Ipswich City CouncilIndigenous Community DevelopmentReconciliationThe development and implementation of an Ipswich City Council Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) incorporates the strategies and initiatives currently undertaken as core tasks by the Indigenous Australian Community Development Officer, as well as incorporating other best practice strategies.The RAP will be drafted incorporating 2006 Census Data, and information collected from Traditional Owners, and the wider Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community through a working group established to maximise the relevancy of the information, and positive ownership of the document for all stakeholders. The RAP will also be strategically aligned to Federal and State Government Policy, including ‘Closing the gap on Indigenous disadvantage: the challenge for Australia' and Council adopted Strategic documents. Reconciliation Australia have developed the framework for Reconciliation Action Plans as a means of continuing the process of reconciliation and ‘Closing the Gap': to close the 17-year gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Ipswich City Council adopted an Indigenous Accord in 1999 supporting Reconciliation Australia to build strong and vibrant communities, so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people could live by and practice cultural customs and traditions in the context of Australian law and to have these cultural customs and traditions acknowledged and respected. Ten years on, Reconciliation Australia have developed the framework for Reconciliation Action Plans as a means of continuing the process of reconciliation and ‘Closing the Gap' between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. As detailed previously, in January 2008, Council achieved an historic milestone with the signing of an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) with the traditional owners of the land. From this milestone for the Traditional Owners, the RAP will include all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Ipswich. Reconciliation is a process to support the ongoing commitment and dialogue between both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the wider community, and through this process, develop greater understanding and mutual respect. The success of reconciliation will be determined by the ability of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to overcome the injustices of the past and move forward as one community. The purpose of developing a RAP is to support both the Ipswich Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and Ipswich City Council on the journey to building a community that recognises and respects the rights of the first Australians and creates a place where they are respected and valued community members. A RAP that is developed in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will provide the community the opportunity to determine its own destiny and how best to achieve this. A RAP is a commitment by all parties to work together to meet the long term aspirations of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and build a strong and vibrant community. The proposed process for development of the RAP includes the establishment of a working group within a framework with a strong monitoring, reviewing and reporting process.
Please send completed Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group forms to Derek Kinchela, Indigenous Australian Community Development Officer.
By mail: PO Box 191 IPSWICH QLD 4305
Last Updated 22 Oct 2009 |
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