“It’s not about box ticking”: Abbey Wright on business’ role in genuine reconciliation and truth-telling

In 2025, the journey toward genuine reconciliation and justice for First Nations peoples in Australia remains critical. Businesses have a unique opportunity – and responsibility – to play an active role in shaping a fairer, more inclusive future. But how can they navigate this path with authenticity, respect, and meaningful impact?

DCA asked Abbey Wright, Learning and Development Coordinator at Australian Indigenous Governance Institute, who is a member of our Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander External Advisory Panel (EAP). Her insights provide powerful guidance on reconciliation, truth-telling, and elevating First Nations voices and solutions.

From fostering genuine relationships to amplifying the truth of this nation’s history, Abbey’s words are a call to action for organisations to listen, act boldly, and stand alongside First Nations communities, not as saviours, but as true allies.

Read on to uncover Abbey’s perspective on what businesses must do to be part of the solution in 2025 and beyond.

What key steps would you recommend businesses take to work toward genuine reconciliation in 2025?

To work toward genuine reconciliation in 2025, businesses must genuinely listen to the voices of First Nations staff, stakeholders, and the communities they work with. It’s not about ticking boxes or writing statements – it’s about creating space for authentic and transparent discussions without assumptions.

Too often, businesses decide what works or what people need without asking or engaging the very voices they aim to support. That approach has to stop.

Listening means showing up with humility and understanding that you don’t have all the answers. Our people, our communities – we have the solutions. We’ve carried wisdom, knowledge, and resilience for over 60,000 years. Businesses need to step back, truly listen, and back those solutions with meaningful action. That is where reconciliation begins – not in token gestures, but in real, respectful relationships.

And listening is just the first step. Businesses must be bold enough to commit resources – time, funding, and influence – to First Nations-led initiatives. Have the tough conversations, question your biases, and make decisions that elevate our voices, not silence them.

Why is the truth-telling process important?

Truth-telling is deeply important because it acknowledges and respects the endurance, resilience, and survival of First Nations people. It’s about facing the truth of this country’s history – the history that for too long has been ignored or erased. Without truth, there can be no justice, and without justice, there can be no reconciliation.

I’ve been privileged to observe the Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation board. Sitting in the room as the uncles shared their stories of survival was one of the most life-changing moments of my life. Their courage to tell their truth – a truth filled with pain, endurance, and hope – stayed with me. It ignited a fire within me that had always been there but now burns stronger.

When you hear those truths, you can’t look away. You can’t unhear them. You carry them with you, and they change how you see the world.

Truth-telling is about honouring those who came before us and those who live with the generational impact of colonisation. It’s about ensuring that future generations grow up in a country that knows the truth and respects it. For First Nations people, truth-telling isn’t optional – it’s survival. For the rest of the country, it’s a chance to finally begin the process of healing.

What role do businesses play in the truth-telling process?

Businesses have a powerful role to play as active supporters in the truth-telling process. But let’s be real – it takes courage. It’s not easy to stand up when the loudest voices are pushing against you, but that is exactly what businesses need to do.

Right now, fears of losing customers, engagement, or revenue often keep businesses silent. But here’s the truth: standing on the wrong side of history comes at a much greater cost. First Nations people make up just 3% of the population, yet we are constantly forced to defend ourselves in spaces where our voices are ignored, questioned, or attacked. The weight of that is immense, especially in today’s media environment, where divisive opinions dominate the headlines.

Businesses need to use their power and platforms to reshape the narrative. Stand beside us. Amplify our voices. Challenge misinformation and prejudice. Truth-telling doesn’t just benefit First Nations people – it benefits all Australians by fostering understanding, empathy, and unity. It builds a better, fairer future for everyone.

Being part of the truth-telling process means:

  • Standing up for what’s right: Truth-telling isn’t political. It’s about justice, humanity, and respect.
  • Educating your teams and stakeholders: Ensure your workplace understands the real history of this country.
  • Being brave: Don’t sit on the fence. Speak up. Silence is complicity.

This is a moment in history where businesses can choose to be leaders or bystanders. Choose your path.

What is the way forward in achieving just outcomes for First Nations people following the Voice referendum?

The way forward is clear: allyship, action, and accountability.

  • Standing beside us: We don’t need saviours – we need allies who will stand with us through the hard times, not just when it’s easy or profitable.
  • Actively listening to mob: Listening isn’t passive. It means hearing our concerns, valuing our solutions, and backing them with action.
  • Following through: Don’t over-promise and under-deliver. We’ve seen it too many times. If you commit to something, do it. Show up, stay present, and keep showing up.
  • Being loud: Now is not the time to stay quiet. Businesses must use their platforms to speak up for justice, truth, and equity. Silence might feel safer, but it does nothing to challenge the systems that oppress First Nations people.

Post-Voice, many of us feel hurt, tired, and frustrated, but we are not broken. Our resilience runs deep. The way forward is about walking together, as equals, toward a future where First Nations people are not just surviving but thriving. Businesses have the power to help make that future a reality.

This is a call to action. Stand with us. Listen to us. Support us. Because when First Nations people succeed, the entire country succeeds.

Image of Abbey, wearing a white shirt, has long brown hair and is smiling at the cameraAbbey Wright is a proud Kamilaroi woman who grew up on Wiradjuri Country and now resides on Awabakal land. As a member of DCA’s Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander EAP, Abbey provides guidance and advice on DCA’s Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Constitutional Recognition and Reconciliation activities. She is deeply passionate about governance and is dedicated to empowering youth to begin their own governance journeys. Her commitment to effective Indigenous governance is reflected in her role as the Learning and Development Coordinator at the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute.

Abbey is also a board member of the Orange Aboriginal Medical Service, where she contributes to the health and wellbeing of her community. Abbey works closely with organisations to navigate their governance journeys, ensuring that culture remains at the heart of everything they do, and that they remain effective for generations to come. She holds a Bachelor of Communications and Public Relations from Charles Sturt University.

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