MetLife has taken the next step towards supporting First Nations people by launching the 2023 Reflect RAP, its second Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
Reflect RAP addresses the barriers preventing First Nations people from accessing financial services, including insurance, noting that the 2021-22 Pre-Budget Submission to the Minister for Housing and Assistant Treasurer found that 75% of First Nations Australians struggle to access financial services.
“Our Reflect RAP 2023-24 will focus on continuous learning, active participation in cultural events, supporting customers, and leveraging partnerships. We aim to build understanding and do more to support our First Nations customers, and this Reflect RAP is a step towards a future Innovate RAP,” said MetLife CEO Richard Nunn.
Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine commented: “Congratulations, MetLife, on your second Reflect RAP. This Reflect RAP enables MetLife to deepen its understanding of its sphere of influence and the unique contribution it can make to lead progress across the five dimensions. Getting these steps right will ensure the sustainability of future RAPs and reconciliation initiatives and provide meaningful impact toward Australia’s reconciliation journey.”
Launched in 2020, MetLife’s first RAP outlined the insurer’s vision for reconciliation and the steps it would take to enhance it strategies in the five dimensions of reconciliation:
Since the launch of the first RAP, MetLife has been working closely with its key partners, such as the Royal Botanic Gardens’ First Nations team, to identify the needs and priorities of First Nations people and the best practices to serve them better. The insurer has also developed strategies to support vulnerable customers, including cultural training for customer service employees, to create a more inclusive environment for First Nations customers.
“MetLife is committed to embedding reconciliation within the organisation, ensuring that all staff recognise, respect, and value First Nations peoples’ cultures, histories, and needs, celebrating their contributions and achievements,” Nunn said. “Our purpose, ‘always with you building a more confident future’, guides us in our journey towards reconciliation. We recognise the challenges faced by First Nations people and acknowledge our responsibility to build understanding, and protection for Australia’s First Nations people.”
