ABC Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan 2016–18 First report against the Plan, January–December 2016

February 2016

Introduction

This is the first annual report against the ABC Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan 2016–18. It covers the period from 1 January through 31 December 2016. The Plan is a Stretch RAP under Reconciliation ’s RISE (Reflect, Innovate, Stretch, Elevate) framework and commits the ABC to meeting targets that build on its successes in its first (2009–12) and second (2013–15) RAPs.

The Corporation has responded to the challenge of a Stretch RAP. All Actions have been achieved or are on track.

ABC divisions are taking new and more focused action in relation to Indigenous employment and content matters. For example, Regional and Commercial reviewed their activities during the first half of the year and developed strategies to increase Indigenous content and employment. The Radio Indigenous Reference Group (IRG) actively considered recruitment, retention and content. It also conducted an audit of all radio content during a week in August 2016 to understand the use of Indigenous talent and, as a result, took steps to broaden the range of Indigenous speakers and topics on radio programs.

The News division likewise continued work that it commenced in 2015 to examine the diversity of talent (experts, vox-pop interviewees, etc) in its stories, observing that active consideration of the question led to the inclusion of more Indigenous talent in stories. In September, the division held a facilitated two-day ABC News Indigenous Staff Summit. As a result of the Summit, the division committed to a range of actions in relation to stronger Indigenous coverage, personal and career development for Indigenous staff, and an improved workplace culture in the division. The outcomes will be incorporated into the KPIs of Senior Executives for 2017.

During the year, the Radio and News divisions created senior Indigenous editorial roles: an Editor of the Indigenous Radio Unit in RN, and an Indigenous Affairs Editor News. Alongside the established role of Head of Indigenous in ABC Television, these appointments mean that three of the four content divisions now have a senior editorial manager responsible for overseeing Indigenous programming.

Divisions and State/Territory branches worked on establishing or extending relationships with Indigenous communities and organisations. Likewise, divisions and branches built partnerships with a range of educational institutions in order to encourage Indigenous students to consider work at the ABC or in the wider media. This significantly reversed the decline in such engagement that followed the departure of the State and Territory Directors in mid-2015.

The Corporation’s Indigenous employment strategy continued to deliver outcomes. In December 2016, the ABC had 2.5% Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander employees. This successfully met the Corporation’s annual target of 2.5% and represents a significant increase on the 2% target that it was pursuing in 2014. In 2017, the ABC will pursue a higher target of 2.7%.

Likewise, the ABC continued to deliver a range of content by, for and about across all of its platforms, both domestic and international. A particular highlight was the launch of the major science-fiction television drama series .

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The ABC had a successful National Reconciliation Week 2016, with events in all of states and territories other than the Northern Territory, as well as a range of content recognising the week. Further, during the year, the Corporation declared NAIDOC Week to be a “tent pole” event that will be coordinated and promoted on a whole-of-ABC basis. A cross-divisional group collaborated on preparations for NAIDOC 2016 and the event was, for the first time, supported by a dedicated, multiplatform marketing campaign.

ABC Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan 2016–18 First report against the Plan, January–December 2016

This report covers the period from 1 January to 31 December 2016. The status of each initiative has been graded into one of four categories:

˜ Achieved/continuing ¢ On track/ p Not achieved/not ™ Pending (e.g. dependent on achievement developing on track a future event)

Relationships Respectful relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the broader Australian community are important to the ABC as the national broadcaster, as we aim to support reconciliation and engender a better understanding of our shared history.

1.1 Continue to support the Bonner Committee, the ABC’s Indigenous advisory group, which monitors and coordinates the ABC’s Reconciliation Action Plan. ˜ Action Leader Action Team Managing Director Director Corporate Affairs, Director ABC People, ABC Executive

Timeframe(s) Deliverables Quarterly n The Bonner Committee will meet at least four times each year, including two face-to-face meetings. n The Chair of the Bonner Committee will meet regularly with the Managing Director, including to discuss RAP implementation. June 2017 n Review the Bonner Committee biennially to ensure its effectiveness at providing wide representation, Indigenous networking and feedback to the Corporation.

The Bonner Committee held regular meetings on 10 February, 8 June, 8 August, 10 October and 12 December 2016. The Chair provided the Managing Director with advice on the matters considered by the Committee. The Committee was supported by its Secretariat.

In May 2016, the ABC welcomed a new Managing Director. The Managing Director attended the Committee’s August meeting to discuss the work of the Bonner Committee and its role in implementing her vision for a more diverse ABC.

During the year, triple j management sought advice from the Bonner Committee in relation to the date on which the annual Hottest 100 Countdown is held, and on appropriate Indigenous peak bodies, representative organisations and individuals to contact as part of a consultation process on the matter.

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1.2 Maintain formal groups at the divisional and state/territory branch level with responsibility for advancing reconciliation and relationships with Indigenous communities. ˜ Action Leader Action Team Divisional Directors, State/Territory Executives

Timeframe(s) Deliverables Each December n Ensure Divisional Indigenous Reference Groups (IRGs)/Diversity Groups (DGs) continue to meet and monitor progress towards divisional Indigenous employment strategies. n Ensure State and Territory Indigenous Working Groups (IWGs) continue to operate.

All divisions of the ABC maintain or participate in Diversity Groups, which include consideration of Indigenous matters within their remits. The Radio and Television divisions also maintain specific Indigenous Reference Groups. These groups continued to meet during the reporting period.

On 8–9 September, the News division held a facilitated ABC News Indigenous Staff Summit to examine coverage of Indigenous issues, the creation of personal and career development opportunities for Indigenous staff and the division’s workplace culture. As a result of the Summit, the News Executive committed to a range of actions in these three areas and agreed to incorporate those outcomes into the KPIs of News senior executives for 2017.

