The Seed Pod

Our commitment to reconciliation and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is symbolised through the artwork Seed Pod Dreaming by First Nations artist Micky Barlow.

The Seed Pod

This piece, part of the Bush Tucker series, represents the traditional process of preparing seed pods for cooking and is proudly displayed at our Collinswood office. The Seed Pod not only reminds us of the importance of cultural knowledge and community, but also inspires our continued journey towards reconciliation and empowerment through initiatives like The Seed Pod employee network.

In January 2022, Silverchain invited First Nations employees to join The Seed Pod, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employee network, with representatives from across Australia. The Seed Pod was developed to ensure we empower self determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people we employ and deliver services to. 

In this context, self determination includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities determining their priorities and who has the authority and responsibility to achieve these priorities. This is based on participation in decision making. 

The Seed Pod invites Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees to represent their voices and perspectives, providing opportunities for professional development and ensuring a support network for current and future employees. The objective of The Seed Pod is to: 

• Provide effective engagement with senior management and executive leaders at Silverchain.
• Offer quality advice through lived experience on issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Support Silverchain in delivering the RAP and improving health outcomes.
• Strengthen the cultural competency of Silverchain and its services.
• Share collective knowledge to influence change, foster partnerships, and strengthen leadership. 
• The collective knowledge and experiences of the people we employ and serve are invaluable in advising us on our cultural priorities. The Seed Pod continues to work towards positive outcomes and ensures we have a diverse and inclusive workforce and culturally informed services for First Nations clients. 

We set high expectations for ourselves when it comes to fostering a world class inclusive culture. Our Innovate RAP is reinforced with guidance from First Nations employees, ensuring we stay on track for the journey ahead. The Seed Pod was named in homage to Micky Barlow's artwork, which was commissioned in 2019. Silverchain is proud to use this artwork as a symbol of our commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and our shared journey of reconciliation.