Our Reconciliation Action Planning Journey Begins

In 2015, our Strategic Plan included a goal to develop a Reconciliation Action Plan to enable us to formally build on and continue through our reconciliation journey. In 2016, we sought expressions of interest from Board and team members from across Act for Kids and formed the Reconciliation Action Plan Committee. We then brought our team together in Brisbane to participate in a Yarn Up facilitated by the Queensland Workforce Council. This was a valuable and integral step in developing a shared understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures, the impact of colonisation and to reflect how each of us has a role to play in the reconciliation journey. This powerful two days of insight, sharing, tears and hope created a sense of unity and was the stepping stone to start our planning and consultation process across Act for Kids. The Committee reflected on existing Act for Kids relationships and connectedness with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander team members and communities and considered how we might be able to expand on these. The consultation process was extensive and included Act for Kids team members, Kalwun Development Corporation, Goolburri Aboriginal Health Advancement Company Limited, Carbal Medical Services, Goondir Health Services, Queensland Workforce Council and Reconciliation Australia. We thank all those who provided feedback at various stages of the consultation process and assisted with the development of this plan.

The Reconciliation Action Plan Committee is comprised of Act for Kids team members from a variety of occupational groups, levels and regions of the organisation. From the outset we ensured that Reconciliation activities had Board (Berkeley Cox, Zoe Newbury) and Executive champions (Dr Katrina Lines, Koni Hanlon) and that reconciliation goals form part of the organisation’s strategic focus.

The Committee members include:

Brisbane, Sunshine Coast & Central Queensland

} Family Support Practitioner (Identified) } Psychologist } Specialist Family Support Practitioner (Identified)

Far North Queensland

} Cultural Advisor } SafeKIDS Manager } Program Coordinator } Program Manager, Regional Services } Workforce Development Manager

National

} Board Directors (2) } Executive Director, People and Culture } Executive Director, Service Operations } People and Culture Manager

North Queensland

} Administration Officer } Cultural Advisor } Regional Director

Southern Queensland

} Child and Family Consultant } Cultural Advisor } Family Support Practitioners } In Home Support Worker (Identified) } Regional Director } Specialist Family Support Practitioner

“We want to achieve greater Our Reconciliation Action Plan will focus on three major goals: engagement and participation in the reconciliation process.” 01

Building Whilst developing our Reconciliation Action Plan, we haven’t stopped taking steps Relationships towards reconciliation. Some of our recent initiatives and actions include:

} Celebrating and participating in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander national days of significance and community events, such as NAIDOC Week and National

Reconciliation Week; } Becoming a signatory to Family Matters (SNAICC; https://www.familymatters.org.au); } Joining the Family Matters Queensland Leadership Group; } Further developing specific competencies and training around strengthening cultural practice, such as local inductions with Cultural Advisors; practitioner requirement to meet core practice standards on Strengthen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Cultures; and team members undertaking competency training by Dr Tracey

Westerman, Indigenous Psychological Services; } Ensuring that as much as possible, all services have key roles identified for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander team members; } Ensuring that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are employed at all levels of the organisation, from the Board to front line team members; and } Creating an opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists by holding a national art competition with significant prize money to develop artworks for our

Reconciliation Action Plan and promotional activities.

Through our Reconciliation Action Plan, we look forward to new opportunities to grow our relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and help build the capacity of communities and organisations. We want to achieve greater engagement and participation in the reconciliation process and promote understanding and selfdetermination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.