During 2016, the decision was taken not to reinstate the state and territory Indigenous Working Groups (IWGs), which had effectively lapsed following the departure of the ABC’s State and Territory Directors in mid-2015. Instead, the coordination of local activities around Indigenous recognition, recruitment and community development was added to the regular responsibilities of the State/Territory Executive in each capital-city branch.

1.3 Create further opportunities to build strategic partnerships and projects with Indigenous communities, peak bodies and other relevant external organisations, with a focus on regional opportunities. ˜ Action Leader Action Team State/Territory Executives, Bonner Committee Chair, IWGs, IRGs/DGs Divisional Directors

Timeframe(s) Deliverables Each January n Identify and develop a list of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations that ABC could build strategic partnerships with. Each December n Establish an additional two partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and/or external organisations. n Meet with an additional five Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, peak bodies and/or other related external organisations to explore potential future relationships.

During the year, a number of areas of the ABC worked to establish or develop relationships and projects with Indigenous communities and organisations:

— ABC Regional partnered with First Languages Australia to produce Local Station idents in Australian Indigenous languages. The idents are spoken in the Indigenous language(s) local to each station’s broadcast region. ABC Open Producers recorded sessions at three language conferences in Alice Springs, Gold Coast and Kalgoorlie, as well as additional idents and vox- pops for NAIDOC Week to be used by radio and TV teams on all platforms. In October, the Minister for Communications and the Arts, Senator the Hon. Mitch Fifield, launched new radio idents in Indigenous languages at the Artlands national Regional Arts Australia conference in Dubbo. At the end of 2016, 11 regional stations had produced clips.

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In addition, the partnership with First Languages Australia led to the Mother Tongue project, which received more than 90 contributions from Australians, representing 50 First Languages. Videos from the Mother Tongue project were screened at Puliima 2015, WANALA Aboriginal Language Conference 2016 in Kalgoorlie, on Federation Square Screens in Melbourne, and in the iview and Arts Channel collections.

ABC Regional also facilitated a partnership with Splash for First Languages Australia, the Marrin Gamu project, which encouraged schools to work with their local Indigenous community to translate the song “Marrin Gamu” into the first language of their area and record students singing it.

— ABC Regional and the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA) began a skills-transfer program for staff from the ABC and CAAMA in Alice Springs. The project began in the second half of 2016 and will conclude by March 2017. Under the program, ABC Alice Springs provides a professional development placement for an Indigenous content-maker employed by CAAMA, while an ABC employee has the opportunity to work with CAAMA. The first exchanges were very successful.

— The Local Manager in Victoria held partnership meetings with the Boon Wurrung Foundation, the Koorie Heritage Trust, the Illbijerri Theatre Company and the Foundation for Young Australians’ World of Work program.

— Members of the South Australian State Executive held meetings and attended forums with a wide variety of Indigenous government and community bodies, including Tandanya Cultural Centre, the organisers of the annual Indigenous Spirit Festival, SA Aboriginal Health, the Aboriginal Business Forum, Kaurna Warra Pintyanthi (Kaurna language program) at the University of Adelaide, and the SA Film Corporation in relation to Indigenous co-production opportunities.

— The Western Australian branch established new ties with the School of Indigenous Studies at the University of WA and formed a new partnership with the Department of Aboriginal Affairs to create exhibitions of Aboriginal Art in the foyer of the ABC offices in East . The current exhibition will run from November 2016 to March 2017. The Local Manager met with Generation One to discuss Indigenous employment, while the State Executive worked with the Aboriginal Workforce Development Centre and participated in the Deadly Jobs expo.

— The Tasmanian branch engaged with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC), the Tasmanian Regional Aboriginal Communities Alliance (TRACA) and the Recognise movement.

— The Digital Network division explored potential relationships with IDX (Indigenous Digital Excellence), which seeks to strengthen Indigenous participation, practice and entrepreneurship in the digital economy.

— The Director of ABC Commercial, who is also Executive Sponsor for the Northern Territory, explored opportunities to build strategic partnership with Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory.

— ABC News met with Shared Path Indigenous consultancy, which has assisted content creators in identifying subject-matter experts with Indigenous heritage for expert on-air commentary. Future opportunities to collaborate were discussed.

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— The Radio IRG held discussions with the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) in relation to training opportunities for Indigenous staff and with Koori Radio in Sydney about potential relationships.

— triple j Unearthed continued its partnership with the National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) in Darwin to support a competition looking for the best emerging Indigenous musical act in the country. The service also launched the first Unearthed High Indigenous Initiative in collaboration with APRA Songmakers and the NIMAs.

— Awaye! presenter Daniel Browning chaired a number of events at the Wheeler Centre in Melbourne, including a panel conversation about Aboriginal journalism in the digital age. He also judged the Victorian Premier’s Indigenous literary award and the Black and Write award for the State Library of , and was a guest lecturer at Sydney and Wollongong Universities on issues relating to media and cultural identity.

1.4 Provide opportunities for ABC staff to participate in National Reconciliation Week each year. ˜ Action Leader Action Team State/Territory Executives, Divisional Directors IWGs, IRGs/DGs

Timeframe(s) Deliverables 27 May – 3 June n Host eight or more Reconciliation Week activities—at least one in each division and or each year state/territory office. n Register Reconciliation Week events on Reconciliation Australia’s web site. n Deliver Reconciliation Week programming on ABC content platforms.

