As Reconciliation Australia’s website notes: “This will only be achieved when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this land are able to equally contribute to daily life of the nations. Until this happens Australia will not reach its full potential.”
Since 2006, Reconciliation Australia has supported organisations, local governments, schools and businesses to develop their own Reconciliation Action Plans.
These RAPs have enabled organisations to sustainably and strategically take meaningful action to advance reconciliation.
To have a road map to guide these actions.
Based around the core pillars of relationships, respect and opportunities, RAPs provide tangible and substantive benefits for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, increasing economic equity and supporting First Nations self-determination.
The four levels of RAP described by Reconciliation Australia – Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate – allow organisations to “continuously develop their reconciliation commitments”: to consolidate their achievements and have a pathway to do more.
As a starting point, Reflect RAPs run for one year. The basis of reconciliation is relationships, so this RAP encourages and supports an organisation to understand and develop their relationships with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations.
At this level it asks an organisation to reflect on what it sees as its vision for reconciliation and how it may be able to achieve this.
The Innovate RAP - in which an organisation implements its reconciliation initiatives - spans two years.
It focuses on actions that support the organisation’s reconciliation vision, particularly strengthening and deepening relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, engaging staff in the reconciliation process and looking at innovative strategies that will facilitate and strengthen the empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The three-year Stretch RAP focusses on longer-term strategies and having clearly defined targets, goals, and methods to evaluate their achievement.
The reconciliation initiatives and actions become part of the way the organisation operates on a day-to-day basis: they are embedded in all the organisation does.
And, finally, the Elevate RAP is for those organisations who have successfully and consistently demonstrated Stretch Rap success and are ready to take a national reconciliation leadership role.
As the tier of government that is closest to the community, local government has an important role in modelling recognition and respect and ensuring that the needs and aspirations of Aboriginal people are properly reflected in council plans, strategies and policies.
Greater Shepparton City Council is one of many local governments who have made the formal commitment towards reconciliation through its first Reflect RAP and again as it moves to the second Innovate RAP.
Council has invited feedback as part of the planning for their Innovate RAP, so be part of this important process.
After all, it will support their development of their next RAP and help strengthen reconciliation locally.
Reconciliation Australia – through their Narragunnawali online platform – also provides resources for schools and early learning services to assist develop their own RAPs.
There are curriculum resources and professional learning opportunities.
So, think about how you or your organisation or school can become more involved in the reconciliation movement.
Find out more, ask questions.
To help shape Greater Shepparton’s next Reconciliation Action Plan, visit https://greatershepparton.com.au/
If you are interested in finding out more about Reconciliation Action Plans visit Reconciliation Australia’s website: www.reconciliation.org.au/reconciliation-action-plans/
To find out more about Reconciliation Action Plans for schools or early learning centres visit www.narragunnawali.org.au/raps/what-is-a-rap
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