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McCabe Curwood launches Reconciliation Action Plan
National law firm McCabe Curwood has launched a Reconciliation Action Plan and identified key areas it can improve following National Reconciliation Week.
Lauren Croft
The firm has outlined steps it will take in the next year to reinforce its commitment to reconciliation, after cultural competency training and seven months of research by the diversity and inclusion (D&I) committee.
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The D&I committee is led by principals Priya Paquet and Peter Hunt and has already delivered stage one of the Reconciliation Action Plan, which follows the firm’s new membership with Supply Nation, which fosters business partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suppliers.
“The intent with the McCabe Curwood’s Reconciliation Action Plan is to create clear deliverables for the firm to build relationships, respect one another and create more opportunities within the firm for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders,” Ms Paquet said.
“It is a carefully considered plan in which we engaged with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff members to learn from them and identify the steps we can take as a firm.”
Jacob Goodwin, law clerk in the private wealth group, also played an instrumental role in the plan’s development.
“As a proud Wiradjuri man, I was really glad to be involved in the process of developing McCabe Curwood’s first Reconciliation Action Plan. In doing so, we have been able to identify key areas in which the firm can continue to improve as it seeks to become a more culturally safe and inclusive organisation,” he said.
“I cannot thank our management enough for their support in this endeavour. However, this is just the first step in our reconciliation journey. We must continue to bring about real, positive change as we work towards a more equitable Australian society.”
The first stage of the plan ensures McCabe will deliver on its commitment with tangible goals to be achieved in the next 12 months, with three more stages to follow. Mr Goodwin said that the firm recognises that a multi-action plan is needed to work towards reconciliation and that it cannot be done overnight.
“We needed to establish tangible and industry-specific goals against which we can measure the firm’s progress and success. This ensures that we are held accountable and have specific timelines and deliverables for implementing our Reconciliation Action Plan,” he said.
“Cultural Competency training, review of employment policies and partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned businesses are but a few ways our Reconciliation Action Plan will hold us accountable to what we intend to achieve: equality and reconciliation,” Mr Hunt added.
“This document is just the first step in our reconciliation journey, and we are committed to building upon its success in the coming years.”