The ABC recognised National Reconciliation Week (NRW) 2016 across its schedule and through activities in the states and territories. ABC Radio created a dedicated, week-long “pop up” NRW radio station that was broadcast on digital radio and streamed online. Content on the pop-up station included: ’s 2015 speech and an interview with Mr Grant by ; a selection of ANU Reconciliation lectures, including Kevin Rudd’s 2015 speech; interviews from Speaking Out, including Auntie Elsie Heiss on reconciliation and the role of religion, and Andrew Meehan from ANTAR on the Sea of Hands initiative; historic archival material, including packages on the Freedom Rides, the Wave Hill Strike and subsequent land rights changes, the findings of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, and the Apology; a range of Indigenous music. The station also functioned as a training opportunity for less-experienced Indigenous staff.

All Radio networks also delivered greater levels of Indigenous programming during NRW. For example, each day of the week, the 774 ABC Melbourne Afternoons program with Clare Bowditch showcased the work of Indigenous musicians, including Alice Skye, Gawurra, Jessie Lloyd, Monica Weightman and Robert Champion. ABC Darwin covered the inaugural Garrmalang Festival, Darwin’s first multi-day Indigenous festival, which featured many performers from the Larrakia nation. On 936 ABC Hobart, Emma Lee from the Milythina Tiakanawarrana Aboriginal Corporation appeared on Breakfast at the beginning of NRW to speak about the importance of finding new ways to tell Aboriginal stories.

ABC Regional staff likewise created a range of content to mark NRW. Examples include a piece from ABC Far North on Indigenous nurses on Thursday Island, profiles of a member of the Stolen Generation and award-winning opera singer Deborah Cheetham, and an audio report on a visit to the Bulgandramine mission in NSW by a Cross-Media Reporter. Breakfast on ABC Kimberly featured live bands in the studio each day, including No Fixed Address and Mark Bin Barker, while ABC North and West in South Australia created a playlist of all-Indigenous music.

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The ABC invited employees to apply for funding to host their own NRW activities. A total of 11 applications were approved and all but one of the state and territory offices hosted an internal event in celebration of Reconciliation Week:

— The ACT branch joined with the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AITSIS) and members of the local Indigenous community for a tour of the ABC offices at Northbourne Avenue and AIATSIS, followed by a barbeque.

— ABC Tamworth held a lunch with members of the local Indigenous community to officially launch the Acknowledgment of Country plaque in the ABC Tamworth office.

— The NSW branch held a lunchtime barbeque and Indigenous trivia competition for all staff at the ABC Ultimo Centre in Sydney.

— Also in Ultimo, ABC Television held an all-staff exclusive screening of the first episode of the new series Cleverman, followed by a Q&A with the writer and members of the cast.

— The Queensland branch held morning tea at ABC for ABC staff, local Indigenous community members and students to extend networking opportunities and highlight career opportunities for students. The morning tea included a Welcome to Country and a performed by a local Traditional Owner.

— ABC Port Pirie held an afternoon tea for ABC staff and the local Indigenous community to celebrate the unveiling of the Nukunu Country Acknowledgement Plaque in the Port Pirie office.

— ABC Port Lincoln held a morning tea for ABC staff and local Indigenous community members to celebrate the unveiling of the Acknowledgment of Country plaque in the Port Lincoln office.

— The South Australian branch held a flag raising and smoking ceremony at the ABC’s Collinswood office in Adelaide, followed by a screening of a short film by SA Indigenous staff member Elton Rosas on Australia’s first Indigenous Governor, Pastor Sir Doug Nicholls, and a morning tea.

— The Tasmanian branch held a morning tea at ABC Hobart office for ABC staff, guests from the local Indigenous community and other representatives to extend networking opportunities and highlight the reconciliation journey.

— The Victorian branch held a morning tea at ABC Melbourne Southbank for ABC staff in celebration of Reconciliation Week. Unfortunately, a Welcome to Country and a smoking ceremony arranged for staff in the new Southbank offices had to be cancelled on the day due to illness.

— The Victorian branch also invited an Indigenous elder to conduct a Welcome to Country at ABC Melbourne Elsternwick and share local stories about the community.

— The Western Australian branch held a morning tea for staff and Indigenous employees from neighbouring government departments at the ABC Perth office to celebrate Reconciliation Week and the installation of an artwork by Indigenous artist Lena Nyadbi. Indigenous Art storyteller Ron Bradfield Jr. spoke at the event and guests were given a tour of the building following the morning tea.

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1.5 Raise internal and external awareness of the ABC RAP to promote reconciliation across the Corporation and sector. ˜ Action Leader Action Team Bonner Committee Chair, Director Corporate Affairs

Timeframe(s) Deliverables Each December n Promote reconciliation through ongoing active engagement with stakeholders. June 2016 n Communicate the ABC’s RAP to internal and external stakeholders.

The ABC promotes reconciliation in a number of ways, including as a member of the Media RING and through articles and content displayed on the Corporation’s website and intranet.

Following the formal launch of Stretch RAP by the Chairman of the ABC Board in February, the then Managing Director informed ABC staff of its adoption via his monthly all-staff newsletter in March. Printed copies of the new RAP were provided to the members of the ABC Executive and their IRGs/DGs for wider distribution within the Corporation.

The ABC’s commitments under the RAP are discussed at every divisional IRG/DG meeting.

The ABC promotes its RAP externally through a number of channels, including its careers website, as an element of recruitment advertisements and in stakeholder newsletters. The Head of Indigenous and Diversity Employment Manager speaks specifically about the ABC's reconciliation journey and successes when guest-speaking at events.

