Modern business respects traditional culture

"We wanted to show that we are culturally aware and culturally competent.”

PAYING RESPECT: Sarah Peterson and artist Lionel Cubby at BEST employment in front of their new mural. Picture: Meg Bolton

INCORPORATING indigenous culture into their workplace was important for BEST Employment.

With Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people coming into the Condamine Street business every day, it made sense to commission local indigenous artist Lionel Cubby to design their art mural.

Performance manager Sarah Peterson said the mural was a way of showing indigenous clients that their history was respected.

"We've got a lot of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients, so we thought it was a great way to show them that we do value their heritage and their culture.

"We wanted to show that we are culturally aware and culturally competent.”

Sprawled across their office wall is map-inspired design featuring a series of circles with connecting paths which represent linking the business to their clients.

"It signifies the different camp groups walking along the trails and coming to the meeting place and Best Employment is the meeting place,” she said.

Employees of the recruitment service personalised the mural by adding their hand prints around the large circle.

Artist Lionel Cubby said he used a universal design which incorporated many different cultures across Australia.

"The mural signifies a meeting place where everyone is welcome,” Mr Cubby said.

The mural also acknowledges the traditional custodians of the region as well as past, present and future elders of these groups.

"It shows respect for who was here before and it's welcoming when you've got names like Barunggam and Jarowair who are traditional land owners in the Dalby area,” he said.

Mr Cubby is a proud Gamilaraay man and is known to many of the job seekers at the employment agency.

He is studying a Bachelor of Human Services and hopes to use his knowledge to work within the community.