• Purpose brought to life: During National Reconciliation Week, Sun Chaser Michelle turned reflection into action by walking 40km on the Larapinta Trail and helping raise over $30,000 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation to support remote First Nations communities.

• Small steps building momentum: What began as a simple reading challenge grew into a meaningful journey for Michelle, showing how consistent, incremental actions can create lasting impact and deepen understanding.

• A shared commitment to reconciliation: Michelle’s experience reflects Suncorp’s broader commitment to advancing reconciliation through its Reconciliation Action Plan, fostering respectful partnerships, greater opportunity and a stronger sense of belonging.

The Larapinta Trail is a spectacular long-distance walking track that winds through the 300-million-year-old West MacDonnell Ranges in Australia’s Red Centre.

The trek sits on the traditional lands of the Arrernte people, offering hikers a unique opportunity to connect with Country and culture.

For Suncorp Manager Organisational Change Michelle, the walk was a chance to join a group of like-minded people to turn purpose into action – walking 40km and helping raise more than $30,000 to support the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

It also created space for Michelle to reflect on her own understanding of allyship and reconciliation in practice.

“For me, reconciliation means coming together and being respectful of other people’s opinions and experiences,” Michelle said.

“It begins with a willingness, an open mind and being prepared to listen.”

From small steps to 40km on Country

Michelle’s commitment to supporting the work of the ILF is grounded in a simple but powerful belief: that access to stories – especially culturally relevant ones – matters.

“It was around that idea of having access to books and recognising that not everybody does,” she explained.

The ILF works in partnership with remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities to create and distribute culturally relevant books – stories that reflect language, culture and identity, and help children feel seen and confident in who they are.

Motivated by that purpose, Michelle began her journey with the ILF through a personal reading challenge, donating $10 for every book she read.

What followed was a steady build – small, consistent actions that gathered momentum over time.

“It was just lots of little, tiny steps that started to come together into something more meaningful,” Michelle reflected.

“You can make progress as long as you are moving forward, even if it is small steps.”

That mindset carried into her decision to join the Larapinta trek – an opportunity not only to fundraise, but to experience Country in a more meaningful way.

A trek to remember

Across three days, Michelle and her group navigated razorback ridgelines, glowing ochre cliffs and deep-water gorges, all set against an expansive blue sky.

“There were parts that looked like oil paintings you’d see in a museum,” Michelle said.

“It had rained in the lead up to the walk, so there was lots of green against the red desert. It was beautiful.”

While she felt prepared, the reality of the landscape tested her in new ways.

One of the most difficult moments came during a section of boulder-hopping at Ormiston Gorge.

“That was the most challenging part for me – I found myself being physically overwhelmed,” Michelle said.

“There was no clear path and at one point I felt stuck.”

In that moment, resilience came not from pushing through alone, but from accepting support.

“It was a good reminder that even though we’re all independent, it’s okay to accept some help along the way,” she said.

“That’s what really got me through.”

The journey concluded with a pre-dawn climb of Mount Sonder, guided by the light of a full moon as the group reached the 1,380m summit at sunrise.

“It felt a little bit like a celebration in a way, like we’ve made it to the top.”

For Michelle, recognising and celebrating the Country she was on added another layer of meaning to her experience – particularly during National Reconciliation Week.

“It definitely felt respectful, being on Country while we were there,” she said.

Walking forward, together

For Michelle, the Larapinta trek is part of an ongoing journey – one grounded in learning, reflection and action.

“For me it has been a lot about learning and recognising our own biases,” she said.

Her reflections echo the broader intent of National Reconciliation Week – recognising that reconciliation is built through everyday actions, not one-off moments.

“It’s important to just listen first and not necessarily make a judgement early,” she said.

Through its Reconciliation Action Plan, Suncorp aims to embed reconciliation across the organisation – fostering equitable opportunities and respectful environments, partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses and communities, and improving access to products and services.

At its heart is a shared vision: to build futures and protect what matters, including supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to thrive financially and in all aspects of life.

Michelle’s story reflects how that commitment comes to life through people – employees who bring their values into action, supported by a culture that fosters belonging, connection and learning.

It’s a perspective that extends beyond the trail and speaks to the spirit of reconciliation: walking forward together, one step at a time.