Born Bred Talent announces updates to First Nations initiatives
For the past two years, Born Bred Talent has redefined January 26 and the way it celebrates Australia’s history and diverse culture. This year, the agency is doubling down by announcing updates to its First Nations initiatives.
Embracing a theme of unity and respect this year, Born Bred aims to foster a sense of connection among Australians while also acknowledging the complexities of the country’s history.
“We recognise the importance of Australia Day as a day for reflection, learning, and building a shared future,” said general manager Stephanie Scicchitano.
“In the spirit of inclusivity and respect for individual choices, we wanted to offer the opportunity for our team to choose another day off which then aims to accommodate those who may prefer to celebrate or observe the day differently.”
The agency has begun to offer three key initiatives: Company, Educational and All-Year Round.
Company: In the spirit of inclusivity, employees may choose to take the public holiday off, with out-of-office being made optional.
The agency said this aims to accommodate those who may prefer to celebrate or observe the day differently or who wish to use this time for personal reflection.
Last year, similar momentum swept through the media and marketing industry with a number of agencies and businesses giving staff the option to work on January 26. According to job site Indeed, this year, three in four Australians want to make the public holiday an optional day off, with 52% already being given the option.
“As a proud Wuthathi woman and head of First Nations creator development at BBT, I am honoured to be part of a team that recognises the significance of Australia Day for many First Nations peoples as a day of mourning,” said Ash Jackson, head of First Nations creators.
“By choosing to work on this day, Born Bred Talent is not only demonstrating solidarity but also actively participating in the journey towards reconciliation.
Educational: Born Bred has commissioned Bibbulmun Noongar Aboriginal and Chilean artist Jay Van Nus (@jaykulbardi) to create an artwork that reflects the agency’s perspective on Australia Day.
The piece, which will be shared on Born Bred’s social media, aims to further enhance its audience’s understanding of Australia’s Indigenous cultures, histories and the impact of colonisation.
According to the agency, its employees believe that social media is a powerful to drive further education creating unity among diverse communities.
All-Year Round: In 2023, Born Bred launched ‘Born Blak’, an initiative in collaboration with Publicis Groupe, spearheaded by the holding company’s PR and influencer agency, Herd MSL.
The six-month program aims to educate, empower and uplift First Nations content creators through training and networking opportunities, whilst working to dismantle barriers, promote equity, and celebrate the rich diversity of Indigenous culture. It is described as as a catalyst for positive change, fostering a society that respects and embraces the unique contributions of First Nations content creators, year-round.
“Our commitment to supporting and amplifying the voices of First Nations creators is not bound by a date on the calendar; it is a year-round dedication to fostering understanding, respect, and unity in the spirit of true reconciliation,” said Jackson.
“For First Nations peoples, community ties have always been a vital source of resilience. We want to help honour this legacy, and Born Blak [is] an important program to help prioritise storytelling and community-building, and increase First Nations creators’ awareness of the industry landscape.”
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Lauren McNamara is a journalist at Mumbrella, covering the creative and PR beat. She joined in November 2022 as editorial assistant, after completing a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) at UTS.
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