Our Vision for Reconciliation:

Arterial values and respects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights and experiences and we are committed to engaging with and providing opportunities for traditional owners to contribute to all our projects towards historical acceptance of our shared history and removal of negative race relations.

Our Business:

Our core business is to design unique experiential spaces that are immersive and highly interactive to bring stories alive and evoke an emotional connection to place. Arterial is based in Melbourne and works across all areas of regional and metropolitan Australia and has international clients. We respond to the client needs and engage fully with each community to deliver a visitor journey of discovery in public spaces, exhibitions, interpretative design, play spaces, wayfinding and visitor destinations – in doing so, Arterial is committed to embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives to and collaborates closely with them to include their voice in the pursuit of truth telling, healing, understanding and reconciliation for the broader community. Respectful inclusive consultation is imperative for our interpretation business model, underpins progress towards reconciliation and aligns with Section 27(2) of the Human Rights Act 2004 (ACT) that states ‘Aboriginal peoples hold distinct cultural rights and must not be denied the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their cultural heritage and distinctive spiritual practices, observances, beliefs and teachings’.[1] Arterial has a conscientious responsibility to positively influence our non-Indigenous clients and external stakeholders to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives and drive reconciliation outcomes. Arterial will only work with organisations who have integrity and share our vision to develop innovative approaches to advance reconciliation. We always engage an appropriate traditional owner to do a Welcome to Country at the launch of each engagement workshop, project launch or exhibition opening etc.

Since we began in 2007, Arterial has one staff member as Curator of Histories and Indigenous Specialist who is an identified Aboriginal woman and competent researcher and consultant to ensure we engage with the appropriate traditional owners and listen to how they wish to be included and contribute to all projects as part of our core business. We meet with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander stakeholders and organisations in the first instance during the planning phase of each project to build a relationship on trust and reciprocated respect. In the tender stage of each project Arterial dedicates an articulated section for the need to allow appropriate timeline to deliverables and repeat visits to develop deeper relationships with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander stakeholders. Arterial also provides opportunities to engage other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people either under short term contract or for fee to contribute to projects.

Arterial is shaped by our sincere commitment to positive race relations through inclusiveness and our staff profile presents a diverse multicultural team with exceptional skills who all share the same aspirational goals for reconciliation and understanding of Australia’s shared identity. We encourage and support our staff to build relationships in the community during National Reconciliation Week and to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to share in celebrations during NAIDOC Week and other important calendar events. Arterial also benefits from having our Indigenous Specialist on site to openly share and discuss the histories behind sensitive histories such as the Stolen Generation, Sorry Day, massacres, forced displacement far from country to Government reserves and Christian missions etc to raise awareness of reconciliation across our workforce. Staff have also developed a sound understanding and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by observing cultural protocols under advice from our Indigenous Specialist. Arterial provides a culturally safe environment for our Indigenous Specialist to share information with our staff about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, knowledge and rights through cultural learning.

Strategic Direction:

Arterial staff will meet every three months to reflect, innovate, drive and review our Reconciliation Action Plan, and develop updated versions every two years. We have included an Acknowledgement of Country on the Arterial Design website and always at the commencement of important meetings, both in Melbourne and on country belonging to other traditional owners. Although members of our Wurundjeri community are heavily committed to various responsibilities as traditional owners, we are endeavouring to meet with them in 2022 to develop updated guiding principles for future local engagement and inform our cultural learning strategy:

Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation

Cultural Consultations (Design, art, signage, interpretation consultation):
Abbotsford Team:  julieanne@wurundjeri.com.au

Mobile: 0477 308 885

Arterial will continue to engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on each project with assistance from our Indigenous Specialist.

Opportunities:

Arterial will consult with the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation to develop and implement an appropriate strategy to engage an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander trainee for professional develop who is currently studying design or related discipline at a Melbourne based university to improve employment outcomes. We will also consult with staff in the Indigenous Student Success Team at Murrup Barak Melbourne Institute for Indigenous Development to discuss capacity building opportunities for graduates.

Arterial has established a relationship with ‘SupplyAus’ to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander supplier diversity to support improved economic and social outcomes.

Arterial is committed to developing our ongoing relationship with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples built on trust and respect and improving the attitudes and behaviours toward each other. We will continue to identify opportunities to provide tangible and substantive benefits for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

[1] Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Rights - ACT Human Rights Commission

info@arterialdesign.com.au
(03) 9419 5851

JAN NOWELL - DIRECTOR

NICK LAWSON - ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR