Media Release
Posted: January 25, 2018
Melbourne-based social enterprise Our Community has joined the chorus of Indigenous, community and business leaders urging the Australian Government to change the date of Australia Day.
Our Community's 55 staff have been encouraged to come in to work on Friday to show their support for the change the date movement. Staff may opt to take the Monday following Australia Day as an alternative public holiday.
"Next year, it may be compulsory," said Our Community founder and Group Managing Director Denis Moriarty.
Staff may also use their work time on January 26 to attend Invasion Day protest marches.
"We don't take this action lightly, but we do think it's time to take a stand that involves more than sharing a hashtag," Mr Moriarty said.
"While I do believe in celebrating all that is good in Australia it's untenable to do that on a day that insults our nation's great first peoples. In fact, as members of the Australian community in all its diversity, we should all be insulted by it."
About Our Community
Our Community is a Melbourne-based company that provides advice, training and software to not-for-profit organisations, and the business and government agencies that support community development in Australia, New Zealand and beyond.
A highly-ranked accredited B Corp, Our Community was founded in 1999 with a mission of building stronger communities by supporting stronger community organisations.
The organisation is led by former senior public servant and ethics graduate Denis Moriarty, and is chaired by leading businesswoman, social investor and Reserve Bank Commissioner Carol Schwartz. Australia's leading ethicist Simon Longstaff also serves as a board member.
Comments: Denis Moriarty - denism@ourcommunity.com.au