The Coolamon is an important and well-known piece of Indigenous culture, used for medicinal purposes, to carry water, food, cradle babies and more. This Coolamon has been hand-carved and hand-painted for Jacobs Australia and is significant as the handprint is placed at its centre. It represents the many hands that support and carry a new project to the next phase or completion.

The handprint is without boundaries; from a child holding the hands of an Elder as they cross the road to a hug, handshake and into community, work, industry and our everyday life. It’s the interconnection of human beings, our contributions, our achievements and it represents the team and ethos at Jacobs Australia.

The base of the artwork represents the Australian landscape and the connections from one side of Australia to the other. This is represented through the wood texture coming through and the lines that go from one end to the other end of the artwork. Portraying the knowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have and how they share it across the Australian landscape, showing their connection to the Dreaming and their understanding.

The five large circles that draw the eye represent communities that contribute to and understand the Dreaming. Within these circles are the individuals who travel in and around this space and those who are influenced by the actions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their relevance in today’s workplace and corporate Australia. These circles have dual meaning, symbolic of the diversity of teams, projects and people within the Jacobs Australia community and the communication lines used to engage suppliers for their Reconciliation Action Plan.

A deeper understanding of the importance of the Coolamon and the reason it was carved and painted for the Jacobs Australia team, is its significance to their caring nature and ethos: “We always act with integrity – taking responsibility for our work, caring for our people and staying focused on safety and sustainability. We make investments in our clients, our people and our communities, so we can grow together.” When first cut from the tree, the Coolamon can provide medicinal purposes. When dried and treated, it was engineered to cradle and protect newborn babies. Coolamons are also used by hunter-gatherers to procure and transport water, seeds, fruits and nuts to their communities and environment. This is symbolic of the tangible actions Jacobs Australia employs with engaging Indigenous suppliers as a part of the RAP.