Aboriginal flag permanently flying at Juniper Bethshan

As part of Juniper’s journey of reconciliation with First Nations Peoples across WA, Juniper Bethshan Residential Aged Care home held its inaugural traditional Aboriginal ceremony.

Led by Noongar Elder Gabrielle Hansen on Kaniyang Country, the ceremony acknowledged the traditional custodianship and contribution of the Noongar people to the Katanning region and celebrated a second flagpole at the front of the building to fly the Aboriginal flag.

“Sharing the Noongar culture with the people of Katanning means a lot to my people. It is very good to know that Reconciliation is so important to Juniper, and people are becoming more and more accepting of our culture,” said Gabrielle.

Special guests included Peter Randall, MLA, Councillor Michelle Salter and Serena Sandwell from Shire of Katanning, Carlos Correia OIC from Katanning police, and representatives from Southwest Aboriginal Medical Services Katanning and Katanning Hospital.

Amardeep Kaur, Bethshan Residential Manager said that the ceremony was a very important day for the Katanning community.

“Today showed that we are committed to strengthening relationships with Aboriginal people in Katanning to enable the journey of exchange, learning, and reconciliation. Our indigenous residents raised the flag and our other residents supported them with a welcoming speech and a piano performance,” said Amardeep.

Juniper is committed to working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to enhance understanding among staff, and to create mutually beneficial opportunities with the communities in which we live and operate.

Juniper’s vision for reconciliation is a future where all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ cultures, opportunities, and connections to the Country are recognised.

Juniper is currently in the process of developing its second Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) that outlines how the organisation makes reconciliation part of everything they do to create a just, equitable, and reconciled nation.