NAB has introduced an indigenous version of the NAB star to illustrate recognition of indigenous Australians and commitment to support their financial inclusion and economic aspirations.
The big bank will also pledge support for an indigenous voice to Parliament.
The Walking Together NAB star was designed by indigenous designer, Marcus Lee, inspired by the invitation in the final line of the Uluru Statement of the Heart: “We invite you to walk with us in a movement of the Australian people for a better future.”
The indigenous NAB star, which equally represent the colours from the Aboriginal flag, the Torres Strait Islander flag, and NAB’s own brand colours, is one way for the bank to encourage customers, colleagues, shareholders, and community partners to support a constitutional voice to Parliament.
“The economic advancement and financial aspirations of First Nations people reflects NAB’s ambition to serve customers well and help communities prosper,” NAB Group CEO Ross McEwan said.
NAB has run a range of activities to actively support the success of indigenous Australians, including a financial inclusion partnership with Good Shepherd and an indigenous customer help line. The bank has a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in place since 2008 and was the first corporate to achieve Elevate RAP status, which the bank has maintained over the past nine years.
NAB is donating $200,000 to the From the Heart campaign, which is leading the call to the Australian people to come together through a referendum to enact the change to the constitution and an education campaign.
“Meeting with indigenous leaders in recent months, some who were signatories to the Uluru Statement of the Heart in 2017, made it clear to me that corporate Australia has to listen and play its part in educating Australians on the proposed constitutional reform,” McEwan said. “It is time to recognise the rightful place of our Indigenous Australians as the First People of Australia, celebrate their culture and empower them to participate in shared decision making by including them in the decisions that impact them through the Voice. We look forward to working with and supporting indigenous Australians, governments, and all communities across Australia to take this important next step towards reconciliation.”
The Walking Together NAB star will be displayed at NAB branches and through NAB offices as part of a range of activities during NAIDOC Week.
