Between the 3rd and 10th of July, we’re celebrating NAIDOC (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee) Week. This year, the focus is on Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!
As part of our NAIDOC Week celebrations, we caught up with Revolent employees from First Nations backgrounds, to ask them what hopes and goals they have for the tech industry in the future.
The Indigenous Tech Academy
These celebrations go hand in hand with The Indigenous Tech Academy (ITA)
Launched in February 2022 in partnership with PwC’s Indigenous Consulting, this initiative is exclusively designed for young adults from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, to help them kick-start amazing careers in Salesforce, the world’s #1 CRM. Find out more about ITA by watching this short video or head over to our website.
What is NAIDOC Week?
The National NAIDOC Week celebrates and recognizes the history, culture, and achievements of First Nations cultures and is an opportunity to celebrate one of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth. There are a number of events held all over Australia to celebrate this special occasion, so keep an eye for events local to you, if you’re based in Australia!
What does "Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!" mean to you?
As part of our NAIDOC celebrations, we caught up with Revolent employees from First Nations backgrounds to ask them what hopes and goals they have for the tech industry in the future.
Rebecca Sullivan, ITA Consultant
What is your name and where is your mob from?
“Rebecca Sullivan; Gadigal Sydney.”
What land are you meeting us on today?
“The traditional Land of the Kaurna people.”
What does this year’s NAIDOC theme “Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!” mean to you?
“While making change we can celebrate those who have already driven and led change in First Nations communities over generations.”
What does the tech industry mean to you?
“Tech to me is an industry so large and so rewarding, with so many opportunities for one to become so successful. Since joining I have learned so much and had so many great teachers along the way. I am a proud woman in tech.”
What are your hopes and goals for either yourself or tech, in the future?
“My main goal is to become a trainer and to train First Nations men and women in the tech industry and change their futures, just like mine was when I joined Revolent.”
Cassandra Parkin, ITA Consultant
What is your name and where is your mob from?
“My name is Cass, I’m from the Trawlwulwuy mob of Tebrakunna country (North-East Tasmania).”
What land are you meeting us on today?
“I’m meeting on Yirip land today (North-Western Victoria).”
What does this year’s NAIDOC theme “Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!” mean to you?
“This year’s NAIDOC theme is all about celebrating those who have already championed for systematic change and is also a reminder to keep rallying around those people, our mob, and our communities.”
What does the tech industry mean to you?
“The tech industry is ever-changing, and I see it as a place for First Nations people to contribute to an exciting and forward-thinking industry.”
What are your hopes and goals for tech in the future?
“My hope is that the tech industry continues to be accepting of all people and that it continues to hold room for change.”
Tara Jackson, ITA Consultant
What is your name and where is your mob from?
“Yaama! My Name is Tara Jackson-Goraya, I’m a proud Gamilaraay woman from Northern New South Wales. I’ve been happily married to my husband Rocky for 10 years, I’m a mum of two (Mathaii and Onyx) and a dog parent to our fur baby, Jet.”
What land are you meeting us on today?
“Today I’m working from home, which is on Awabakal country.”
What does this year’s NAIDOC theme “Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!” mean to you?
“To me, it amplifies our voices as First Nations peoples. To share our knowledge in our spaces and our communities, and to action change that is supported by not only First Nations peoples but the rest of Australia as well. As a mum, I share my ancestral stories with my children. They stand up, they show up, and they are proud deadly Blak children. That’s what keeping our culture alive means to me.”
"Be proud of who you are and where you come from, shared knowledge actions change, which will keep us heading in the right direction of reconciliation and closing the gap."
What does the tech industry mean to you?
“When I think of the tech industry, I reflect on the impact it has in implementing ideas and changing the world. Tech is ever-evolving and has created a space to connect and revolutionize like never before. The tech industry has given me the chance to start a new career with endless possibilities. Being part of the first cohort of the ITA has opened myself to connect with mob from all over Australia, other communities, and the world. As I begin to navigate my career, my first placement at PIC has invited me to express myself in the world of tech through collaboration tools, presentations, and developing new materials to present to clients across Australia.”
What are your hopes and goals for the tech industry in the future?
“Connection, leadership, knowledge-sharing, and impactfulness.
These are just a few words that come to mind when I think of what my tech journey would be. Being part of the ITA has given me the chance to reflect on my individual goals and how they fit in with this big universe we call TECH. Short-term I want to obtain my Salesforce Administration Certification, welcome the world of business analysing and consulting at PIC, and become a mentor for the next cohort of the ITA. Mid-term, I’d like to buy a house, build a professional brand with a blog, and navigate my career path in tech. Long-term: leadership, educational training, and more of a senior role in the cloud.”
