Council’s reconciliation action plan

Towards our Corporate Plan

Council’s Reconciliation Action Plan

Reconciliation is about strengthening relationships between Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal peoples and non-Indigenous peoples, for the benefit of all Australians.

In 2021 Council determined that there was a need for Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). In early 2022 a working group was established, and a first draft has been completed. This project is a significant two-year commitment to promoting reconciliation by building relationships, respect and trust between Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal peoples and the wider Australian community. RAPs are generally developed by and for non-Indigenous entities, which makes Council’s RAP significant as one of the few developed by a Torres Strait Islander organisation. The Working Group is made up of Council employees who provide strategic direction and leadership and ensure that a consultative and representative process is undertaken to inform the RAP.

What is a RAP?

A RAP is a strategic document that supports an organisation’s business plan and provides a framework to support the national reconciliation movement. It includes practical actions that will drive an organisation’s contribution to reconciliation both internally and in the communities in which it operates. Developing a RAP is a process undertaken in a collaborative partnership with Reconciliation Australia, the lead body of Reconciliation in Australia. Reconciliation Australia’s vision is based on five interrelated dimensions: race relations, equality and equity, institutional integrity, unity, and historical acceptance. There are different types of RAPs depending on an organisation’s stage in its reconciliation journey. Council’s Innovate RAP focuses on developing and strengthening relationships with Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal peoples, engaging staff and stakeholders in reconciliation, and developing and piloting innovative strategies to empower Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal peoples. This RAP examines relationships, respect, opportunities and governance, and the importance of each in Council’s core business activities.

Council’s RAP will allow Council to gain a deeper understanding of its sphere of influence, establish the best approach to advance reconciliation, be used as a tool to self-monitor our reconciliation journey, enable the growth and development of our communities, speak clearly about cultural awareness and sensitivity, prioritise our culture and lore, and

Thumbs up for the work the Queensland Police do in community

send a clear message of commitment and expectation to our contractors and other stakeholders.

What happens next? The Innovate RAP template contains minimum required actions and deliverables. Once it has gone through the final drafting stages and internal preliminary approval, it is submitted to Reconciliation Australia for review and will then undergo a minimum of two rounds of feedback.

After endorsement and approval, Reconciliation Australia will monitor Council’s reconciliation activities for two years.

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