Throughout the year, Corporate Affairs met with a number of government departments to discuss Indigenous matters and to promote the ABC’s RAP. The Division supported and funded a joint stakeholder event with the Department of Aboriginal Affairs in Perth to promote Indigenous art and storytelling.

The Director of ABC Commercial presented the ABC’s Stretch RAP to the publishing team at Harper Collins, which publishes the ABC Books imprint, in order to raise the publishing team’s awareness of the Corporation’s commitments and encourage a higher proportion of publication of Indigenous titles.

1.6 Highlight ABC Indigenous achievement and activity within the ABC. ˜ Action Leader Action Team Director Corporate Affairs, Divisional Directors

Timeframe(s) Deliverables Each December n Develop internal and external communications to improve awareness of Indigenous achievement and activity in the ABC.

Thirteen articles relating to Indigenous achievement and activity in the ABC were published on the Intranet during the reporting period. The weekly Intranet feature The Ticker included articles about Indigenous staff members and internal initiatives, such as the Indigenous ABC News Cadetship. The Managing Director’s monthly newsletter carried stories highlighting Indigenous activities during NAIDOC and Reconciliation Weeks. Corporate Affairs promoted ABC Radio station idents in Indigenous languages in the ABC's corporate newsletter, which is distributed to external stakeholders. The Director of Radio regularly reported to all divisional staff on Indigenous activity, including National Reconciliation Week and the work of the Radio IRG, through the divisional “Turn It Up” newsletter.

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The regular News publication Backstory, which highlights the work of staff in the division, carried features on Indigenous Olle Scholar Bridget Brennan, Indigenous Darwin reporter Elliana Lawford’s coverage of the Wave Hill 50th anniversary and the ABC News Indigenous Staff Summit. The News Director shared the outcomes of the Indigenous Staff summit with a detailed email to attendees and another email to all news staff with an overview of the outcomes.

Respect Respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, cultures, land and history is important to the ABC because the ABC acknowledges the uniqueness and distinctiveness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and their rights to cultural expression.

2.1 Provide staff with ongoing access to training that enhances their knowledge and awareness of Australia’s Indigenous peoples, cultures and history. Action Leader Action Team Head of Indigenous and Diversity Employment ABC People

Timeframe(s) Deliverables ˜ Each December n Ensure all ABC employees have opportunities to participate in cultural training. ¢ Each January n Ensure 30% of staff complete the ABC’s Cultural Awareness workshop each year. n Ensure 30% of managers complete the ABC’s Cultural Awareness workshop each year. n Ensure all managers of Indigenous staff have completed the ABC’s Cultural Awareness tool and Employer Awareness workshop. ˜ December 2016 n Evaluate the effectiveness of the Cultural Awareness program through staff surveys and refine as required.

During the first half of the year, the Indigenous and Diversity Employment team completed work on the new Indigenous Cultural Awareness eLearning tool on the ABC Connect, an education program for all ABC staff which demonstrates the ABC's commitment to engaging with Indigenous cultures. The eLearning tool was formally launched during NAIDOC Week in July. It replaces the ABC’s previous Cultural Awareness program.

Following the launch of the eLearning tool, the team began delivering a new, accompanying Indigenous Cultural Awareness workshop across the Corporation. Access to the workshop was offered to staff through their divisions, with priority given to ensuring all managers of Indigenous staff had received the training. The workshops were delivered by the Head of Indigenous Employment and Diversity. The roll-out schedule for the workshops has been planned to meet or exceed the target of providing training to 30% of staff each year over the next three years.

At the end of 2016, a total of 223 ABC employees had completed the Indigenous Cultural Awareness workshop. Of those who had completed the training, 90% were a manager or supervisor of an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander employee.

Following the News Indigenous staff summit in September (see Action 1.2), the News Executive agreed that all members, including the Director, would undergo cultural awareness and unconscious bias training during the next 12 months and that this would be included in their 2017 KPIs. In addition, the Director, and where possible other members of the News Executive, will undertake a visit during the next 12 months to the community of an Indigenous staff member.

To evaluate and improve the workshops, the Indigenous and Diversity Employment team asked participants to provide feedback. In response to feedback received, the team made several changes to the workshops, including virtual delivery of training for employees located interstate and tailoring the content to suit the location and division the training was being delivered to.

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2.2 Use appropriate cultural protocols, including Acknowledgement of and/or Welcome to Country, at ABC events. ˜ Action Leader Action Team Director Corporate Affairs All staff

Timeframe(s) Deliverables Each December n Ensure the Indigenous protocols set out in the ABC’s policy on Indigenous Cultural Protocols at ABC Events are observed at all significant ABC events. n Continue to invite a Traditional Owner to provide a Welcome to Country at significant ABC events. n Continue to include an Acknowledgement of Country in the commencement of all public ABC events. December 2016 n Develop a list of key contacts for organising a Welcome to Country for all states in which the ABC operates.

Indigenous protocols were observed at all relevant events, consistent with the Corporation’s policy on Indigenous Cultural Protocols at ABC Events.

Corporate Affairs has developed an ABC Protocol Handbook, which includes guidance on Indigenous protocols such as Acknowledgment of Country and Welcome to Country.

2.3 Apply Indigenous Content editorial principles in content making. ˜ Action Leader Action Team Content Directors Ed Pols Group, Bonner Committee

Timeframe(s) Deliverables Each December n Ensure the principles set out in the Editorial Policies Guidance Note on Indigenous Content are included in editorial training in all content divisions.

A reference to the new Indigenous Content Guidance Note is included in the online editorial training course that is available to all staff, and information about the Guidance Note is included in face-to-face training at every opportunity.

