Easier access to NAIDOC posters because of a chat at the checkout

A casual conversation at a Woolworths checkout in Weston Creek, ACT early last year has dramatically increased the distribution of this year’s National NAIDOC poster, Always Was. Always Will Be.

National NAIDOC Committee Co-Chair John Paul Janke asked Front End Service staffer and Wiradjuri woman, Virginia Richards, if she felt the company would be supportive of NAIDOC.

‘I said yes because my supervisors and the management here are really supportive of everything we do, which is great,’ Virginia said.

John immediately rang the Head Office in Sydney.

‘So I lobbied them to be involved and mentioned my yarn with Virginia and they were very excited to be approached and became committed to doing it,’ John said.

As a result, Woolworths distributed 50,000 posters last year throughout Australia. However, supplies ran out very quickly. This year, Woolworths has committed to printing and distributing 206,000 posters through its 1,000 stores.

About 200 posters will be available at the Service Desk of each Woolworths store for people to collect.

‘I would love to have a role in handing out the posters,’ Virginia said.

Prior to this added sponsorship from Woolworths, the National NAIDOC committee would distribute posters through the 35 regional offices of the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA).

‘In previous years when the posters were distributed, it was usually to people who were inside that sector,’ John said.

‘What we want is to reach the wider, mainstream audience, and partnering with Woolworths enables us to reach the whole of Australia.’

Distributing the NAIDOC poster may not seem such a big deal but according to John, nothing could be further from the truth.

‘The poster is the iconic brand of NAIDOC Week. It’s been around since the late 60s and is hung in pre-schools, primary schools, universities, corporate offices, shopping centres and is replicated on buses,’ John said.

‘This year it will be projected onto the Carillion in Canberra.’

Virginia said she is proud to be Indigenous and Koori and to work at Woolworths.

‘I love my job and receiving the support I need as an Indigenous woman,’ she said.

It was this sentiment which persuaded John to approach Woolworths in the first place.

‘For us on the NAIDOC Committee, I think it’s a great opportunity to partner with a good corporate entity like Woolworths that not only wants to look after its staff and build opportunities for Indigenous staff nationally, but also gets behind NAIDOC Week and wants to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement and history and culture.’

‘I can see the change and potential that this will make across the country.’

Weston Creek Woolworths Store Manager Michael Tozer said he is pleased to be part of the enhanced distribution of posters.

‘Customers will know the posters are available at the Service Desk because of large signage,’ he said.

NAIDOC Week 2020 posters are now available from Woolworths’ outlets - until stocks last.