Reconciliation Australia
Reconciliation Australia is a non-government, not-for-profit foundation established in January 2001 to promote a continuing national focus for reconciliation between Indigenous (i.e. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) and non-Indigenous Australians. It was established by the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, which was established to create a framework for furthering a government policy of reconciliation in Australia.
Predecessor
January 2001
Non-government not-for-profit organisation
The national expert body on reconciliation in Australia; with a vision to wake to a reconciled, just and equitable Australia
Australia
Karen Mundine
Among other functions, Reconciliation Australia organises National Reconciliation Week each year. The Australian Reconciliation Network comprises reconciliation organisations in the six states of Australia.
Governance, funding and description[edit]
Reconciliation Australia is funded from corporate and government partnerships as well as tax-deductible donations from individual Australians. The organisation works with business, government and individual Australians to bring about change, identifying and promoting examples of reconciliation in action. Reconciliation Australia also independently monitors Australia's progress towards reconciliation.
A significant amount of funding for Reconciliation Australia comes from the BHP Foundation, the philanthropic branch of the mining giant BHP Group Limited.[13]
Recognition and awards[edit]
In 2019, Reconciliation Australia was the recipient of the UN Day Honour award, which recognises "individuals or organisations in Australia that have made a significant contribution to the aims and objectives of the UN, for example in promoting peace, respect for human rights, equal opportunities, social justice and environmental sustainability".[15]
Reconciliation Action Plans[edit]
In 2006 Prime Minister John Howard and Professor Mick Dodson launched the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) program, which was to be administered by Reconciliation Australia.[16] The initial focus was aimed at closing the gap in life expectancy between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the rest of the Australian population, and took in all sectors, ages, demographics and areas across the nation, but over the following decade it evolved into a "more holistic approach to empower and support positive outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people". The RAP program has been trademarked, and is administered by Reconciliation Australia, which works collaboratively with organisations of all kinds to
develop their RAPs in order to progress reconciliation in the workplace.[17]
RAPs consist of practical and structured plans for action within a workplace, based on relationships, respect and opportunities. They help people in the workplace to understand important issues relating to Indigenous Australians, and further meaningful engagement among groups. They also aim to increase equality in the workplace, and help to create sustainable employment opportunities. Four types of RAPS are available, depending on the how it best suits the organisation, known as Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate. The program helps to drive change within the organisation as well as providing further opportunities to collaborate with the RAP networks such as Reconciliation Industry Network Groups.[17]
An example of what may be in an organisation's RAP is to develop a procurement strategy that aims to source goods and services from
certified Indigenous businesses, through Supply Nation.[17][18]
The RAP program grew from eight organisations in 2006 to over 900 fully endorsed RAP programs by 2017.[17] A 2013 survey which included more than 350 Australian organisations that then had a RAP found that 71% of workers in these organisations trusted each other, compared with 13% in the wider population. Around 77% of the RAP-organisation employees pride in Indigenous cultures, compared to 51% of the wider population. Co-chair Tom Calma said that said RAPs were changing workplace culture and attitudes, and were providing a basis for significant economic and social improvements.[19]
As examples of large corporations with RAPs, KPMG put its first one into place in 2017 and is as of 2021 working off its second one, on the "Elevate" model;[20] while BORAL adopted their first plan in 2019, on the "Innovate" model.[21] Griffith University in Queensland adopted its first RAP in 2010.[22]
The Australian Reconciliation Network includes the following independently-run organisations, which organise activities and provide information:[23]