Afford marks NAIDOC Week by helping prepare 2,220 Meals for Mob

This NAIDOC Week we had the privilege of volunteering at the Brisbane FareShare Kitchen, helping prepare Meals for Mob at SecondBite Brisbane.

Together, our group, made up of both staff and clients, helped prepare 2,220 meals that will soon be distributed across the community – a practical contribution that reflects both the spirit of NAIDOC Week and Afford’s ongoing commitment to reconciliation.

NAIDOC Week is a time to celebrate the history, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It’s also a time to reflect on the role we each play in building respectful relationships, strengthening understanding and walking together in genuine partnership.

For Afford, the opportunity to support Meals for Mob was about more than volunteering. It was a meaningful way to contribute to community while recognising the significance of food, care and connection across many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Across communities and cultures, gathering, preparing and sharing food has long been an act of care – one that strengthens relationships, fosters belonging and brings people together. It is a simple but powerful expression of respect, generosity and connection.

As a disability service provider, Afford understands how important belonging, dignity and inclusion are to wellbeing. We also know that many people experience barriers to these things. That is why we are committed to being part of the communities we serve, and to taking action that is practical, respectful and grounded in genuine connection.

Reconciliation at Afford: a commitment to listening, learning and action

Afford’s commitment to reconciliation extends well beyond NAIDOC Week.

In 2024, we launched our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), an important milestone in our journey to strengthen relationships, deepen understanding and create meaningful opportunities with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Our first RAP, a Reflect RAP endorsed by Reconciliation Australia, provides a formal framework for action within our organisation. It reflects our commitment to learning, listening and building strong foundations for long-term, meaningful reconciliation.

The launch of our RAP followed the establishment of Afford’s Reconciliation Working Group in 2023. Made up of employees from within the organisation, including First Nations team members, the group has played an important role in shaping Afford’s reconciliation journey and identifying opportunities for meaningful progress.

Since launching the RAP, Afford has continued to build momentum through initiatives that strengthen awareness, capability and engagement throughout the organisation. This includes activities during National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week, the introduction of Afford’s first Workplace RAP Barometer survey, and ongoing work to deepen understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and experiences across our workforce.

While our Reflect RAP is an important first step, we know reconciliation is not a one-off initiative. It is an ongoing responsibility – one that requires reflection, accountability and action over time.

Why this matters

At Afford, our purpose is to create an inclusive world where human rights are realised and where people of all abilities can share in life’s adventure.

Reconciliation is part of that work.

We recognise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability can face multiple and intersecting barriers, and that true inclusion requires us to listen, learn and act with intention. Our RAP is one way we are embedding that commitment across the organisation -ensuring our efforts are thoughtful, practical and sustained.

Volunteering at SecondBite Brisbane and FareShare during NAIDOC Week was one meaningful expression of that commitment. It was an opportunity to give back in a practical way, connect with community and reflect on the values at the heart of reconciliation: respect, relationships and action.

A message from Katelyn Barakat

Afford Chief People and Brand Officer Katelyn Barakat and RAP co-chair, who joined the team on the day, said the experience was a powerful reminder that reconciliation is strengthened through practical action and shared purpose.

“NAIDOC Week is an important opportunity to celebrate the histories, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, while also reflecting on the role each of us can play in reconciliation,” says Katelyn.

“Spending the day helping prepare Meals for Mob was a meaningful way for our team to contribute to community and to recognise the challenges of food scarcity and the importance of connection, care and respect.”

The day also reflected Afford’s broader commitment to ensuring reconciliation is embedded into the organisation’s culture and practice.

“Launching Afford’s first RAP in 2024 was an important milestone, but reconciliation is ongoing work. It asks us to keep listening, keep learning and keep looking for ways to turn our commitment into action. Opportunities like this matter because they bring those commitments to life in a very real and human way.”

Thank you to our volunteers and partners

Afford would like to thank everyone who volunteered their time, as well as the teams at SecondBite Brisbane and FareShare, for making the day possible.

We are proud to have contributed to the preparation of 2,220 meals that will soon make their way out into the community. More importantly, we are proud to continue building a culture at Afford that values respect, connection and action – not only during NAIDOC Week, but every week of the year.

As our reconciliation journey continues, we remain committed to listening, learning and walking alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in ways that are meaningful, accountable and grounded in respect.