About

Our First Nations Listening Project launched in October 2023 and aims to build a stronger understanding of the perspectives of First Nations people living and working in the City of Canada Bay. To learn more about our Listening Project, visit https://collaborate.canadabay.nsw.gov.au/firstnati...

Throughout the project we held a series of meet ups, workshops and interviews. A summary of the topics discussed and the feedback received is below.

Help us draft our next RAP

We'd like to hear from our First Nations community and stakeholders to understand which areas of improvement we should prioritise when developing our next Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Over the next 12 months we will draft and refine an Innovate RAP which will be taken to Council for adoption in June 2025.

Take a look at what we've heard so far and provide your feedback via the form below. Other ways to provide feedback:

4 key areas for improvement

  • Community connection

    • There is a lack of connection and understanding of who lives here
    • Council needs to facilitate more opportunities for First Nations people to connect
    • Council needs to work with schools and other stakeholders


    Suggestions for Council:

      • Free venue hire/parking for First Nations people
      • Host regular get togethers/events for First Nations people
      • Have a regular drop-in space for First Nations people to use
      • Create an email list/newsletter to keep local Aboriginal people and stakeholders informed

  • Educational programs

    • Council needs to offer more cultural education programs for First Nations people and non-Indigenous people, outside of NAIDOC and Reconciliation Week
    • Programs need to be interactive, holistic and educate the community about how to look after the area


    Suggestions for Council:

    • Work with schools and neighbouring councils to deliver programs
    • Hold more events at libraries e.g. during school holidays
    • Deliver an educational program for teachers and educators
    • Deliver traditional land management programs

  • Council processes and First Nations consultation

    • Need better consultation with traditional land owners and to involve the community in decision making


    Suggestions for Council:

    • Create a catalogue of key stakeholders and invite them to provide feedback/guidance on projects
    • Improve understanding of cultural protocols amongst Council staff
    • Establish an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee

  • Celebrating Wangal history

    • Council should seek out Wangal histories and share them with the community
    • Wangal history should be celebrated through art, dual naming and signage


    Suggestions for Council:

    • Engage First Nations artists with current connections to the community/Country to deliver public art
    • Incorporate dual naming into planned Council upgrades or maintenance works
    • Install 'Welcome to Wangal Country' signs across the area
    • Hold truth telling sessions and invite Aboriginal authors to libraries to do author talks