The Reconciliation Action Plan

A story from this year’s annual report…

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Anglicare NT was incredibly proud to launch its Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) on May 28, 2014.

A RAP is a strategy to create a pathway for reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and Anglicare NT’s demonstrates the organisation’s firm commitment to being a culturally safe, respectful and empowering organisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients, staff and communities. The word “reconciliation” represents the deep process needed to sustain this commitment and understanding.

After committing to reconciliation in 2011, Anglicare NT handed control of the project to Ian O’Reilly, who had previously been the secretary and president of the NT Reconciliation Council. Ian formed a working group and began the consultation process and the draft of the plan before going on 12 months leave and handing over to David Pugh. When Ian returned, the plan had been approved by Reconciliation Australia, and 2014 saw the long awaited launch.

The plan will run for three years, with annual reports made to Reconciliation Australia, before the next three-year plan is created.

Congruent with the RAP, Anglicare NT celebrated National Aboriginal Islander Day of Celebration (NAIDOC) in July 2014. Anglicare NT joined the NAIDOC Darwin march under a company banner, and held a barbecue with a live band at Ludmilla head office. A team in Gove held a celebratory picnic, Katherine staff held a breakfast barbecue, while Alice Springs did a tour of cultural sites with a staff member who is a traditional land owner.

“Having executive support is critical to something like this, and we’ve definitely got that here at Anglicare NT,” says Ian. “We have achieved a few milestones recently, including the addition of cultural leave into our conditions of employment and adopting an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander governance framework.”

Anglicare NT has since established the Reconciliation Action Plan Implementation Committee, made up of staff, with Ian as secretary and Executive Manager Steve Rossingh as chair. The committee’s role is to monitor progress in implementing the RAP, and make sure Anglicare NT stays on track working towards the common reconciliation goals.

The Anglicare NT RAP commits Anglicare NT to 26 actions, including:
• When considering the establishment of new programs, or evaluating existing services, priority is given to working in partnership, rather than competing with, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander-controlled organisations.
• Both Ways Learning recognises the knowledge systems of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Western cultures. Both Ways Learning will be utilised as an effective approach for working alongside Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people as colleagues and clients at Anglicare NT.
• Develop and sustain a culturally competent workforce via cultural competence training, program guidelines and policies.
• An Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander understanding of ‘family’ is incorporated into our work with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander clients.
• Anglicare NT will create an Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Governance Framework to
ensure Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander perspectives influence decision making at program level and at the Board level.
• Provide traineeships, work experience and information to engage young Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people in our workforce.

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