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Statement from CEO of Reconciliation Australia
Inaugural Reflect RAP
Reconciliation Australia welcomes XTM Performance to the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) program with the formal endorsement of its inaugural Reflect RAP.
XTM Performance joins a network of more than 2,200 corporate, government, and not-for-profit organisations that have made a formal commitment to reconciliation through the RAP program.
Since 2006, RAPs have provided a framework for organisations to leverage their structures and diverse spheres of influence to support the national reconciliation movement. The program’s potential for impact is greater than ever, with close to 3 million people now working or studying in an organisation with a RAP.
The four RAP types - Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate - allow RAP partners to continuously develop and strengthen reconciliation commitments in new ways. This Reflect RAP will lay the foundations, priming the workplace for future RAPs and reconciliation initiatives.
The RAP program’s strength is its framework of relationships, respect, and opportunities, allowing an organisation to strategically set its reconciliation commitments in line with its own business objectives, for the most effective outcomes.
These outcomes contribute towards the five dimensions of reconciliation: race relations; equality and equity; institutional integrity; unity; and historical acceptance.
It is critical to not only uphold all five dimensions of reconciliation, but also increase awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, knowledge, and leadership across all sectors of Australian society.
This Reflect RAP enables XTM Performance 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 first steps right will ensure the sustainability of future RAPs and reconciliation initiatives, and provide meaningful impact toward Australia’s reconciliation journey.
Congratulations XTM Performance, welcome to the RAP program, and I look forward to following your reconciliation journey in the years to come.
Karen Mundine Chief Executive Officer Reconciliation Australia
images copyright. All XTM Reconciliation Art: Billy-Jay (BJ) O’Toole. Olympic Art: Paul Fleming and Brad Hore.
photos from XTM archive (except where noted) with thanks to Danii Forde, Mark Ashkanasy, Chris Hocking, Steve Ryan and Ferne Millen.
Karen Mundine (courtesy Reconciliation Australia)
The Founders Foreword:
When Gary “X” Rae, “Uncle” Bill Dalton and I started XTM back in 1999, we not only wanted to create world class snow and outdoor gear, we also wanted to have a lot of fun, and do a little good along the way. XTM has been a carbon neutral company since 2009, B Corp certified in 2024 and an official supplier of five Australian Winter Olympic Teams since 2006. Our values mean the world to us, and they extend across everything we do, but can be easily summed up in the company vision of:
Do Good. Be Free. Have Fun.
At the start, XTM’s roots were in the Taungurung Country of Mt Buller, then journeyed to our current headquarters in Wadawurrung Country, Torquay. We feel blessed to work and play in such beautiful and diverse surrounds with rich First Nation histories dating back over 60,000 years. Our need to understand more about First Nations histories combined with our desire to develop our voice for reconciliation, has led us to this critical time of commitment to our Reflect RAP plan and we sincerely thank Marsha Uppill of Arranyinha, proud Adnyamathanha woman for her guidance, education and support.
We’ve always lived by the mantra of “If you’re not part of the solution you are part of the problem” and we commit to being part of the solution. Through continual education and discovery, bringing awareness, creating opportunity, and driving positive change we will do our part to embrace reconciliation.
Peter Forras Founder
Footnote: The playground I grew up in was Taungurung country, Mt Buller. My first connection with the First Nations Peoples culture was through a school project. In Grade 2 at Mt Buller primary school, I learned of the annual Bogong moth feasting and celebrated the culture of the traditional peoples. Seeing the change in understanding and empathy towards First Nations Peoples in the greater community has been a longer journey but it’s great to see now there is a majority support.
Bill, Pete and Gaz.
A young Pete at Mt. Buller
Pete and Greg Newman / 80’s Buller.
Pete at home in Torquay
About the Artist:
My name is Billy-Jay.
I’m a proud Wadawurrung man residing on Wadawurrung country in Mount Duneed. I was born and raised on Wadawurrung country in Djilang (Geelong).
