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Qantas has joined with its partners – including sports teams, Olympians, Paralympians and leaders in the arts – in a new video celebrating the importance of diversity to national life.

The 60-second clip opens with actor and Qantas Ambassador Hugh Jackman on Maroubra Beach, talking about the Australian spirit and “standing up for a fair go”. Its debut was during the Bledisloe Cup match between Australia v New Zealand on 18 August on Fox Sports, thanks to Rugby Australia, as well as at the stadium to an audience of up to 80,000 people.

https://youtu.be/gBd1pbIiLTc

The video then moves on to feature a range of talented Australians representing groups that Qantas has worked with for many years, standing together in celebration of inclusion and diversity. They include:

  • Indigenous leader, Qantas Ambassador and former AFL player, Adam Goodes at a NAIDOC week celebration at Qantas head office.
  • Athletes from several Qantas sport partners, including Rugby Australia, Football Federation of Australia, Cricket Australia, Australian Olympic and Paralympic Committees:
  • National teams the Qantas Wallabies, and Matildas and Socceroos
  • Australia’s champion mixed Wheelchair Rugby Team taking on the Olympic Gold Medal winning Australian Women’s 7’s Rugby team
  • Members of the Australian men and women’s cricket teams playing a game of beach cricket
  • Defence Force veteran and Paralympian Curtis McGrath
  • Olympic swimmer Bronte Campbell swimming with Paralympian Ellie Cole
  • Indigenous dance company Bangarra and members of the Australian Ballet
  • Qantas Indigenous School Based Trainees and students from Australian Indigenous Education Foundation program
  • Qantas staff celebrating Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, which the airline has supported for over 25 years
  • Singer Bernard Fanning providing vocals to the song underpinning the video.

The video is part of the national carrier’s longstanding support for equality and inclusion – something it has championed through gender diversity (including encouraging more women to train for traditionally male dominated aviation roles), Indigenous reconciliation and support for LGBTI issues.

Scene from the video

Qantas group executive, Vanessa Hudson, said: “We carry over 50 million people a year from all walks of life. And we have over 30,000 people working at Qantas who represent a cross-section of the community. We don’t all think, look or act the same and that’s a huge asset. This video is about celebrating the strength that comes from diversity and why it’s one of the great things about the kind of place Australia is.”

The video will appear across social media channels for Qantas as well as several of the sporting bodies involved, and screen on board Qantas flights.

Rugby Australia chief executive, Raelene Castle said one of the great things about rugby was that it brought together people from all sorts of backgrounds “and it shows how they can all unite. We’re proud to support Qantas in celebrating why diversity and inclusion matter.”

Edited by Peter Needham