Big banks offer ‘cultural leave’ to Aboriginal workers after Voice defeat
Indigenous workers at some of Australia’s top banks are being given paid leave to recover from the Voice referendum result.
National Australia Bank (NAB) is offering cultural leave and guidance to Indigenous employees after Australia voted ‘no’ in Saturday’s referendum.
Westpac and ANZ also have ‘special leave’ allowing Indigenous staff to take time off to recover from the impact, while acomputing giant KPMG is offering to hold “yarn circles” for Indigenous employees to discuss the outcome and “heal in a culturally safe space.”
“KPMG Australia encourages all First Nations employees to take cultural leave and additional paid leave where necessary to help process the referendum result,” a spokesperson said.
CEO of NAB Group, Ross McEwan, said The Australian The referendum was a challenging defeat for some of the staff, but it respects the democratic result.
“The people of Australia have voted,” McEwan said.
The announcement comes after Daily Mail Australia revealed a university had given Aboriginal students a deferral to deal with the emotional toll of the No vote.
Several banks in Australia have offered paid leave and guidance to indigenous staff after Australia voted against a Voice to Parliament and indigenous recognition in the constitution on Saturday (photo, Yes supporters react to the result)
Suncorp, based in Queensland, where almost 70 percent of voters opposed the Voice, does not offer cultural leave but suggested staff could use personal leave.
The leave is not specific to indigenous staff.
In an online post, Suncorp’s Diversity and Inclusion leader, Catherina Behan, wrote that a “Yes” result “would have helped restore even the smallest amount of trust in the people and systems that have caused centuries of ongoing trauma and violence.” .
“Imagine the devastating blow to hope, the very loud message of rejection, the outright refusal to even come to the same table,” she said.
Ms Behan later said the post was her opinion, and not a representation of Suncorp.
The Commonwealth Bank has not commented on whether leave will be available for Indigenous staff after the referendum.
Insurance Australia Group (IAG) has offered free 24/7 counseling to staff, as well as Indigenous-specific support.
National Bank Australia (above) offers cultural leave and advice to Indigenous employees
“IAG has long been a supporter of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander recognition and reconciliation,” a spokesperson told The Australian.
“We will continue to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, businesses and communities to help achieve this.”
However, it’s not just the financial sector that wants to support Indigenous Australians.
Brisbane’s Griffith University is offering Indigenous students an extension of their assessments to help deal with the ‘No’ result.
The university has not offered any exemptions to students affected by the Palestine-Israel conflict.
Professor Carolyn Evans, Vice-Chancellor and President of Griffith University, wrote to her 55,000 students in an email last Thursday with the subject ‘responding to national and international events’.
The email, seen by Daily Mail Australia, expressed sympathy for those who have “friends and family in regions affected by natural disasters or armed conflict, including Afghanistan, Israel, Gaza and Myanmar.”
“Nationally, we have seen ugly, racist abuse against many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders in the context of the Voice for several weeks now,” Professor Evans added.
She said in the email that Indigenous students would be granted extensions on their assessments in light of the toll the Voice debate could take on them.
Griffith University (above) offered exam extensions to indigenous students, but controversially did not extend the offer to students affected by the Palestine-Israel conflict
“The University is offering assessment extensions for students identified as Australian First Peoples for certain assessment types due between now and October 18, 2023,” Professor Evans wrote.
“Any assessment item due between these dates can be submitted anytime until 12:00 noon on October 19, 2023.”
Students affected by events outside the Voice to Parliament failure have been told they can apply for an extension through the normal route.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Griffith University for comment.