Towards the end of the reporting period, the Editorial Policies division appointed a new Head of Training to coordinate training across all divisions in 2017. Those plans will include Indigenous guidance.

In late 2016, the Regional division created Regional Diversity Snapshots to provide its staff with a better understanding of the composition of audiences in different parts of Australia. As part of this exercise, Regional and Radio trainers were equipped to respond to questions as they occurred about Indigenous protocols and how to obtain information about them, with specific reference to the Guidance Note.

2.4 Recognise and participate in NAIDOC Week each year. ˜ Action Leader Action Team Content Directors, Director Marketing, Bonner ABC People (coordination), IWGs, IRGs/DGs Committee Chair, State/Territory Executives, Divisional Directors

Timeframe(s) Deliverables First week in July n Deliver and promote coordinated NAIDOC Week programming across ABC content each year platforms. n Provide opportunities for staff to participate in ABC NAIDOC activities, including flag raisings, across the country. n Organise at least one internal NAIDOC Week event in each state/territory office.

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In 2016, the ABC declared NAIDOC Week to be a “tent pole” event that will be planned and marketed in a coordinated, whole-of-ABC way each year. To manage the delivery of NAIDOC 2016, the Corporation assembled a cross-divisional team comprising representatives from all content divisions.

As in previous years, ABC Radio operated a pop-up radio station, ABC NAIDOC, throughout the week that featured a wide range of Indigenous programs, interviews and music. The station was available as a digital radio station in the mainland capital cities, and online through mobile apps and the ABC Radio website.

Local Radio began the week with a nationwide program, Songlines, that explored the meaning and cultural significance of Songlines via live interviews and talkback. The program was hosted by sports broadcaster and Gurrindji man Charlie King and Maree Yoelu, from the Daly River region in the Northern Territory. The Rhythm Divine on RN featured a profile of blind Yolngu musician Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu. On Wednesday, 6 July, triple j Breakfast was guest- hosted by Indigenous hip hop artists A.B. Original. The station also announced the winner of the triple j Unearthed National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) competition and welcomed previous NIMA winner Robbie Miller to the studio for Like a Version. Indigenous music featured on triple j Unearthed and Unearthed High throughout the week.

ABC Television ran a series of programs throughout the week, including an episode of Compass about the journey of Indigenous musician Vic Simms; the film on ABC3; an episode of Australian Story about filmmaker David Batty, who filmed the series and has a long history of making programs with and for Aboriginal people; the program Over represented: A Vice Special on Indigenous Incarceration with Rapper and Yorta-Yorta man on ABC2; and the finale of the science-fiction drama series Cleverman. Throughout the week, Television also ran a range of Indigenous repeat programming, including and episodes of Wild Kitchen, during the day.

Video-on-demand service iview featured a curated collection of Indigenous programming, including the series premiere of Black As, as well as every episode of Cleverman.

Throughout NAIDOC Week, the ABC Indigenous portal on ABC Online was reskinned with the “Our Focus” branding used for tent-pole events as an access point for curated multiplatform content.

ABC News broadcast live crosses and coverage of the National NAIDOC Awards on ABC News 24, as well as stories and articles on television, radio and online news. Weekend Breakfast ran a package entitled “Returning back to the bush” about Aboriginal Elders taking their children and grandchildren back to the bush to teach them about bush tucker and culture. Stories from regional Australia during the week included a piece from ABC Western Plains about a didgeridoo teacher from Brewarrina in Western New South Wales; a range of stories and crosses from an cross-media reporter travelling in Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands in remote north-west South Australia, including a profile of an APY language teacher; and a story for the 7pm News about the Yiramalay/Wesley Studio School in the Kimberley region of , which is a partnership between the local Bunuba community and Melbourne independent school Wesley College.

ABC News 24 ran a series of interstitial NAIDOC vignettes throughout the week and via social media platforms.

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The ABC’s education portal, Splash, launched the Indigenous language song competition in partnership with First Languages Australia, which encouraged schools to work with their local Indigenous community to translate the song “Marrin Gamu” into the first language of their area and record students singing it.

The Australia Plus international service ran a multilingual online feature about the history of cultural exchanges and trade between Indonesia’s Macassans and the Yolngu people of Arnhem Land.

To maximise awareness of the Corporation’s NAIDOC Week programming, ABC Audience and Marketing coordinated a series of promotions for NAIDOC 2016, including: providing signage to all ABC state and territory offices; a 30-second television promotion launched on 23 June directly after the broadcast of Cleverman; national 30-second radio promotions across ABC Radio networks from 30 June; a media release on 30 June; and the curated Our Focus NAIDOC Week website featuring key cross-platform content, which went live on 30 June. The division also prepared a 10-second radio sting for use after all NAIDOC-related content throughout the week; in-language station idents for metropolitan and regional radio stations; an internal pop-up message that would appear on the computer screens of all ABC staff on Monday, 4 July; and an extensive social media campaign.

2.5 Maintain the Indigenous site on the ABC Intranet to provide a unified source of information in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and issues. ˜ Action Leader Action Team Director Corporate Affairs Bonner Committee, ABC People, IRGs/DGs, All Divisions

Timeframe(s) Deliverables Each December n Regularly publish new articles and other content on the Indigenous site on the ABC Intranet. n Review existing content on the site regularly to ensure its continued currency and accuracy.

ABC People provides access to a set of unified employment information for Indigenous staff on the ABC Intranet. The pages were reviewed during the year and updated as required. At the end of the reporting period, options for expanding the information were being examined.

As noted in 1.6, above, a range of articles about Indigenous staff and activities were posted on the Intranet during the year.

