Murrindindi Shire Council joins a network of more than 1100 corporate, government, and not-for-profit organisations that have made a formal commitment to reconciliation by adopting its ‘Reflect’ Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) at the 14 December Council Meeting.
Reconciliation Australia’s RAP Framework provides organisations with a structured approach to advance reconciliation. There are four RAP types – Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate. Each type of RAP is designed to suit an organisation at different stages on their reconciliation journey.
The adoption of the RAP demonstrates Council’s commitment to strengthening our relationships and partnerships with Australia’s First Nations peoples and provides a strategic framework to drive Council’s contribution to reconciliation.
The 12-month plan, developed by Council’s internal working group, in partnership with Reconciliation Australia and in consultation with the Taungurung Land and Waters Council and Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, will help foster deeper connections between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Council, and the wider community.
The plan initially focuses on the delivery of actions that will support further reconciliation initiatives. This includes identifying key people, organisations and groups that we can engage and collaborate with on our reconciliation journey and involves establishing Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander representation on the working group, so our work can be further guided by First Nations perspectives and experiences.
From there, we’ll begin working on a range of internal actions, including the review of policies, systems and procedures relating to employment, procurement and participation. We’ll also focus on strengthening relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, organisations and Traditional Owner groups, and provide opportunities for cultural training to enhance our staff’s understanding of First Nations cultures, including by raising awareness of NAIDOC Week and Reconciliation Week.
The delivery of the Reflect RAP from July 2023 to completion in July 2024 will be guided by Council’s working group and supported through ongoing engagement sessions with Traditional Owner groups. The RAP will be officially launched with a public event for staff and the community during Reconciliation Week (27 May – 3 June 2023).
The plan has been conditionally endorsed by Reconciliation Australia and formally adopted by Council. The plan will now be provided to Reconciliation Australia for official endorsement, before it is presented to the community to view on Council’s website
here.
Quote attributable to Mayor Councillor John Walsh
‘In preparing our 2021-2025 Council Plan and 10-Year Community Vision, many community members expressed their desire for Council to show greater leadership in acknowledging the history of First Nations peoples and celebrating their ongoing connection and contribution to our Shire.
‘We are proud to have taken this important step forward in our reconciliation journey. Our Reflect RAP will support a key objective in our Council Plan; to ensure we are welcoming, inclusive, caring and connected. The plan also supports us in achieving our community vision, where we respect and celebrate the cultural heritage of our First Nations peoples and those who have come before us.
‘We all have a responsibility to support reconciliation. As the closest level of government to the community, Councillors and Council staff have a key role to play in contributing to the reconciliation movement.
‘In preparing our RAP, we have reflected on our reconciliation journey to date and the work we are doing an as organisation to respect, acknowledge and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. This work includes, and is not limited to, collaborating with Traditional Owners groups on a range of projects, and supporting and partnering with the Taungurung Land and Waters Council on initiatives and projects that preserve Taungurung language and raise awareness about First Nations cultures within our community.
‘This Plan will enable us to improve connections with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who live in Murrindindi Shire and beyond.
‘On behalf of my fellow Councillors, I’d like to thank Council’s working group and Cr Sandice McAulay for leading the development of the Reflect RAP, collaborating with Reconciliation Australia. I’d also like to thank local Traditional Owner groups for their support and engagement in developing our RAP. Well done to all involved and I look forward to celebrating the successful delivery of the actions within the plan.