Aboriginal artist designs new APM uniform

Published on 27 May 2021

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Visitors and participants who meet with APM team members across Australia may soon see a more colourful addition to our company uniform.

To mark National Reconciliation Week 2021, we’re making APM’s Indigenous polo shirt available to all our employees.

The new design was introduced for APM Communities team members last year in communities where they deliver disability support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The limited-edition Indigenous polo has become so popular with team members across the whole of APM in Australia and their day to day clients, that we’ve made it available for all employees to show their support for reconciliation.

APM provides all employees with the option of purchasing uniform items as part of their role.

The new polo shirt was designed by Aboriginal artist Joanne Cassady, a proud Wiradjui and Yorta Yorta woman, of Balgarra Designs.

Joanne uses art as a way to break down barriers and as a tool for self-care and healing, and her artwork is very much in line with the values we share throughout APM.

It is being supplied to APM by Aboriginal organisation Position Promo, who support the Westerman Jilya Institute for Indigenous Mental Health – a national program for driving clinical and cultural best practice services into high-need Indigenous communities.

From 27 May to 3 June, APM recognises National Reconciliation Week and supports ‘a time to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements and how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.’

At APM, our vision for reconciliation is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to live in this land with respect, equal opportunity, and employment.

Many of our programs are providing specialist support to more than 14,300 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples each year, our people strive to achieve this for our customers and communities – it is at the heart of what we do, each day.

We aim to achieve reconciliation by building on an environment where our people can develop a strong understanding and appreciation of the histories, cultures, and barriers facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia today.

This year’s theme for National Reconciliation Week, ‘More than a word. Reconciliation takes action,’ encourages us to take what we know to educate, speak up and take action.

Find out more about National Reconciliation Week.