2.6 Install signage and other physical recognition of the traditional owners of land and the contribution of Indigenous ABC staff in the public foyers and reception areas of ABC regional offices. ¢ Action Leader Action Team State/Territory Executives, Director Regional Facilities Managers

Timeframe(s) Deliverables December 2018 n Install Recognition of Country plaques in all ABC regional offices.

During the reporting period, the Regional division identified additional 12 offices in which to install Recognition of Country plaques, namely Newcastle and Broken Hill in New South Wales; Cairns and the Gold Coast in Queensland; Broome and Geraldton in Western Australia; Sale and Ballarat in Victoria; and Renmark, Mt Gambier, Port Lincoln and Port Pirie in South Australia. Staff in those offices engaged with local Indigenous communities in relation to the plaques.

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The Port Lincoln and Port Pirie Recognition plaques were unveiled during National Reconciliation Week (see 1.4, above).

Regional has selected a further 12 regional offices in which to install plaques during in the first half of 2017.

These installations are in addition to the nine Recognition of Country plaques installed in regional offices during the life of the previous RAP: Launceston in Tasmania; Albany in Western Australia; Alice Springs and Katherine in the Northern Territory; Mildura, Shepparton and Wodonga in Victoria; Tamworth in New South Wales; and Toowoomba in Queensland. By December 2018, Recognition of Country plaques will be installed in all ABC regional offices.

An Indigenous artwork was purchased for prominent display in the ABC Perth building. It was unveiled during National Reconciliation Week (see 1.4, above).

Opportunities—Employment and Supplier Diversity Opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, organisations and communities are important to the ABC as we strive to comprehensively and fairly reflect the cultural diversity and national identity of Australia.

3.1 Implement the ABC Indigenous Employment Strategy 2016–18. Action Leader Action Team Head of Indigenous and Diversity Employment Divisional Directors, All ABC Managers, Bonner Committee

Timeframe(s) Deliverables ˜ Each December n Report regularly to the ABC Executive on progress against the Indigenous Employment Strategy. n Review the Indigenous Employment Strategy each year to ensure its effectiveness. ™ December 2018 n Renew the Indigenous Employment Strategy alongside the RAP.

Throughout the reporting period, ABC divisions provided monthly reports to the Head of Indigenous and Diversity Employment on their activities and progress against the ABC Indigenous Employment Strategy 2016–18. Each quarter, the Head of Indigenous Employment reviewed progress against the Strategy with the Executive. The Executive were also provided with updates on changes to Indigenous employment at every meeting.

During the first half of 2016, the ABC Regional’s Diversity Group established a dedicated Working Group to identify means for increasing staff diversity in the division. The division adopted a new employment strategy for Indigenous and diverse employees and an accompanying Action Plan in late June 2016.

At the time of reporting, a review of the effectiveness of the Indigenous Employment Strategy was in progress.

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3.2 Progressively increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees at the ABC. ˜ Action Leader Action Team Divisional Directors, Hiring line managers IRGs/DGs, Bonner Committee, Indigenous Employment and Diversity Team

Timeframe(s) Deliverables Each December n Increase the proportion of Indigenous employees in the ABC workforce to: n at least 2.5% by the end of 2016 n at least 2.7% by the end of 2017 n at least 3.0% by the end of 2018.

At the end of December 2016, 2.5% of the ABC’s non-casual workforce were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander employees in line with the target.

3.3 Undertake activities to increase the number of Indigenous employees in content- making, editorial decision-making and management roles, particularly at a senior level. ˜ Action Leader Action Team Divisional Directors, Hiring line managers IRGs/DGs, Bonner Committee, Indigenous Employment and Diversity Team

Timeframe(s) Deliverables Each December n Increase the number of Indigenous employees in content-making, editorial decision-making and management roles. n Increase the number of Indigenous employees in such roles at a senior level. n Support those employees, including providing leadership training and mentoring.

At the end of 2016, 46 Indigenous employees were in content-making, editorial decision-making and/or management roles. Ten of these employees held roles at a senior level.

During the first half of the year, two Indigenous employees moved into senior positions—one each in Television and Radio. In October, News created and filled the new senior role of Indigenous Affairs Editor. Many Indigenous employees at senior levels have participated in the ABC leadership program; all have access to mentoring opportunities.

Following the Indigenous staff summit, News announced that it would create three new positions to support Indigenous coverage. In addition to the Indigenous Affairs Editor, who oversees planning and content co-ordination of all Indigenous coverage, News is recruiting a national Indigenous correspondent and an Indigenous digital producer/researcher. The division will also create a National Indigenous Coverage Team with staff identified in relevant state and territory newsrooms, Parliament House and in relevant program teams; it has allocated a central budget for travel and expenses to enable this coverage.

Late in the year, News also appointed Indigenous presenters to triple j Breakfast and the Canberra 7pm News.

During the year, Radio also provided content-making opportunities for a small number of Indigenous staff normally employed in other categories. The division hopes to convert at least one of these staff to content-making on an on-going basis.

The News division’s leadership and succession planning processes identified three key Indigenous editorial staff and a tailored leadership capability development plan was put in place for each of them. Senior Indigenous News staff who were given leadership training in the first half of the year led the working groups that organised the News Indigenous Staff Summit.

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As part of their development plans, Indigenous staff in News were provided with training opportunities: two attended the ABC-supported Foundations of Leadership course, two attended a skills extension at the Investigative Journalism Masterclass, one was allocated a mentor through the News division’s Mentoring Program and one was placed on a higher-duties secondment to develop their skills in investigative journalism.

ABC Regional provided training for an Indigenous content maker in Western Australia.

