UGL’s senior leadership team recently gained an unforgettable connection to Australia’s rich Aboriginal heritage through participation in two cultural immersion tours.
Teams either explored the Mount William Quarry in Victoria, or ventured into the Nudgee Waterhole Reserve in Queensland, engaging in ancient knowledge, traditions, and stories of Aboriginal culture.
The Mount William Quarry, known as Wil-im-ee Moor-ring, holds deep cultural significance as one of the largest greenstone quarry sites in southeast Australia. Our leaders learned how Aboriginal people travelled vast distances carrying possum skin cloaks, wooden spears, and other trade goods to exchange for greenstone hatchets. These hatchets were not only vital tools but also symbols of connection and trade among communities across the region.
In Brisbane, the team participated in the Nyanda cultural tour at the Nudgee Waterhole Reserve. Nyanda, meaning "waterhole" or "lagoon" in the Yagara language, provided a serene setting for an eye-opening journey into ancient knowledge. The team discovered how Aboriginal people thrived by using the natural environment, crafting tools, and creating everyday items essential for survival.
Both tours offered more than a history lesson; they were informative journeys into the perspectives and ways of life passed down through tens of thousands of years. Participants returned with deep insights, stronger team bonds, and memories of an experience that will resonate long into the future.
These cultural immersion tours reflect UGL’s commitment to our Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), which prioritises engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees, communities, and traditions. By offering opportunities for our people to deepen their understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal culture and history, we are strengthening a workplace that values connection, respect, and inclusivity.
