Coles is celebrating NAIDOC Week by sharing the inspirational stories of Indigenous Australians through its most popular customer and team member channels. 
These include Coles Magazine, Coles Health & Beauty magazine, Coles Radio, coles&co and Instagram.
Magazine feature
This month’s Coles Health & Beauty magazine features a cover story on aspiring VFLW stars Freda Puruntatameri and Jamie-Lee Puautjimi, along with their mentor Courtney Ugle.
Coles says it’s proud to be the official partner of the Essendon Bombers’ First Nations Women’s Pathway Program which has helped Ms Puruntatameri, Ms Puautjimi and Ms Ugle to realise their sporting dreams.
New ambassador
Coles has welcomed Indigenous chef Nornie Bero as an official ambassador.
This month, she is a contributor to Coles Magazine. Ms Bero shares her love for the Indigenous ingredients she has been cooking with for most of her career.
Originally from Mer Island in the Torres Strait, she describes the region’s food as “a smiling that never stops”.
Ms Bero is passionate about creating native Australian cuisine and encouraging people to embrace these flavours in their everyday cooking.
Coles Radio
Coles says it knows Australian’s love listening to Coles Radio. It’s claimed to be the number one commercial digital station in the country.
Coles has added some additional songs by Indigenous artists to the playlist to celebrate NAIDOC Week.
Better Together
A major part of Coles’ Better Together sustainability strategy is to reflect the communities in which its team lives and works. NAIDOC Week, says the retailer, is an opportunity to reflect on how it’s working together to form strong relationships with the Indigenous community.
Coles’ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander plan, launched in 2011, outlines a commitment to develop the careers of its Indigenous team members and increase Indigenous team member representation across the Coles Group.
To provide more opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, suppliers, customers and communities to engage with the business, Coles has committed to:
- Increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander team member representation to 5% of its workforce and 3% of trade and management roles by providing great careers at Coles.
- Increasing opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suppliers to participate in its supply chain.
Coles Group Chief Executive of Sustainability, Property and Exports Thinus Keeve says that all of Coles’ NAIDOC Week activities are tied to the theme of ‘Heal Country’.
“We are excited to spread the word and share stories about the connection and impact the First Nations Peoples have throughout our land,” he says.
“Coles has a proud history of taking action and forming strong relationships with the Indigenous community, and that commitment extends to working better together to ensure that we continue to grow our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander team member representation in our stores and in trade and management roles, and to support Indigenous suppliers.
“During NAIDOC Week and beyond, we acknowledge and respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, team members and community. We want to encourage people to acknowledge the stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their connection to lands and cultures.”