We started Atlassian in 2002, and although much has changed over the two decades we’ve been in business, our pride in being an Australian-founded company has never wavered. But with our heritage also comes a difficult and troubling history we must continue to confront, recognising the enduring impact this has on Australia’s First Nations people.
This year, all Australians will be asked to vote in the referendum on a Voice to Parliament – an incredibly unique moment in time for our nation.
As a proud Australian company, we’ll be standing behind the YES vote.
We believe in nothing short of equity for all. A constitutionally-enshrined mechanism for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to be consulted on laws and policies that impact their communities can only move us closer to meaningful reconciliation and toward a better equitable future for our country.
So what does this mean for Atlassians?
Every Aussie will be asked to vote on the Voice to Parliament and will need to understand the impact that this decision can have on themselves, on Atlassian, and on the country.
Over the next few months there will be a lot of information out there about this decision – and some of our internal teams will be sharing information through the Atlassian lens too. We want to be clear – we’re not telling people how to vote; that is a personal choice. But education is vital here – and we want every Atlassian in Australia to have access to information and forums for discussion, so you feel prepared and empowered to make your personal decision.
Empowering First Nations communities is something we’ve always believed in and backed in various ways. You’ll all be familiar with the Acknowledgement of Country that we do globally to kick off all of our large gatherings. We’ve run programs ranging from internship opportunities to Foundation events to ShipIt projects to acknowledge and engage with Australia’s First Nations people. As part of the Foundation’s donation-matching policy, we match any donations made via Benevity to First Nations organisations, including the ‘Yes’ campaign for the Voice to Parliament and STEM Education for young First Nations people. And with our Reconciliation Action Plan in motion, we are taking steps to formalise how we approach reconciliation at Atlassian. Standing behind the YES vote is another way we can continue this support.
We know this is an emotive topic with lots of varying viewpoints and we understand this might be a hard conversation for some Atlassians to engage with. No matter how you plan to vote, please seek first to understand one another, stay kind, and be respectful.
Thank you for your support in this.
Mike and Scott