The Regional division’s Indigenous employment strategy, adopted in June 2016 (see 3.1, above), includes initiatives to support the professional development of staff and to identify opportunities for up-skilling and career advancement.

Behind the News hired and trained an Indigenous reporter who appeared in and narrated various BtN Newsbreak stories.

Digital Network provided mentoring and skill-shadowing opportunities for an Indigenous intern who has been with the division since January 2015.

3.4 Encourage awareness of potential careers at the ABC and in the wider media sector among Indigenous secondary and tertiary students. ˜ Action Leader Action Team State/Territory Executives, Head of Indigenous and Diversity IRGs/DGs Employment

Timeframe(s) Deliverables December 2018 n Increase the number of “pipeline” activities undertaken (e.g. work experience placements, representation at Indigenous careers expos and active strategic partnerships with schools, tertiary institutions and other relevant organisations).

ABC People, the content divisions and the State and Territory branches continued to develop strategic partnerships and working relationships with secondary and tertiary institutions in order to encourage awareness of possible careers at the ABC and in the wider media sector.

— The Corporation continued to partner with the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to offer placements through the Indigenous Cadetship Scheme. The ABC currently employs six Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander interns across the Corporation.

— The News Operations team in Darwin has formed a continuing relationship with the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education (BIITE). Key Indigenous ABC staff perform demonstrations of their work to students. Additionally, News Operations staff have attended the BIITE campus and talked with students about pathways to the ABC. During the reporting period, the Darwin Bureau accommodated three work-experience requests from Indigenous students.

— The Operations Group held meetings with the Nura Gili Centre for Indigenous Programs at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), and the Galuwa Engineering and IT Experience and the Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).

— In May, News Operations interviewed students from Charles Sturt University (CSU) for possible internships in the Canberra or Sydney newsrooms.

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— Operations also sent information about the ABC’s Technology Internship to an Indigenous student studying TV and Media at Northern Sydney TAFE contacted and offered work experience.

— News has created ongoing relationships with two partner high schools with high representation of Indigenous students, Matraville Sports High School (40% Aboriginal students) and Plumpton High School (6% Aboriginal and 30% Torres Strait Islander students). The division provides ongoing support to teachers and students across the key areas of leadership, media and communications, parent and community engagement, and professional development.

— ABC News has also developed an ongoing relationship with the La Perouse Indigenous Community via its work with Matraville Sports High School. Representatives of the division regularly attend the school to provide experiences to Indigenous students encouraging them to pursue a career in the media industry and ultimately the ABC.

— The News Training Manager has formed relationships with UNSW and Western Sydney University (WSU). She has spoken during lecture times at both universities and met with high- potential Indigenous students and provided them with casual, cadet or work experience opportunities at the ABC. News currently has three Indigenous casual or work-experience staff in the pipeline for permanent positions.

— The Darwin State Editor Cross established a partnership with the Clontarf Academy in Darwin, taking on a work experience student, who subsequently applied for an Indigenous Cadet Scholarship placement in the Darwin newsroom.

— News Operations staff in Adelaide partnered with TAFE SA to mentor Indigenous students in an Indigenous-identified camera-skills course. In Semester 1 of 2016, News staff helped students to create a video that was used to promote the work done by Indigenous staff at Monarto Zoo; this led to the creation of new Indigenous positions for women at the Zoo.

— The Tasmanian branch engaged with Claremont College to encourage students to pursue interests with work placements at ABC.

3.5 Provide career development planning support and opportunities for Indigenous employees. Action Leader Action Team Head of Indigenous and Diversity Employment, ABC People Learning Advisers, Divisional line Divisional Directors managers, Bonner Committee

Timeframe(s) Deliverables ˜ Each December n Provide all Indigenous staff with the opportunity to create a professional development plan upon commencement by the ABC. ¢ December 2018 n Ensure at least 70% of Indigenous staff have a professional development plan. n Develop succession plans in line with job and training plans for all Indigenous staff in senior content-making, editorial decision-making and management roles.

The Indigenous Employment and Diversity team regularly communicates with the ABC’s Indigenous staff. This includes offering opportunities for professional development planning and providing one-on-one sessions to assist employees with planning their career goals and actions needed to achieve their aspirations. All new Indigenous staff were encouraged to complete a professional development plan upon commencement by the ABC.

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At the end of 2016, 25% of Indigenous staff had a current professional development plan. The Indigenous Employment and Diversity team projects that the ABC will reach the 70% target by the end of 2018.

The development of succession plans for Indigenous staff in senior content-making, editorial decision-making and management roles is now generally undertaken and managed by ABC divisional managers.

As a result of the News Indigenous Staff Summit (see 1.2, above), News Executive performance agreements for 2017 will include KPIs for Indigenous retention and professional development.

3.6 Maximise retention of Indigenous employees. Action Leader Action Team Divisional Directors, Hiring line managers Indigenous Employment and Diversity Team, IRGs/DGs

Timeframe(s) Deliverables ˜ December 2016 n Review Indigenous staff retention framework and refine as required. ¢ December 2018 n Ensure at least 30% of Indigenous staff participating in a formal mentoring program. ˜ Each December n Ensure all pending staff exits referred to Divisional Directors and Managing Director. n Ensure all exiting Indigenous staff offered exit interviews; results discussed with Directors, Managing Director and, where necessary, the Executive.

During the year, the Indigenous Employment and Diversity team reviewed the staff retention framework during the year and found it to be fit for purpose.

Exit interviews are offered to all staff leaving the ABC and/or moving into a different position internally. The Head of Indigenous Employment and Diversity shares the results of such interviews with divisional managers and, if necessary, the Managing Director to assist with improving the ABC’s workplace for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees.