I am a recognized Traditional Owner and member of Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, where I work as a Cultural Heritage Representative.
In 2019 I completed my Certificate 4 in Cultural Heritage Management enabling me to strengthen my cultural commitment to my country and community whilst also strengthening my cultural connection to family and country. Working on my country reignited my spirit of painting, walking country and learning from country in my Field officer role and I now walk in my gifting of storytelling through paint, of which I have created many stories of country. I am on a journey learning language and I like to connect this to my paintings and stories of Wadawurrung Country.
My art style is a contemporary style, always reflecting the story’s and colours of Wadawurrung Country. With the use of bright and earthy colours and symbols, as well as the elements of country, water, mountains, sun and coast – all of which give us what we need to live.
I have established a social media page for my art called Papul Art. “Papul” is the Wadawurrung language name for Ochre, which is traditionally used for painting by Wadawurrung people.
About the Art:
Koling wada ngal (let us walk together) across Djas (countries).
Bunjil is the creator being for the Kulin Nation. Always seen high in Sky Country over looking Mountain and River Country. Wadawurrung are the people who belong to the water, Sea Country is watched over by Sand dunes, representing places of Gathering and ceremony. Taungurung is Mountain Country and home of the bogong moth, Rivers and waterways were ways of travel across Kulin Nation lands to come together for trade and ceremony.
Mirri the Sun brings us a new day, It rises on Sea Country and sets on the Mountains, Parwang the Magpie is heard singing his song with every sunrise. Meeting places are symbolising all the athletes and stakeholders you work with while on your journey to reconciliation.
Photo courtesy of Papul Art
XTM HQ entrance.
BJ’s original Reconciliation Art.
Our Reconciliation Vision Statement
The heart of XTM spans the unceded lands of the Taungurung people of Mount Buller to the Wadawarrung people of Victoria’s Surfcoast.
XTM acknowledges the past and will lead by example to influence change.
We honour First Nations peoples, their rich culture and traditions, and recognise the importance of their connection and songlines from the mountains to the sea, and the paths we cross together in friendship.
Valuing the journey and embracing the challenges with open hearts and minds, we walk in solidarity towards reconciliation and a more inclusive future.
Woollybutt stand.
Our Business:
XTM is a carbon neutral snow and outdoor apparel and accessories business. We design all our products in Australia and sell predominantly wholesale to ski shops and outdoor stores nationally. We currently employ 43 people nationally. This number varies as we have a company owned warehouse that expands capacity seasonally. We do not currently employ any Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander people that we are aware of but are endeavouring to address this through our RAP process.
XTM was founded in 1999 with the vision to:
Do Good. Be Free. Have Fun.
First and foremost, that means good product - but also do good by people and planet. XTM became proudly B Corp certified in 2024 and has been a Carbon Neutral Company since 2008. Our products are made from recycled or sustainable materials and our DWR (waterproof / breathable) coatings are PFC free.
We donate 1% of sales to charities and organisations doing good in communities and have our own initiative called Heat the Homeless that collects and distributes warm Winter jackets to those in need.
XTM has been a leader in the snow and outdoor industry for 25 years and prides itself in supporting the snow sports community and its people.
Based in Torquay Victoria, Wadawurrung Country. XTM distributes throughout Australia, New Zealand, Japan, USA, UAE and South Africa.
Team jump (Danii Forde)
XTM HQ, Torquay (Ryan)
The original XTM HQ, Jan Juc (Ryan)
The XTM Journey
The XTM journey begins long before the brand’s inception in 1999. Pete’s father and uncle, Aurel and Ernest Forras, left Hungary in search of a new life. Travelling through the European Alps enroute to Australia, they were instrumental in establishing one of Australia’s premier ski resorts, Mt Buller. In 1953 they hand built the first hotel there and chose to name the soon to become iconic hotel ‘Kooroora’ a First Nations word meaning ‘A Place for Happy Gathering’s’. This realisation of importance and inclusion is our earliest connection celebrating First Nations peoples.
