The importance of committing to a Reconciliation Action Plan cannot be underestimated, and each time a business makes this commitment, it marks one step closer to Australia achieving our reconciliation goals and reaching our full potential as a united and inclusive nation.

There are four stages of a RAP – Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate, all of which allow organisations such as ours to continuously develop and strengthen reconciliation commitments in new ways.

Belgravia Leisure progressed its formal reconciliation journey with a Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) focused on our operation of five leisure facilities in the City of Sydney. This Reflect RAP was successfully concluded in mid-2023, providing the foundation to extend our reconciliation journey Australia-wide. We strive to excel in this regard, and through our leadership enable others to witness, benefit and join the pathway toward reconciliation.

I’m delighted that our Innovate stage was officially endorsed by Reconciliation Australia in early 2025. And we don’t intend on stopping there, whereby we will continue our journey along the other stages in the months and years to come.

I can’t stress enough that getting these first stages right will ensure the sustainability of our future Reconciliation Action Plans and reconciliation initiatives, all aimed at supporting Aboriginal and Torres Islander peoples to connect with leisure and gain improved health and happiness as a result.

We as Belgravia Leisure join a network of more than 2,700 corporate, government, and not-for-profit organisations that have made a formal commitment to reconciliation through the Reconciliation Action Plan program. It’s been a journey in itself to get to where we are today, and I’d like to congratulate the RAP Champions that have made it happen, led by Dr Jeff Walkley.

So why have we chosen to take this journey?

As you all know, across Belgravia Leisure, we strive to create a more equal and inclusive environment for our teams and guests, irrespective of their background or circumstances, and we strongly believe that committing to the reconciliation process is a necessary step in creating a more inclusive and diverse workplace for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. And this, of course, will benefit us all.

We recognise the importance of reconciliation and the impact business can have on achieving it – we all need to do our part, and this is us doing ours.

Additionally, as the country’s largest leisure provider, Belgravia Leisure’s ‘sphere of influence’ is extensive. Combined, we work closely with over 80 National, Regional and Local governments in Australia and New Zealand, operating facilities on behalf of these entities, aligning with the priorities of these governments. We collaborate, partner and support hundreds of sports, aquatic, recreation, leisure and fitness communities, some of which, are of course Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities. Because of this influence, we have the opportunity to make a real difference and set the example for other operators in the leisure industry. I don’t want to waste that opportunity.

When it comes to our team, we employ up to 8000 employees – depending on the season – and in our inaugural Belgravia Census it showed 3.5% identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander (ATSI), closely aligning with the Australian population’s prevalence at 3.8%. But we can and must do better.

We want to contribute and implement meaningful change – which to me, means making the words in our Reconciliation Action Plan document rise from the page and become something real, something tangible and something that we are proud of.

Reconciliation is about strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples and we want to find ways to best acknowledge and understand the Traditional Owners on which our businesses stand. In doing so, it will not only be of benefit to each and every one of us here at Belgravia Leisure, but also our guests and of course members of these communities.

Our reconciliation journey also has clear goals to create opportunities to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities within our venues and wider networks, ensuring balance and representation from all cultures, gender and backgrounds. Together, we can drive meaningful change and continue building a united, inclusive future for all.

Nick Cox, CEO, Belgravia Leisure