Reconciliation Action Plan: Reinforcing WCIG’s Values

Reconciliation is a vital process that recognises and addresses the historical and ongoing injustices Indigenous peoples face. In Australia, Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) have emerged as a strategic foundation to promote and reinforce a commitment to developing positive relationships and fostering understanding and respect between First Nations and non-Indigenous Australians. 

 In this blog, we explore what it means for WCIG to have a RAP and its importance in contributing to our mission of empowering disadvantaged people to achieve a meaningful role in society through providing employment assistance, training services and community development services.

Diversity: WCIG RAP embraces the diverse communities in which we work.

A RAP represents a meaningful acknowledgement of the historical experiences and ongoing struggles Indigenous people face. It recognises the pain, trauma, and dispossession inflicted upon Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. WCIG aims to demonstrate its commitment to building stronger relationships by embracing diversity and inclusivity, ensuring the voices and needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are met through employment and education opportunities.  

Relationships: WCIG RAP represents the importance of its relationships with Indigenous communities.

WCIG is committed to improving its relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our community and the various organisations which partner with us. A RAP allows WCIG to engage in genuine consultation and collaboration with Indigenous communities in the areas we provide our services. We want to create opportunities for our Indigenous employees and stakeholders to participate in decision-making processes ensuring new initiatives and programs are culturally sensitive. Through this involvement, Indigenous individuals will gain a sense of ownership, leading to greater empowerment and the breakdown of systematic barriers. 

Advocacy: WCIG RAP advocates for equality and ‘Closing the Gap’:

Indigenous cultures are rich, diverse, and integral to Australia’s identity. A RAP highlights the importance of cultural preservation and promotion, ensuring that Indigenous traditions, languages, and knowledge are valued and celebrated. 

 WCIG RAP will strengthen the organisation’s support towards closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Using the RAP framework, we commit to achieving equality by including Indigenous cultural practices, etiquettes, and engagement considerations in the various services WCIG offers, giving our current and future Indigenous participants a sense of pride and identity. 

Innovation: WCIG RAP leads by example:

WCIG’s RAP will be instrumental in sending a powerful message to our stakeholders that we are resolute in supporting reconciliation and social justice. We want to lead by example and inspire our staff, participants, and other stakeholders to join us in taking action to drive positive change throughout the communities in which we work.

Optimism: WCIG RAP empowers Indigenous communities.

Indigenous people in Australia face significant disparities in education, employment, health, and socioeconomic outcomes. We aim to demonstrate our commitment to implementing initiatives that address these disparities and strengthen the resilience within the Indigenous communities, such as targeted employment and training programs and culturally appropriate services. 

The RAP also allows WCIG to support the ongoing development of its partnerships and initiatives with Indigenous businesses and traditional practices and create more opportunities for economic development and cultural preservation. 

 Staff: WCIG promotes healing and reconciliation:

From an Indigenous perspective, WCIG’s RAP represents a significant step towards healing and reconciliation. It represents WCIG’s willingness to acknowledge past injustices, work towards understanding and build positive relationships based on mutual respect and trust. Through cultural awareness programs, cross-cultural training and meaningful engagement, a RAP provides a platform for Indigenous and non-Indigenous employees to come together, share stories and learn from one another. 

“As an Indigenous Australian, I truly believe RAPs allow us to be heard and understood; many of us have watched the generations before us work hard for recognition and receive little back. Yet here we are being more and more heard as we expose our past and teach the generations around us. WCIG’s RAP will give us a framework for myself and my colleagues to be part of something bigger and welcome understanding and respect to our first nations Australians past, present and future,” Ellara N, WCIG Customer Service Officer and Indigenous Member of the Kamillaroi mob. 

For WCIG embracing a RAP is not only a symbolic gesture but a genuine commitment to fostering cultural preservation, promoting equality, and empowering Indigenous communities. By reflecting on the diversity of our community, strengthening relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, closing the gap, leading by example, and empowering Indigenous communities, WCIG can deliver more inclusive programs in education and employment. Implementing a RAP creates opportunities for collaboration, healing, and positive change. It is essential in the ongoing journey towards justice, understanding, and a more equitable society for all.

.