Marnong - Mt. Buller (Ashko)
Bells Beach (Steve Ryan)
The original Forras HQ - Mt. Buller.
Kooroora - ‘A place for happy gathering’
Our RAP
While XTM’s foundation stems to the Taungurung People’s Country around Mt Buller, our headquarters are now on Wadawurrung Country, Torquay, the lands we are privileged to live and conduct our work on. The deep history and connection to the peoples and culture drew us to requiring a greater understanding of First Nations People’s. To do whatever we could to acknowledge the past and seek consent for our events and business conducted on Traditional Lands into the future. Our aim is to strengthen relationships and understanding between non-Indigenous Australians and First Nations Peoples to initiate reconciliation and create a more unified Australia. Through our owner and employees there is a strong desire for XTM to have a true understanding of First Nations Peoples and be educated in the correct ways to respectfully interact and provide opportunities for the future.
Our Reflect RAP was developed with guidance and support from Marsha Uppill, a proud Adnyamathanha woman. Through this process we were able to write our Vision Statement and were empowered to embark on this journey. Our CEO has taken the position of RAP Champion along with a working group which consists of members across multiple departments within our business. Throughout our process the working group will meet monthly to ensure we are on track and meet our deliverables while engaging First Nations Peoples stakeholders for guidance.
Through our relationship with Corrina Eccles and the local Wadawurrung Corporation, we have arranged educational days on country to learn about the cultures and traditions and get a better understanding of the plight of our First Nations Peoples. Our RAP process has brought out great interest from our employees and has made the company more sympathetic to the need for reconciliation.
Marsha Uppill
Arranyinha pays respects to both the Taungurung peoples and the Wadawurrung peoples on which Countries XTM has journeyed. We pay our respects to both of these proud and strong First Peoples and their ancestors, elders of today and their future leaders.
The journey of reconciliation requires courage, empathy and a commitment to understanding truth-telling and self determination.
XTM has embraced their responsibility for these aspects and demonstrated their commitment creating generational change both now and into the future.
Arranyinha acknowledges and congratulates XTM on their first Reconciliation Action Plan. We look forward to our continued connection and collaboration for the journey ahead.
Marsha & Nick Uppill (Ferne Millen)
Our Partnerships
XTM continuously seeks opportunities to interact with communities, partners, and ambassadors to best acknowledge First Nations cultures and traditions. We have conducted Walks on Country and Welcome to Country ceremonies. Through our RAP process we have highlighted a number of initiatives to implement in 2024.
Olympic Uniform:
At XTM we’re always stoked to say we’re an official Australian Winter Olympic Team supplier. It’s a relationship we’ve been proud to have since 2006. Whether it be at training, World Cup events or competing for gold at the Winter Olympic Games, the world-class Aussie Team wear our gloves, Aussie Merino thermals, socks, winter boots and pack our travel bags. We also love to support up-and-coming junior athletes. Snow-crazy kids staking a claim and dreaming big. Along with our OWI (Olympic Winter Institute) friendship, we’re there lending a helping hand to local organisations like the Interschools Snowsport Championships and on-mountain race and boardriders clubs.
A creative collaboration between XTM and the Australian Olympic Committee, saw for the first time in Winter Olympic history, our team competing proudly with Australian First Nations art on their uniform at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games. This was a proud and significant moment embodying the coming together of cultures in XTM gear.
The art design ‘Walking Together’ was created by Paul Fleming to share the Olympian’s story. “The centre piece represents a meeting place, because the Olympics brings together people of all colours, religions, and backgrounds from all over the world who are all competing for the same goal. Everyone essentially becomes ‘one’, we’re all athletes no matter where you come from.” – Artist Paul Flemming, Australian Olympic boxer (Beijing 2008 - Boxing) and First Nation Australian man from Wakka Wakka, Wanyurr Majay, Yuggera Country.
