Reconciliation
Our Innovate
Reconciliation Action Plan
McCullough Robertson, in collaboration with Leann Wilson, a descendent of the Bidjara and Kara-Kara peoples in central and central-western Queensland, have developed an Innovate RAP that sets out our continued commitment to reconciliation in the areas of respect, relationship and opportunities.
We are currently working towards a Stretch RAP for mid-2025, which will further embed reconciliation initiatives and focus on high impact commitments to support and promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander inclusion.
Yarn Committee
Our YARN (Yarning, Actioning, Reckoning and Networking) working group is our internal reconciliation action plan committee and is lead by exceptionally talented and driven professionals from across the business who come together with our leadership to drive our reconciliation efforts by implementing, monitoring, and championing our RAP commitments. The working group, led by Rob Sosnowski, Alex Komarowski and Julia Colubriale plays a key role in ensuring that reconciliation is embedded within our culture, policies, and everyday practices.
Cultural agility training sessions
Our firm regularly holds training sessions with Indigenous Consultant, Tom Kirk whose highly interactive sessions provide valuable insights into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, relationships, cultures, and people.
Open to our team and clients, these sessions provide a deep understanding of cross-cultural behaviours and attitudes, and build knowledge of the kinship systems within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
Intro to Lore
Guided by Leann Wilson, Bidjara/Kara-Kara Knowledge Holder and Managing Director of Regional Economic Solutions, our staff were recently guided through Queensland’s legislative history through the lens of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and lived experience.
As a firm, we are committed to year-on-year training to foster a safe and supportive workplace culture, where inclusion and diversity are valued and celebrated.
Our initiatives
Clerkship Program
In partnership with Griffith University, our Legal Clerkship Program is a four-week program providing recipients with valuable and real-world practical experience. Working closely with our partners on complex and high-profile matters, completing the clerkship program provides ongoing consideration for casual opportunities and consideration for our 18-month Graduate Program.
We always welcome participants from First Nations backgrounds to apply and kick start their career at McR.
McCullough Robertson Endowed Scholarship for Law students
The McCullough Robertson Endowed Scholarship is an opportunity offered to University of Queensland students from diverse backgrounds studying, or intending to study law. It runs in perpetuity and is aimed at providing socially, physically or economically disadvantaged recipients with support to progress their studies.
Applicants who are indigenous and have a connection with Yalari are favourably considered.
Our pro bono support
Many Rivers
Many Rivers is an organisation that provides community economic development (CED) support to First Nations and regional Australian businesses. Their work supports board members and managers of First Nations community organisations in strengthening their planning, leadership, and organisational skills for economic resilience. As dedicated legal partner to Many Rivers, McR provides pro-bono support and legal advice to support the important work they do for rural communities across Australia.
Chelsea Bodimeade, lawyer in our Digital and IP team, recently travelled to Coober Pedy to assist the Umoona Community with the development of their CED initiative.
To learn more about Many Rivers, you can visit their website.
Legal partner to Aak Puul Ngantam (APN) Cape York
APN facilitates the return of Southern Wik and Kugu People to Country in a manner that is culturally, environmentally and economically sustainable.
Over the past year, we have provided over $100,000 of pro bono work for the organisation. From strategic advice to the Board to employment advice and leasing documentation and negotiations.
Our relationship with APN has been collaborative across the firm, with authors across our project approvals, corporate, real estate, employment relations and safety teams, providing strategic advice to the organisation. We have also assisted APN with non-legal pro bono support, with our human resources team recently advising on job descriptions, policies and employment agreements.
Dedicated to furthering our understanding of Indigenous history, culture and practices, McR lawyer, Emma Hambelton travelled to Aurukun this year with APN to gain unique insight into the local practices, lands, history and culture of the Wik peoples.
To learn more about APN Cape York or help support their organisation, you can visit their website.
ATSICHS Brisbane
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service Brisbane Limited Brisbane (ATSICHS) is a not-for-profit, community-owned health and human services organisation, and Queensland’s largest and most comprehensive Aboriginal medical health service. Since 1973, they’ve supported thousands of individuals every year across Brisbane and Logan to deliver medical and dental clinics, youth services, aged care and family support services.
McR are proud to assist ATSICHS with an exciting social and affordable housing project in Woolloongabba, delivering 60 apartments for Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders.
A complex project which involves multiple funding streams, as well as complex titling and planning considerations, the McR Community Housing team worked alongside the Property, Planning, Finance and Corporate teams, to provide pro bono advice and help ensure the project’s success.
Queensland Indigenous Business Network
The Queensland Indigenous Business Network (QIBN) is the representative body for Indigenous voices, facilitating innovation and collaboration through business opportunities, employment growth and community success.
McR Native Title Partner, Dominic McGann was approached by Leann Wilson and Julie-ann Lambourne to help establish QIBN in its early inception and today, we continue to work closely with QIBN to ensure a governance model that reflects the values and aspirations that QIBN embodies.
We recognise the value of the Indigenous-led organisations leading the way in business growth and we are committed to supporting regional hubs across Queensland with governance arrangements that drive growth and facilitate successful community outcomes.
ATSIDMQI Memorial
Through our pro-bono commitments, McR is proud to have assisted the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dedicated Memorial Queensland on the intellectual property aspects involved in the design, creation and manufacturing of the memorial, as well as the donation of the memorial to the Trustee of the ANZAC Square Reserve as a gift for the people of Queensland.
Designed by John Smith Gumbula, and sculpted by Liam Hardy of Sculpt Studios, the sculpture represents past, present and future service of our First Nations people, and hopes to assist in bridging the culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their contributions to our shared military history.