Jesse Sutton’s visual interpretation of Local’s reconciliation journey

In 2023 Local joined over 2,200 like minded organisations committed to reconciliation through Reconciliation Australia’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) program. 

Our Reflect RAP and each RAP following it, will serve as a blueprint for our reconciliation journey, outlining the steps we will take to connect with and engage with First Nations peoples. We recognise the importance of acknowledging and respecting the rich cultural heritage and wisdom that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples possess. By actively seeking their guidance and wisdom, we aim to create an environment that respects and celebrates First Nations culture, while fostering understanding and inclusivity among our team and the broader community.

Today, we’re excited to share Jesse Sutton’s amazing artwork featured in our Reflect RAP and inspired by the start of our reconciliation journey and the harmony between people, nature, and culture.

We are honoured to have worked closely with Jesse, a talented contemporary Kalkadoon Aboriginal artist, in bringing our Reflect RAP to life. Jesse’s passion for his culture and history shines through his art, and we were drawn to his unique ability to covey powerful messages through his creations. Jesse and his family of artists are dedicated to sharing their culture with the world and we are privileged to be a part of that journey.

Local’s journey towards reconciliation is a significant milestone for our organisation. By embracing our RAP journey and collaborating with talented artists like Jesse, we hope to be a part of a future where stronger connections, deeper understanding and brighter futures are a lived reality.

“My name is Jesse Sutton, a contemporary Indigenous artist from the Kalkadoon people. This painting is my interpretation of Local and its reconciliation journey.
In my painting, the largest community symbol in the centre of the artwork represents Local.  The 11 yellow spears and digging sticks around Local’s community symbol represents the current employees who will continue to grow with the business. The three small unity symbols connected by travelling lines to Local represent the three main groups Local have committed to for impact housing; young people living with a disability, women over the age of 55 who are at risk of homelessness, and key workers such as nurses and teachers whose careers make a significant contribution to our community. The scattered U symbols in alternating colours are people, representing how Local scatters their apartments throughout their developments, with all tenants equal regardless of their financial status.
The handprints in the top right corner represent Local’s support of its residents. The kangaroo and emu footprints represent Local’s forward focused reconciliation journey. Above Local’s buildings, the arrow represents Local’s goal to be the leading ESG focussed Build to Rent provider in Australia. The leaves represent Local’s ambition to be carbon neutral by 2030. The boomerangs represent returning customers and clients. Finally, the two large U symbols with spears in the background represent founders, Matt Berg and Dan McLennan.”

This is just the start of our journey towards reconciliation at Local, we look forward to using the learnings from this Reflect RAP to develop and implement opportunities for reconciliation in our business and wider communities.

You can read our full Reflect RAP by clicking here.