Bird in Hand Winery is proud to call the Adelaide Hills home, with deep connections across South Australia that extend well beyond the vineyards.
Through the Bird in Hand Foundation and a range of partnerships, the winery invests in initiatives that support community wellbeing, the arts, environmental sustainability, and First Nations peoples. Locally, its efforts have helped celebrate culture, promote education, and build opportunities for young people, which demonstrates a commitment to strengthening and connecting communities across the state.
Reconciliation is central to Bird in Hand’s values. The organisation sees reconciliation not as a single project, but as an ongoing journey embedded in daily decisions and relationships. Their Reconciliation Action Plan provides the framework to turn intentions into action, from embedding cultural awareness training across the team to sourcing from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses and celebrating significant cultural events throughout the year.
That commitment is also reflected in Bird in Hand’s sponsorship of the 2025 Reconciliation SA Gala. For the winery, sponsorship is both a privilege and a responsibility; a way to stand alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, listen to their voices, and contribute to systemic change. The Gala is seen as a chance to celebrate progress, acknowledge challenges, and publicly demonstrate Bird in Hand’s dedication to reconciliation.
The Gala’s theme this year, Together Towards Tomorrow, strongly resonates with Bird in Hand’s approach. The winery believes meaningful progress can only happen when achieved collaboratively, through long-term partnerships with communities, suppliers, and staff. Reconciliation, in their view, is a shared journey built on trust, respect, and action. Values that align closely with the Gala’s theme.
Bird in Hand is taking a range of actions to advance reconciliation. These include embedding cultural awareness and learning opportunities for all staff, strengthening procurement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses, creating opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and storytellers through the Bird in Hand Foundation, and recognising cultural events and days of significance within the workplace. Their on-site restaurant, LVN, is also beginning to feature sustainably sourced First Nations ingredients, further weaving reconciliation into their offerings.
One of Bird in Hand’s proudest milestones has been the launch of its Innovate RAP, which represents a clear and public commitment to reconciliation.
The growth of the Bird in Hand Foundation has also provided new ways to support initiatives led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices. In cultural learning, the organisation has celebrated all full-time staff completing the Impact Program, led by the History Trust of South Australia, as part of their onboarding. This is a tangible demonstration of their belief in cultural respect as an essential foundation for the team.
For Bird in Hand, events like the Reconciliation SA Gala create vital spaces for connection. They spark stories, conversations, and collaborations that ripple outward into real change. The winery hopes attendees will leave this year’s Gala inspired by what they hear, but also with a sense of responsibility to take action in their own spheres of influence.
Looking to the future, Bird in Hand’s vision is to contribute to a South Australia where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, and voices are deeply respected and interwoven into the fabric of community life. Guided by humility and hope, the organisation sees reconciliation as a long-term commitment that grows stronger with every action, partnership, and conversation.
