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Reflection Essay
Reflection Essay
Reflection essay
Indigenous Australians, the first to settle in the country, are integral to Australia's
colorful past. Native Australians and Torres Strait Islanders have lived on this land for
countless generations, and their customs and beliefs are intrinsic to Australia's national
identity. However, since the arrival of European settlers in Australia in the late 18th century,
marginalization. Many years of cultural genocide, poverty, and discrimination ensued after
indigenous communities were uprooted and their land and resources were stolen. Indigenous
Australians rose in the 20th century to seek legal protection for their cultural practices and
land (Australian Government, 2020). Despite the long and difficult fight for recognition and
restitution, many businesses and the Australian Government have begun to actively engage
The firm constructing a new engineering project on land that has been accorded
Native Title status in Victoria is the subject of this essay as it examines the influence of
engineering firms and Indigenous Australians and the ethical and communicative factors a
business must address to engage the community successfully. The article will also investigate
contrast the existing mandates for engineering corporations with what I feel their obligations
should be based on ethical concerns. The purpose of this article is to encourage readers to
think more deeply about these topics so that they may have a more nuanced and accurate
history for generations. In the late 18th century, European settlers pushed for control of
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Australia, ignoring Indigenous peoples' rights and sovereignty. The land and resources of
indigenous villages were taken from them, and their people were uprooted and their culture
stifled. They had been plagued by famine, sickness, and cultural elimination for a long time.
Indigenous Australians rose in the 20th century to seek legal protection for their cultural
practices and land. In 1967, a vote was taken on whether or not Indigenous Australians
should be granted citizenship and full legal equality with other Australians (Cultural Survival,
2021). It took years for the Government to adopt measures that acknowledged Indigenous
rights and made reparations for previous wrongs, despite the referendum's victory.
for all parties involved if businesses respect the Indigenous peoples' spiritual and cultural ties
to their land and include them in decision-making processes. Rio Tinto's collaboration with
Western Australia's Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) is an excellent example of
including locals in business decisions (Rio, 2021). By working together, the PKKP could
design a management plan for their property that respected their cultural norms and delivered
material rewards in the form of iron ore extraction. Effective communication and cooperation
between the partners were made possible by a shared commitment to honesty, openness, and
mutual regard. The Northern Land Council and energy corporation ConocoPhillips
collaborated to build the Darwin Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facility, providing another
design and building of the plant, and a community development fund was set up to bring
cooperation. The successful incorporation of Indigenous values and perspectives into the
project can be attributed to the partnership's foundation of mutual respect and recognition of
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have contributed to widespread mistrust and animosity between the two groups. Many
styles can also lead to misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and cultural and linguistic
barriers.
deep spiritual and cultural links to their homelands. They must include these groups in
decision-making, provide them with real and lasting economic advantages, and make amends
for wrongs like land theft and cultural genocide (Cultural Survival, 2021). Transparency and
openness in dealing with the problems of Indigenous groups, as well as the ability to listen to
such issues, are crucial. Finally, effective community participation can only foster strong
possibilities may be created for enterprises and Indigenous people if the former respects the
latter's spiritual and cultural links to their land and history. However, the difficulties of
community engagement can be overcome through open dialogue, honesty, and a willingness
to right the wrongs of the past. Historically, there have been several challenges in establishing
effective lines of communication between engineering firms and Indigenous Australians. This
A corporation planning an engineering project on the property with Native Title status
in Victoria would do well to maintain open lines of contact with the local Indigenous
population. To do so, one must speak clearly and concisely, use interpreters when required,
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and show respect and understanding for other cultures. In order to gain the community's trust,
the business must show it cares about its issues and work towards finding solutions. I wish I
had been taught more about the Indigenous people of Australia when I was younger. It was
not until I was an adult and started seeking knowledge alone that I saw the extent to which
Indigenous cultures had been victimized and marginalized. From everything I've read and
learned, I have concluded that it is crucial to honor indigenous peoples' deep spiritual and
cultural links to their homelands and histories. I have learned that many Indigenous
Government due to historical policies and practices of dispossession and cultural genocide.
Indigenous culture and customs may be limited. I aim to overcome my prejudices and better
understand Indigenous history and culture via ongoing study and introspection. According to
my views on the role of engineering firms in Indigenous community engagement, firms need
to go above and beyond existing mandates to seek partnerships with Indigenous communities
based on mutual respect and recognition of Indigenous rights. Companies should practice
communities. In addition to making up for historical wrongs via reparations and the
advance a more nuanced and accurate understanding of Indigenous history and culture by
construction of their projects. This necessitates communicating with these groups in an open,
honest, and sensitive manner to their values and norms. There may need to be more attention
to the ethical concerns needed to create meaningful connections with Indigenous people, even
(Northern, 2021). Engineering firms need to be more aggressive regarding including and
consulting with locals. Indigenous peoples' deep spiritual and cultural links to their ancestral
lands must be acknowledged and respected. This would include compensating victims of land
theft and cultural genocide and including affected communities in future decision-making.
rights to their land and heritage offer hope for a brighter future. Ethical deliberation and clear
communication are crucial for engineering firms in Victoria planning new developments on
land protected by Native Title. Positive partnerships with Indigenous people and progress
towards a fairer and equitable future are possible through self-reflection on privilege and
accountability.
References:
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https://www.niaa.gov.au/
Australian Human Rights Commission. (2018). Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women's Voices)
strait-islander-social-justice/projects/wiyi-yani-u-thangani
Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. (2021). Aboriginal and
https://www.aiatsis.gov.au/aboriginal-studies-press
https://www.culturalsurvival.org/our-campaigns/indigenous-peoples-australia
https://www.riotinto.com/sustainability/our-approach-to-indigenous-peoples
Northern Land Council. (2021). ConocoPhillips' Darwin LNG Project. Retrieved from
https://www.nlc.org.au/land-rights-act/native-title/conocophillips-darwin-lng-project
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