UGL employees around Australia have celebrated NAIDOC Week, participating in an array of events. Teams gathered to take part in cultural dance, trivia, cooking, weaving, and a simulated rock carving exercise. Adam Goodes, CEO of iDiC and former Swans player, travelled to our major offices to talk to employees about his career journey and how we can engage further with Aboriginal businesses.

This year’s theme ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision, and Legacy’ celebrates not only the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of our young leaders, the vision of our communities, and the legacy of our ancestors.

“NAIDOC Week gives all Australians an opportunity to understand more about our rich history, culture, and some of the great achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” said UGL National Aboriginal Engagement Manager, Ron Jones.

Here are some of the experiences UGL employees participated in:
Inspiring change session with Adam Goodes:
Adam Goodes inspired employees around the country with his story of how he accidentally became an Australian Football League (AFL) player. Following his retirement, he has created his own business helping Aboriginal businesses grow and prosper through connections with larger businesses. UGL is proud to have a memorandum of understanding with his business iDiC.

Cultural dance:
Brolga Dance Academy provided our teams with the unique opportunity to learn traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dances, understand their cultural significance, and immerse themselves in the richness of our beautiful culture. 
In our Perth office, the Little Boorloo dancers performed and invited employees to learn the traditional dance.

Cultural trivia: 
The teams competed against other corporates, testing their knowledge on Aboriginal culture.

Weaving session:
First Nations woman Julianne Wade visited our Perth office conducting to host a weaving session. Weaving is an expression of Aboriginal identity and cultural heritage. First Nations people use it to share knowledge, connect with the land, and preserve ancestral traditions.

Cultural cooking: 
Our employees were treated to some tasty culinary delights preparing a delicious recipe with a modern twist using traditional native ingredients.

Simulated rock carving exercise:
UGL employees were challenged with doing their own rock art, and had the opportunity to do their own engraving of their chosen animal. The utilities operations and maintenance O&M team created a turtle and the New Energy team made a Kangaroo.

Cherbourg Community NAIDOC Day:
Our UGL Sservices team, attended the Cherbourg Community NAIDOC Day in Queensland. The team was able to see a Wakka Wakka dance performance, wandered through community stalls, and heard the announcement of the 2025 NAIDOC Community Award winners.

“Education is key to upholding and integrating the values of NAIDOC Week,” said Ron. “Ask questions and learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, challenge stereotypes and connect with people within our communities.”