Reconciliation Action Plan 2022-2024
AlburyCity’s vision for Reconciliation
A community that walks together, working in partnership toward a proud and thriving future where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are empowered through recognition, opportunity and self-determination.
We are one community where respect and awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture is at the forefront of all that we do.
Principles
- The right of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to empowerment and self-determination1,
- The promotion of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage in a way that is significant and respected and desired by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,
- The protection of traditional and contemporary sites and artefacts,
- Recognition and support for the Aboriginal Advisory Committee in its role of adviser to AlburyCity Counsillors and our people on programs and activities, related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and cultures, and
- Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and workers as key facilitators of consultation with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, leading to positive ongoing relationships that enhance the capacity of AlburyCity, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the community, to work together towards a better future.
Goals
- To work towards an ongoing employment strategy and the development and adoption of policies and procedures for all of our people to respect cultural differences,
- To support activities that work towards the process of reconciliation and enhance opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians,
- To work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in joint projects such as Wonga Wetlands Wiradjuri Interpretative Centre and Mungabareena Aboriginal Place, and
- To Identify in consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, cultural sites and artefacts related to traditional and contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture.
1 Self-determination is an ‘ongoing process of choice’ to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are able to meet their social, cultural and economic needs and that these are led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices.
The RAP Development Process
To ensure that AlburyCity’s Innovate RAP is place based, inclusive and builds upon the voices of the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community as well as being genuinely embraced by Council, the following process was followed during the development phase:
- To ensure the Elected Arm of Council were provided an opportunity to discuss the development phase, an information session was held with the Mayor and a number of Councillors, prior to broader consultation.
- Ensuring the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community is part of the RAP co-design process to enable the RAP to reflect the community’s strengths and aspirations and also ensure that the RAP resonates strongly to maximise the potential impact for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Albury.
- Holding broader consultations with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, including the Albury Wodonga Community Working Party and members of the external RAP Advisory Group.
- Participating in a comprehensive RAP Accelerator Workshops with relevant AlburyCity stakeholders and the RAP Working Group to ensure a collective vision for reconciliation is designed and a clear framework for the RAP is formulated.
- Displaying the RAP for public comment/feedback to ensure it meets the expectations of the community.
Mapping with local and international frameworks
The United Nations’ Declaration on the Rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples (UNDRIP) and the National Agreement on Closing-the-Gap (CTG) are two key frameworks that seek to acknowledge these impacts and barriers and support actions to address these.
By aligning the Council’s RAP with these two key frameworks, the Council can understand and adjust how their actions and commitments through the RAP contributes to both the international and national standards set by the UNDRIP and CTG respectively.
This pillar focuses on strengthening the community’s understanding and respect towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, history and experiences. With the out respect, it is not possible to foster a united and equitable community.
The Respect pillar directly contributes to the Closing-the-Gap targets of 14 (People enjoy high levels of emotional wellbeing) & 15 (People maintain a distinctive cultural, spiritual, physical and economic relationship with their land and waters). This pillar can also be directly mapped to the UNDRIP articles under the Education, Information and Employment, Foundational Principles and Culture, Language and Spirituality.
This pillar focuses on building strong relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Non- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of our community. This is essential to support the long-term success of our local community.
The Relationships pillar directly contributes to Closing-the- Gap target 14 (People enjoy high levels of emotional wellbeing) & 16 (Cultures and languages are strong, supported and flourishing). This pillar can also be directly mapped to the UNDRIP articles under the Participatory Development, Economic and Social Rights, Foundational Principles and Culture, Language and Spirituality.
This pillar focuses on providing equal opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to help Close-the-Gap that exist in comparison to Non- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The Opportunity pillar directly contributes to the Closing-the-Gap targets 7 (Youth are engaged in employment or education) and 8 (Strong economic participation and development of people and their communities).
These Closing-the-Gap targets are focused on providing opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through employment. This pillar can also be directly be mapped to the UNDRIP articles under the Education, Information and Employment and Foundational Principles.
This pillar focuses on ensuring that effective governance and reporting is established and maintained throughout the entire reconciliation journey.
This pillar ensures accountability and although not directly contributing to a Closing-the-Gap target it indirectly contributes to all of them. This pillar can also be directly mapped to the UNDRIP articles under the Participatory Development and Foundational Principles.