Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders at Bureau of Meteorology

At the Bureau of Meteorology, we acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we operate and pay respect to the knowledge embedded forever within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Custodianship of Country. Our strong sense of respect for Australia's first peoples underpins our commitment to reconciliation.

For the Bureau of Meteorology, reconciliation means meaningful engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, whether they are end-users of Bureau products and services, or otherwise contributing to our workplace, business and services.

Reconciliation requires us to understand the unique skills and perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and to use that understanding to guide actions that enable us to achieve our reconciliation goals.

The Bureau is committed to the reconciliation process in Australia. We want to engage with, and share in, the culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to strengthen our organisation and provide better services to the Australian public. 

Our vision for reconciliation is an Australia that values and respects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their continuing connection to the Country. A reconciled Australia embraces traditional weather knowledge as a precious national resource.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Initiatives include:

• Our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) sets out our vision and our actions for reconciliation. It’s a solemn statement of the responsibilities and obligations we have set for ourselves and our business.
• Indigenous Cultural Protocols - Acknowledgement of Country is a way to respect the Aboriginal heritage and should be performed at all Bureau events if a Welcome to Country cannot be performed.
• Indigenous Weather Knowledge website - is a formal recognition of traditional weather and climate knowledge that has been developed and passed down through countless generations by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 
• Cultural Awareness Training - to increase staff knowledge and understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and assist staff to communicate sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.  
• Jawn Secondment Program - APS Executive Level employees participating in a six-week secondment. Jawun aims to identify employees with particular skills and match them with a participating Indigenous Community to share knowledge and expertise. 
• Indigenous Employee Network - open to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees to provide support and share information and experiences with each other. It is a forum to provide guidance, support and mentoring between members.
• Reference Group - has members from all Groups and operates under the leadership of the Bureau's Indigenous Champion.