Our Vision
Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC) endorses the objective of a united Australia which values Aboriginal and Torres Strait heritage, cultures and peoples and which provides justice and equity for all Australians.
Our commitment to reconciliation
Our reconciliation commitment is to influence reconciliation both within EFIC and within the Indigenous exporting community, which is the section of the community we support.
We will do this by:
- implementing programs within EFIC aimed at engendering an appreciation of indigenous culture
- in the course of conducting our business with banks and allies, including Austrade, ensure Indigenous Australian companies who are involved in exporting are aware of EFIC’s services.
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Our business
EFIC provides finance and insurance solutions to help Australian exporters overcome the financial barriers they face when growing their business overseas. As the Australian Government’s export credit agency, we help successful businesses to win, finance and protect export trade or overseas investments where their bank is unable to provide all the support they need.
We work directly with exporters or with their banks to provide loans, guarantees, bonds and insurance products which can be tailored to meet the needs of both large and small exporters.
EFIC is uniquely placed to do this: we use over 50 years of export finance and industry expertise, contacts at financial institutions around the globe, the strength of our AAA credit rating and an entrepreneurial business approach to make export deals happen. We practise responsible lending and uphold OECD standards on the social and environmental aspects of the transactions we support.
Relationships
EFIC believes relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are important in building cultural diversity
and understanding within the organisation. Hence, we will endeavour to build and maintain respectful partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Focus area: To raise awareness of our services among Indigenous exporters and promote local connections.
| Action |
Responsibility |
Timeline |
Measurable target |
| Establish a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) working group involving the executives |
Head of HR |
Feb 2011 – Mar 2011 |
RAP working group established |
| Consultation on RAP initiatives with an Indigenous coordinator from Reconciliation Australia
| RAP working group |
Mar 2011 – Apr 2011 |
Approval of RAP from Reconciliation Australia |
| Queensland project – pro bono work by our managers and staff members |
RAP working group |
Dec 2010 – Jun 2011 |
Work done in line with the project deadlines |
| With the help of Austrade, reach out to the Indigenous exporters community about the services EFIC can provide
| RAP group and SME team |
Jun 2011 – Jul 2011 |
Number of contacts and connections made in the community |
Respect
EFIC will acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s land and will aim to promote their culture at various events hosted by EFIC.
Focus area: Promoting appreciation of indigenous culture within EFIC and at EFIC-hosted events.
| Action |
Responsibility |
Timeline |
Measurable target |
| Performing “Welcome to Country” at major events hosted by EFIC |
RAP working group and Marketing |
Dec 2011 |
Each major international event |
| Displaying Indigenous art at our office |
RAP working group and Property Manager |
Dec 2011 |
Minimum two artworks displayed with associated commentary and background |
| Providing visiting delegates with Indigenous products as presents at events hosted by EFIC |
RAP working group and Marketing |
Dec 2011 |
Each major international event |
| Celebrating or participating in one of the Indigenous events – NAIDOC week or National Reconciliation Week |
RAP working group |
Dec 2011 |
Support staff members to attend external events |
| Establishing a plaque to acknowledge the original landowners |
RAP working group and Property Manager |
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Plaque established at the end of refurbishment at EFIC |
Opportunity
Creating employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will provide EFIC with an opportunity to help close the gap and strengthen its ties with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
Focus area: To provide a supportive and productive work experience program for Indigenous Australians
| Action |
Responsibility |
Timeline |
Measurable target |
| Provide work experience to a graduate in conjunction with Austrade and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade |
RAP working group |
Dec 2011 – 2012 |
Provided work experience to at least one graduate |
| Develop an employment strategy for recruiting a graduate with appropriate skills at EFIC |
RAP working group |
Jun 2011 |
Strategy developed and relationships formed with appropriate agencies |
Tracking progress and reporting
| Action |
Responsibility |
Timeline |
Measurable target |
| Provide the finalised RAP to staff |
RAP working group |
Mar 2011 |
Published on the EFIC intranet, on our website and Reconciliation Australia’s website |
| Provide annual reports for RAP using Reconciliation Australia’s traffic light system to identify achievements, future opportunities and learning |
RAP working group |
Dec 2011 |
RAP annual report published on the Reconciliation Australia website |
| Revise RAP |
RAP working group |
Dec 2013 |
Refreshed RAP endorsed by Reconciliation Australia |
Download the Reconciliation Action Plan for 2011-2013 as a PDF.