultural heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This depiction stands as a powerful symbol of inclusivity and meaningful connections.
In the right-hand corner, the sun takes its place, accentuating the Queensland Sunset as it casts its radiant rays upon the adjacent land. This signifies the warmth and hope that QLeave brings to its vision.
Adorning both sides of the artwork, pathways with footprints symbolise the individual journeys taken towards mental health and wellbeing. These paths represent the diverse and unique experiences of each person in their pursuit of wellness.
On the left side, wave patterns with dots are depicted, symbolising our deep-rooted connection to Sea Country along the east coast of Queensland. This connection serves as a reminder of the important relationship Indigenous peoples have with the sea and its significance in their culture.
Small orange pathways signify QLeave’s connections to communities residing on the land. In harmony, smaller gathering symbols in orange and blue represent the people living in these communities, highlighting their unity and shared values.
Flowing alongside the pathways are blue rivers, symbolising the inland waters that sustain life and provide support. These waters represent the source of positivity and transformation as they continue to flow and create positive change.
Throughout the rest of the painting, background dots gently remind us of the Queensland sunset, reinforcing its significance and beauty in this narrative. This artwork, rich with symbolism and meaning, stands as a testament to the importance of reconciliation and the enduring connection between people and their land.
About the artist
Lani Balzan is an Aboriginal artist and graphic designer specialising in designing Indigenous canvas art, graphic design, logo design, Reconciliation Action Plan design and document design.
Lani is a proud Aboriginal woman from the Wiradjuri people of the three-river tribe. Her family originates from Mudgee, but she grew up all over Australia. She has lived in many different towns, starting her business in Illawarra NSW and recently relocating to Mid-North Queensland.
In 2016 Lani was announced as the NAIDOC Poster Competition winner with her artwork “Songlines”. This poster was used as the 2016 NAIDOC theme across the country.
Lani has been creating Aboriginal art since 2013 and has continued success across the country. One of her biggest goals and aspirations with creating Aboriginal art is to develop a better connection to her culture and to continue to work towards reconciliation; bringing people and communities together to learn about the amazing culture we have here in Australia.
Our reconciliation journey so far
We are proud of the work we have done so far and recognise that we have a long path ahead of us. Our Reflect RAP was launched in January 2022 and guided our reconciliation efforts through to June 2023. We gained significant knowledge and learnings through the delivery of our Reflect RAP which we have embedded into our Innovate RAP so that we can continue building on our successes and the foundations that have already been laid.
Read QLeave's inaugural Reflect RAP.
Find out more
To find out more about our commitment to reconciliation and our RAP, please email pccteam@qleave.qld.gov.au.