Olympic Art: Paul Fleming
Bobsled Bree’s Gloves:
Bree Walker’s individual gloves were designed for the Australian Institute of Sports, ‘Share A Yarn Program’.
Brad Hore, OLY, designed the artwork that represents people’s coming and going, and the spirit and connection to home and country.
“I asked Brad and the legends at XTM Performance if we could create gloves (as we shake hands when we meet) that connect all travelling Australians to our home no matter where we are in the world.” – Bree Walker OLY.
The Australian Institute of Sport ‘Share A Yarn’ initiative is about connecting athletes with First Nations Communities and helping them become advocates within their sport.
Bree Walker (Chris Hocking)
Olympic Art: Brad Hore
RELATIONSHIPS
Establish and strengthen mutually beneficial relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders and organisations.
Build relationships through celebrating National Reconciliation Week (NRW).
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• Identify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders and organisations within our local area or sphere of influence.
Research best practice and principles that support partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders and organisations.
Promote reconciliation through our sphere of influence.
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RAP Working Group members to participate in an external NRW event.
Promote positive race relations through anti-discrimination strategies.
Encourage and support staff and senior leaders to participate in at least one external event to recognise and celebrate NRW.
• • • Communicate our commitment to reconciliation to all staff. Identify external stakeholders that our organisation can engage with on our reconciliation journey.
Identify RAP and other like-minded organisations that we could approach to collaborate with on our reconciliation journey.
• Circulate Reconciliation Australia’s NRW resources and reconciliation materials to our staff.
Research best practice and policies in areas of race relations and anti-discrimination.
Conduct a review of HR policies and procedures to identify existing anti-discrimination provisions, and future needs.
RESPECT
Action
Increase understanding, value and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, knowledge and rights through cultural learning.
Demonstrate respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by observing cultural protocols.
Deliverable
Develop a business case for increasing understanding, value and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, knowledge and rights within our organisation.
Conduct a review of cultural learning needs within our organisation.
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• Develop an understanding of the local Traditional Owners or Custodians of the lands and waters within our organisation’s operational area.
Increase staff’s understanding of the purpose and significance behind cultural protocols, including Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country.
June 2025 September 2024
September 2024
2024
Raise awareness and share information amongst our staff about the meaning of NAIDOC Week.
Build respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories by celebrating NAIDOC Week. July 2024
Introduce our staff to NAIDOC Week by promoting external events in our local area.
RAP Working Group to participate in an external NAIDOC Week event.
OPPORTUNITIES
Improve employment outcomes by increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander recruitment, retention and professional development.
Increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander supplier diversity to support improved economic and social outcomes.
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• Develop a business case for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment within our organisation.
Build understanding of current Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staffing to inform future employment and professional development opportunities.
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• Develop a business case for procurement from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned businesses.
Investigate Supply Nation membership.
GOVERNANCE
Establish and maintain an effective RAP Working Group (RWG) to drive governance of the RAP.
Provide appropriate support for effective implementation of RAP commitments.
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• Maintain a RWG to govern RAP implementation.
Draft a Terms of Reference for the RWG.
Establish Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation on the RWG.
Build accountability and transparency through reporting RAP achievements, challenges and learnings both internally and externally.
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Define resource needs for RAP implementation.
Engage senior leaders in the delivery of RAP commitments.
Appoint a senior leader to champion our RAP internally.
Define appropriate systems and capability to track, measure and report on RAP commitments.
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Continue our reconciliation journey by developing our next RAP.
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• Contact Reconciliation Australia to verify that our primary and secondary contact details are up to date, to ensure we do not miss out on important RAP correspondence.
Contact Reconciliation Australia to request our unique link, to access the online RAP Impact Measurement Questionnaire.
Complete and submit the annual RAP Impact Measurement Questionnaire to Reconciliation Australia.
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Register via Reconciliation Australia’s website to begin developing our next RAP.
