Newcastle Steelworks 1963 David Moore National Library of Australia

Belonging in the Workplace

I feel I belong more to where I work than to where I live. By the nature of the job I do, I’m very involved and attached to the community here.

Belonging workshop,
North Sydney, New South Wales,
3 March 2000

Newcastle Steelworks provided opportunities to belong in the workplace

Aboriginal people who came to Newcastle and walked through the gates of BHP could put their hands up and get work. This was at a time when they were roped off from picture theatres, they weren’t allowed in hotels, they couldn’t sit in the barber’s shop and get their hair cut.

Belonging workshop,
Newcastle, New South Wales, 6 March 2000