MEDIA RELEASE - May 2011
Dreaworld and WhiteWater World Launch Reconciliation Action Plan
Dreamworld and WhiteWater World are set to become the first theme park in Australia to launch a Reconciliation Action Plan.
The theme park will officially launch their Reconciliation Action Plan after more than a year of planning on Monday 23 May, with a breakfast and celebratory ceremony to be attended by locals from the Aboriginal community, and esteemed Members of Parliament.
After 30 years of operation and with more than one million visitors each year, Dreamworld and WhiteWater World are positioned amongst Australia’s most popular leisure attractions and have recognised the opportunity to reach out and introduce its guests to the traditional culture and heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Dreamworld and WhiteWater World Chief Executive Officer, Noel Dempsey, says the theme park is committed to respecting the culture and heritage of the First Australians and as such have created the park’s Reconciliation Action Plan with the goal to bridging the gap between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous community.
“We are excited about the opportunity to have a positive impact in our local Aboriginal community. Currently we have an internal working group in place and this group of people will ultimately be the drivers in rolling out our wider plan,” Mr Dempsey said.
“Our plan is aimed at increasing cultural awareness in all levels of our business, creating greater engagement with local communities, partnering with and promoting local indigenous businesses to create for them greater industry opportunities, testing of these opportunities to ensure long-term economic benefit for the Indigenous community and assisting in raising the profile of the First Australians,” he said.
Russell Black, President of the Yugumbeh Museum says “We hope the Dreamworld plan will create training and job opportunities for local Aboriginal community like our own tourism initiatives.”
“Dreamworld’s plan is a good model for other businesses to base their own Reconciliation Action Plan on and I congratulate them for developing a plan that both pays respect to our mob and builds a partnership that will create employment and business opportunities,” said Mr Black.
Reconciliation Australia Chief Executive Officer, Leah Armstrong congratulated Dreamworld on the launch of their new reconciliation initiative.
“By developing relationships with the local Aboriginal community in which they operate, Dreamworld is creating respectful actions that value local protocols and cultures, and providing opportunities for employment,” said Ms Armstrong.
“Dreamworld’s progress will be regularly monitored internally by their working group and externally by Reconciliation Australia, providing the leisure company with opportunities to benchmark against other employers,” she said.
Dreamworld’s launch event will commence at 8am on Monday 23 May on the park’s Main Street and will include a celebratory ceremony, an official launch address, a commemorative hand painting which will involve all attendees and a boomerang throwing display.
For more information about Dreamworld’s Reconciliation Action Plan please phone (07) 5588 1111.
ENDS
Media Enquiries: Dreamworld & WhiteWater World Public Relations
Phone +61 7 5588 1111, Fax +61 7 5588 1108
Email: pr@dreamworld.com.au.
