Reconciliation Australia’s RAP Framework provides organisations with a structured approach to advance reconciliation. There are four different types of RAP that an organisation can develop: Reflect, Innovate, Stretch & Elevate. Each type of RAP is designed to suit an organisation at different stages of their reconciliation journey and reflects a process that is not linear in nature.

The City of Canada Bay decided to start our RAP journey with a Reflect RAP, giving us time to build relationships, listen to our community, and establish solid foundations for growth and increasing ambition.

The City of Canada Bay Council is developing a Reconciliation Action Plan to prioritise and progress reconciliation in our local area. As a local Council, we serve our community, and have a responsibility to recognise and promote the dual history of our area, celebrate contemporary First Nations cultures, and support the oldest surviving cultures in the world. We also want to focus on how we better deliver services and build connection and trust with our local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities - with each other, with Council, and with the non-Indigenous community. The City of Canada Bay is seeking to raise our ambition for reconciliation; recognising the past while working together to build a future of shared respect.

There are four categories of actions in the plan; relationships, respect, opportunities and governance. You can read all the actions in the document below.

The RAP has 15 actions themes of relationships, respect, and opportunities. The implementation of over 50 deliverables will support the City of Canada Bay down the path of reconciliation and provide the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities with support, assistance, and opportunities in meeting challenges into the future.

Council looks forward to working with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to advance reconciliation across the City of Canada Bay.

A key part of our Reflect RAP is building relationships with First Nations community, and investigating cultural and educational programs for the whole community. We want to connect with our Indigenous and non-Indigenous community to foster stronger connections across the City, and as a first step, we encourage you to read the RAP and provide any thoughts or ideas you have below. You can also sign up to receive ongoing updates in the below form.

"Reconciliation Australia was established in 2001 and is the lead body for reconciliation in the nation.

We are an independent not-for-profit organisation which promotes and facilitates reconciliation by building relationships, respect and trust between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Reconciliation Australia focuses on influencing organisations, people and policies.

Our purpose is to inspire and enable all Australians to contribute to the reconciliation of the nation.

Our vision is for a just, equitable and reconciled Australia."

Read more about reconciliation here: https://www.reconciliation.org.au/reconciliation/w...

An internal working group was formed in response to staff and community requests for Council to focus on how we can contribute to reconciliation's progress in our community.

From there, Council:

• Approached Reconciliation Australia to assist in the drafting of our first RAP
• Consulted First Nations peoples and organisations to understand key priorities and practical actions Council can take - via a round table discussion, social meet ups/yarn ups, conversations with individuals, and discussions with bordering Councils
• Next, Council's RAP Working Group gathered information on what Council already does across our organisation to celebrate, acknowledge

As part of the development of the RAP, Council staff conducted a review of Council programs, policies and activities already happening around reconciliation. This can be viewed on page 10 of the draft RAP on this page. It is also available to download here.

At the April 2023 Council Meeting, Council endorsed a Notice of Motion to support the Uluru Statement from the Heart and constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through a voice to parliament.

You can view the meeting here (1hr03min05 to 1hr26min30)