In July of 2024, two of Yalari’s valued supporters ventured to the spiritual heart of Australia, travelling from Alice Springs to Uluru via Ormiston Gorge and Kings Creek Station, for Yalari’s inaugural leadership camp.
RACV and Davidson were both invited to attend given their commitment to Yalari, our students and alumni.
Since 2023, RACV has supported Yalari to deliver workshops, accommodate and help facilitate leadership and professional development camps, provide driving lessons throughout Australia for our students, and much more.
RACV has not only given financial support but a genuine and impactful investment into Yalari. From the dedicated individuals at the head office to the hardworking teams in the resorts, RACV’s personnel have exemplified a shared dedication to Yalari’s mission to forge generational change and a brighter future for Indigenous Australians and for our nation.
RACV Managing Director and CEO Neil Taylor reflected on his experience in the outback;
“The Yalari Camp with representatives from Yalari, Yalari Alumni, Davidsons and RACV was a genuinely impactful experience. The simplicity of talking (yarning) every night around a campfire without an end in mind, without any need for a decision, in a safe space for all, was in itself a lovely way to learn more about your colleagues and those we were travelling with. Seeing parts of this vast and rugged geography and the traditional custodians, visiting and talking to those still living and working the land every day, and hearing first hand about some of their challenges and love for the land, I think helped us all get a much better sense of why Yalari is so special.
In the world (western world) finding time to reflect and pause, is not easy. As John Lennon said, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans”. Businesses are geared to planning, making choices, moving forward and doing it all at a faster pace every year – all of which is appropriate for Senior Leadership Teams – but the slowing down and simplicity of sleeping in swags, making a fire, cooking food, looking at the stars and having good conversations was a grounding experience and a chance to think, maybe more deeply, than normal on what was important to each of us as individuals and as teams.
We are all very much looking forward to seeing how we can partner with Yalari, and their friends in the regions, to do more to help Yalari educate Indigenous children and hopefully see the experience we had become available to others. “We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love and then we return home.”
Davidson have been involved with Yalari since 2011, providing support for our annual Gala Dinners that are held across Australia, participating in workplace giving, providing pro bono recruitment support, and of course, through Bruce Davidson who is the Executive Director & Founder of Davidson, and the Chairman of Yalari’s Board of Directors.
Trent McMahon, CEO of Davidson, shared his gratitude for his experience in Central Australia;
“The Yalari Leadership Camp was above and beyond all expectations. It was an enlightening and transformational experience alongside incredible leaders, from both Yalari and RACV, and I feel lucky that the Davidson Executive Leadership team and I had the opportunity to be a part of it.
Having grown up in Darwin myself, it was exciting to be back in Australia’s heartland and to share that experience with our leaders. The camp provided us the opportunity to connect deeply with the land, learn from fellow executives, and strengthen the bonds of trust, communication, and connection among ourselves.
Spending the week traveling to beautiful places in a 4WD convoy, camping in swags, hiking, sitting around campfires and disconnecting from our daily lives was exactly what was needed. I can confidently say that I have returned to Brisbane feeling reconnected to Country and to our Leadership team. Thank you to everyone who made this experience possible.”
