Synergy is committed to a journey towards reconciliation with the delivery of its Reconciliation Action Plan.
Honouring the lands and First Nation people
Synergy recognises the Aboriginal peoples from the lands across the locations where we do business - the electricity network known as the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) which, as well as being the area where we supply electricity, also includes a number of important electricity generation and storage assets.
The SWIS extends from Kalbarri in the north to Albany and Bremer Bay in the south and out to Kalgoorlie in the east and includes language groups from the Noongar Nation as well as the Yamatji and Goldfields regions. Synergy operates key assets outside of the SWIS and recognises the Aboriginal peoples of those lands as well.
Our RAP sets out a formal pathway to building strong and respectful relationships with Traditional Owners across the areas in which we operate and more broadly with all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders, Synergy customers and other individuals who may interact with Synergy for other reasons.
Synergy is trying to build a workforce which more closely reflects the diversity of our customers and the communities that we operate in, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities an important part of this diversity.
Together, we are working towards a better understanding of the challenges and barriers posed to improving opportunities for sustainable economic participation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Timeline of our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)
Reconciliation Australia has outlined four types of RAP to reflect the different stages at which an organisation may be on their reconciliation journey: Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate.
After launching our Reflect RAP in 2020, we are currently in the Innovate RAP stage.
| 2019 | We formally embarked on our journey of reconciliation and planned our Reflect RAP. |
| 2020 | Reflect RAP was launched. |
| 2021 | Reflect RAP was delivered. |
| 2022 | Innovate RAP was planned and developed. |
| 2023 | Innovate RAP was launched. |
| Today | We are now in the process of delivering the commitments outlined in our Innovate RAP. |
Explore our RAPs
Our RAPs outline our formal commitment toward reconciliation in the first two phases outlined by Reconciliation Australia: Reflect and Innovate.
Reflect RAP
Our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), in the Reflect stage, was an important milestone and outlined our commitment to formally embark on a journey towards reconciliation for our customers, communities, stakeholders and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Innovate RAP
Our current Reconciliation Action Plan, Innovate, expands on our Reflect RAP. We want to build trust and relationships with Traditional Owners and communities as we transition into a lower emissions energy future for all Western Australians.
We will continue to improve our workplace culture and knowledge related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures to maintain an inclusive and welcoming workplace and create meaningful employment, procurement and partnership opportunities.
Reconciliation Action Plan pillars
Relationships, respect, opportunities and governance are the key pillars of our commitment to reconciliation across Synergy.
Relationships
We value our relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander customers, employees, and communities across WA. Building authentic relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will help us to listen, learn and deliver inclusive and effective services and support sustainable outcomes.
Respect
We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, their cultures and to Elders past and present. We are committed to learning more and enhancing our service delivery to provide respectful and culturally appropriate experiences.
Opportunities
We are creating new social and economic opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through employment, partnerships and procurement. This includes engaging and retaining talent within our Synergy team, and empowering and advocating for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Governance
Inspiring reconciliation and committing to change across our organisation, and across our service area and beyond, needs to come from within our organisation. The Innovate stage of our RAP aligns to our commitment to enhance our Social Value.
Our business
We are proud to be Western Australia’s largest electricity generator and energy retailer.
We serve more than one million residential, business and industrial customers across the South West Interconnected System (SWIS), stretching from Kalbarri in the north, to Kalgoorlie in the east, and Albany and Bremer Bay in the south.
Synergy employs over 900 people across our seven operational sites and currently seven employees identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.