Continuing the journey

Gadens has been a proud Corporate Partner of Queensland Futures Institute for 10 years, and we have a continued interest in ensuring the future success of Queensland; its potential and its opportunities for future residents.

As lawyers, we have an obligation to do more than simply practice the law. If each of us is a debtor to our profession, then as a firm we collectively are debtors to our community, with an obligation to be impactful in our day to day.

Or to put it another way, we have been given much as a legal firm, and that necessarily means that much is required of us. (To whom much is given, much will be required).

With the support of our partners, staff and clients, we take on those responsibilities actively and with serious intent.

One of the many ways in which we do this is by taking practical steps to progress reconciliation with First Nations peoples.

Our focus is working with First Nations peoples and key organisations to build relationships and assist in creating opportunities through education and employment. These are areas in which we can make a real difference.

For over 10 years, we have offered a program for Indigenous law students which provides them with long-term work experience, mentoring and study support (financial and mentoring) through CareerTrackers. The programs provide excellent opportunities for Indigenous students to achieve their legal goals both at Gadens, and beyond Gadens.

Other initiatives include:

• setting up our First Nations Engagement Group (FNEG), who meet regularly to discuss issues of importance and to drive our reconciliation activities;
• launching our first Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan in 2019 and recently had our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan endorsed by Reconciliation Australia in September 2023;
• creating a heartfelt Acknowledgment of Country video, featuring our First Nations Interns;
• actively seeking opportunities to work with First Nations businesses within our supply chain;
• supporting First Nations artists through our longstanding commitment to art associations such as the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art and through our own art collection, which is proudly displayed throughout our office. 

I am confident that Australians remain in support of overcoming the entrenched disadvantage which continues to affect First Nations Australians. My hope and expectation is that the result in the referendum will not change the arc towards justice, which remains part of our collective journey.

At Gadens we will continue to advocate for reconciliation in whatever form it may take, and to continue our ongoing engagement with First Nations peoples.