KARI Foundation’s Queensland partner network came together at Riverlife Weddings & Events in Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, on 15 October for an afternoon of connection and conversation about the future.
KARI Foundation QLD Corporate Partner Lunch offered an opportunity to reconnect in person, introduce partners to more of the KARI Foundation team and bring together organisations that share a commitment to creating lasting impact for Aboriginal communities.
Representatives from KARI Foundation’s Partnerships & Procurement team, Community Programs QLD and senior executive team joined the lunch. Bringing these teams together gave guests an opportunity to hear from people working across different areas of KARI and learn more about the work their partnerships support.
A conversation about partnership
A panel hosted by Partnerships Manager Lauren Pitkin explored KARI’s work, the value of partnership and ways organisations could get involved.
The discussion gave guests a clearer understanding of KARI and the opportunities for partners to contribute.
Turning conversations into opportunities
The panel discussion explored KARI’s continued growth in Queensland, the impact of community-led programs and the opportunities for businesses to play a meaningful role in supporting Aboriginal people and families.
A key focus was the role of KARI Training in connecting community outcomes with corporate opportunities, including cultural learning, skills development and employment pathways.
The discussion also highlighted the value of building partnerships that extend beyond individual events or initiatives, creating opportunities for organisations to contribute through their expertise, networks, procurement and long-term commitment.
A powerful example shared during the panel was the Gwonggubunga Swim Program, delivered in partnership with Royal Life Saving Society Queensland.
As Jake Wilson, Chief Operations Officer Community Programs highlighted, the program demonstrates what can be achieved when organisations work together to respond to a direct need in community. With critical swimming incidents disproportionately affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland, the partnership is helping address an important safety issue through targeted swimming and water safety education.
The program is an example of how strong partnerships can translate shared priorities into practical action, delivering immediate benefits while supporting safer outcomes for Aboriginal people and families.
It also reinforced a key message from the discussion: when businesses and community organisations bring their expertise together, they can help develop responses that are grounded in community needs and focused on meaningful impact.
For Lauren Pitkin, Partnerships Manager at KARI Foundation, bringing the Queensland partner network together was an opportunity to strengthen relationships and explore what could be achieved collectively.
“What I value most about bringing our Queensland partners together is the opportunity to strengthen relationships, share ideas and explore what we can achieve collectively. Every organisation in attendance brings different strengths, expertise and opportunities, and there is real value in finding where those align with the work the KARI Foundation is doing in community. I hope the conversations from today continue, opening doors to new collaborations and helping us build meaningful, long-term partnerships that create lasting opportunities for Aboriginal people and families.”
Looking ahead to 2027 and beyond
Looking ahead to 2027, the lunch provided an opportunity to open the door to future conversations and explore how KARI Foundation and its corporate partners can continue working together.
Rather than prescribing a one-size-fits-all approach, staff encouraged attendees to connect with key members of the team over a coffee to share ideas, discuss their priorities and explore where there may be opportunities to collaborate. Whether through funding, procurement, volunteering, training or other forms of support, the focus is on building genuine relationships and finding opportunities that align with both partner priorities and community needs.
As these conversations continue beyond the lunch, KARI Foundation looks forward to working alongside its partners to identify practical ways to contribute, strengthen relationships and create meaningful opportunities for Aboriginal people and families.
Thank you to our Queensland partners for joining us and taking the time to connect, share ideas and learn more about KARI Foundation’s work.
To explore how your organisation can get involved, email our Partnerships Manager – lauren.pitkin@kari.org.au
