KEO Care’s Ongoing Journey Toward Reconciliation
Reconciliation has long been important to KEO Care, and at the beginning of 2025 we made a commitment to officially and formally start our journey in this space. Reconciliation is the work of strengthening relationships, deepening understanding and connection between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples, for the benefit of all Australians. Our goal is to work towards establishing a ‘Reflect’ Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
Forming our working group
In March 2025, a passionate working group of therapists and business administrators came together with a little bit of knowledge and some personal experience, but mainly lots of curiosity and a genuine desire to learn.
As a group, we looked inward and reflected on our current practices, biases, and how we can improve them. It was apt that the National Reconciliation Week theme this year was Bridging Now to Next. With that in mind, we decided that 2025 was a time for growth, reflection, and a commitment to walking together.
Learning through cultural awareness training
This walk and journey is not something that can be hurried or viewed as a box to tick and such we have taken small but meaningful steps . During National Reconciliation Week, our working group shared with our KEO community some of our favourite Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander businesses, artists, and musicians. We highlighted the importance of storytelling and shared stories from the Country we resonate with or were born on. We joined Michael Long’s Long Walk in Naarm and, very recently, completed a cultural awareness training session with Evolve Communities.
Evolve Communities have developed a cultural awareness program built around seven practical steps towards reconciliation. During our training session, we were able to explore three of these steps with support and guidance from our insightful yarning circle facilitator, Baydon. Baydon is a proud Darug man who travelled from Dja Dja Wurrung Country to share aspects of his culture, lived experience, and extensive knowledge with us.
Exploring untold histories and KEO’s perspectives
We began the session with a very humbling pop quiz about First Nations statistics and history. For example – could you name the famous Ngarrindjeri man on the fifty-dollar note? And if you knew it was David Unaipon, did you also know he invented 19 different mechanical devices? Some of his designs are still used today, including mechanical sheep-shearing handpieces. Learning about his work sparked conversations about how many significant First Nations contributions to science, engineering, agriculture, and literature remain largely untold in mainstream education.
Following the quiz, we discussed how our own backgrounds and cultures have shaped our biases, opinions, and attitudes. Acknowledging this is important in understanding how these unconscious influences may affect our perceptions and interactions. This part of the session encouraged deep reflection. Many of us realised just how early bias can form and how easily assumptions can be made without intention. The discussion reminded us that reconciliation involves listening, unlearning, and choosing to approach every interaction with openness and respect.
The last topic we explored was communication and how communication styles differ greatly across cultures. We discussed misconceptions that can arise due to differences in eye contact, silence, body language, directness in questioning and ways of sharing knowledge. We also learned practically how we could update our processes to ensure we build connection, trust, and relationship-building over rushing to outcomes something that aligns beautifully with our values at KEO Care.
Throughout the session, Baydon created a warm and engaging environment where everyone felt safe to ask questions and share their experiences. There was a real sense of collective learning of stepping gently, listening generously, and recognising that reconciliation is as much about relationships as it is about actions.
Looking ahead: Continuing our RAP journey
As we continue developing our Reflect RAP, this training has grounded us in the importance of moving forward with humility, curiosity, and accountability. Our reconciliation journey will continue through ongoing learning, deeper partnerships, and a commitment to ensuring that cultural safety is woven into the everyday experiences of our participants, our people, and our community.
Indigenous Cultural Awareness Training
To learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural awareness training, visit:
