The Voice Referendum and Envato’s Commitment to Embracing Diversity
Ahead of the upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum, here's how Envato is embracing diversity and working towards an equitable future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Embracing diversity has always been at the heart of Envato’s core values. We strive to foster an inclusive workplace with an open dialogue and recognize the need for not only equality – but equity. In light of the upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum, Australians will soon have the opportunity to effect real change, recognize Indigenous voices, and participate in a significant historical event for the future of our nation.
As a proudly Australian-founded company, Envato is committed to working towards a future where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have equal opportunities to succeed in education and employment via the Envato Foundation.
Empowering Indigenous Australians through the Envato Foundation
Founded in 2018, the Envato Foundation was established to support the development and education of Australia’s young Indigenous population. The Envato Foundation partners with various charitable organizations that focus on creating opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, particularly through the development and education of children and youth. These include Ganbina, Yalari, the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, Indigitek, Enrise, Story Factory, and more.
Funded by at least 1-2% of Envato’s annual pre-tax profits, the Envato Foundation has paid out AUD $1.7M in support of Indigenous Australians to date, with a further estimated $0.5M expected to be paid out in FY24.
During Reconciliation Week, we heard from a descendant of Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung, and Gunditjmara tribes, Lewis Brown, who shared his insights on the guiding principles of the Voice to Parliament. We’ve listened to the call from communities for constitutional recognition and the need for a body that empowers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, highlighting their voices to parliament on matters that affect their communities.
The Voice Referendum
On Saturday, 14 October 2023, Australians will have their say in a referendum to change the Constitution to recognize the First Peoples of Australia by establishing a body called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. The outcome of this referendum will significantly impact the future of Indigenous Australians, as well as the future of our country.
“As CEO of an Australian company, a board member of the Envato Foundation, and a new Australian, I’m proud to say I’ll be voting YES to the voice referendum,” says Envato CEO Hichame Assi. “I believe wholeheartedly in standing with the First Peoples of Australia, amplifying Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices, and moving towards a more inclusive and equitable future.
“At Envato, we embrace diversity in all its forms and acknowledge that there are different views and perspectives to this conversation. We encourage healthy debate and for all Australians to make an individual and informed decision about how they exercise their vote in October. Australia can and should strive to be a role model to the rest of the world regarding how it recognizes and includes its indigenous people.”
Considering Envato’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, we strongly encourage respectful dialogue and welcome differing perspectives and opinions. We urge you to exercise your right to vote on this important issue and suggest you keep informed through these helpful resources from the AEC, Reconcilliation.org, the Australian Human Rights Commission, and The Voice’s Community Toolkit.