At the end of 2016, 13% of Indigenous staff were actively participating in the ABC’s mentoring program.

The Radio division identified the issues of cultural awareness, unconscious bias and cultural safety as key factors in maximising retention. It is seeking to ensure that managers—especially the direct managers of Indigenous staff—undertake cultural awareness training (see 2.1, above). The Radio and Regional Training Unit also began to incorporate “unconscious bias” material into general training courses.

ABC Regional’s Indigenous employment strategy, adopted in June 2016 (see 3.1, above), includes strategies for retaining existing Indigenous employees. The division provided a number of training opportunities for Indigenous staff and Regional managers worked with ABC People to ensure strategies are in place to retain Indigenous employees on short-term contracts.

The News Indigenous Staff Summit (see 1.2, above) included a panel discussion in which senior correspondents and producers discussed their careers and experience and encouraged Indigenous staff to seek their help and support. As a result of the Staff Summit, News Executive performance agreements for 2017 will include KPIs for Indigenous retention and professional development.

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3.7 Contribute to the growth of Indigenous employment opportunities in the wider media industry. Action Leader Action Team Content Directors, Head of Indigenous and Diversity Employment

Timeframe(s) Deliverables ˜ Each December n Report on the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons engaged externally as a result of ABC-funded television and other content productions. n Report on the number of Indigenous staff leaving the Corporation for media-sector jobs that draw on their ABC experience.

It has proved difficult to fully report on the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons engaged by external media companies as a result of ABC-funded productions, as the Corporation is dependent on external producers for the relevant information. Available figures for television productions that aired during the reporting period show that Black Comedy had 24 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cast members and 74 crew, Black As had three Indigenous cast and 10 crew, and seven Indigenous people worked on Destination Arnold.

During the year, six Indigenous employees left the ABC for positions within the media sector.

3.8 Increase opportunities for Indigenous suppliers to work with the ABC. Action Leader Action Team Chief Operating Officer, Director Business Services, Head of Indigenous and Diversity All Divisions Employment

Timeframe(s) Deliverables ˜ December 2016 n Review and revise the ABC’s policy on the use of Indigenous suppliers. ˜ Each December n Benchmark and increase number of procurement contracts with Indigenous suppliers with an objective of achieving 3% procurement from Indigenous suppliers by 2020 (excepting major technical and broadcast contracts).

The ABC became a member of Supply Nation in July 2016. In the second half of the year, the Corporation’s Procurement team worked with Supply Nation to develop capability, took advice on procurement policy and practice, and used the Supply Nation supplier database to identify appropriate Indigenous businesses for invitation or involvement in ABC tender opportunities.

For example, in light of the strong representation of facilities management suppliers in the Supply Nation member database, ABC Property was provided with information on potential Indigenous Suppliers to inform planning and alert lists for future national and state-specific facilities- management tenders.

The ABC worked its office supplies provider to bring the Muru Indigenous range of products into the catalogue that is available to ABC staff for purchasing.

During the year, the Operations Group also undertook a major review of the ABC’s approach to procurement. A new ABC Procurement Policy arising from that work was approved by the ABC Board in December 2016. The new Policy includes prominent recognition of the Corporation’s encouragement for Indigenous procurement. It is supported by new guidance notes, including specific guidance in relation to Indigenous procurement that refers to the ABC’s RAP targets, its Supply Nation membership and the tools available to ABC staff to identify Indigenous businesses that might be involved in ABC procurements.

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The ABC introduced updated tender templates that more prominently encourage the participation of Indigenous businesses in ABC tender opportunities, and notifications to appropriate Indigenous businesses when ABC tenders published on AusTender.

In the 2015–16 financial year, the ABC’s level of expenditure with Indigenous suppliers was 0.6%. This will provide a baseline for measuring future performance as the Corporation increases the number of contracts with Indigenous businesses.

Opportunities—Content Opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, organisations and communities are important to the ABC as we strive to comprehensively and fairly reflect the cultural diversity and national identity of Australia.

4.1 Demonstrate a stronger Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander presence in ABC content, including regional content, and in subsequent scheduling. ˜ Action Leader Action Team Content Directors, Director ABC Commercial Team

Timeframe(s) Deliverables Each December n Deliver television programs featuring Aboriginal and Torres Islander people, perspectives or issues. n Deliver radio content projects and/or activities featuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, perspectives or issues. n Deliver online and mobile content featuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, perspectives or issues. n Ensure 3% of Australian music on relevant radio networks is by Indigenous musicians. n Deliver content on international media services that features Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, perspectives or issues. n Deliver commercial products that feature Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, perspectives or issues.

During 2016, ABC Television delivered a total of 96 Indigenous programs and programs with segments explicitly covering Indigenous individuals, communities and/or issues across its television channels and the iview video-on-demand service. Of these, seven were made by Indigenous filmmakers (i.e. both the writer and director were Indigenous Australians): Black Comedy (Series 2), the science-fiction drama Cleverman, Black As, the documentary Destination Arnold, the short films Karroyul and Nan and a Whole Lot of Trouble, and the children’s drama Ready For This. The remainder were programs about Indigenous themes produced by others.

During the year, ABC Television’s Indigenous Department had 12 projects in development with Indigenous filmmakers, including the comedy-drama The Warriors, the docu-drama Blue Water Empire and a second series of science-fiction drama Cleverman.

Television documented a number of Indigenous talent and guests across a number of major genres, including arts, factual, drama, comedy, entertainment and children’s. They included: conversations involving an Indigenous film-maker and three Indigenous actors on Meet the Mavericks; the stories of two Indigenous celebrities on Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery; an Indigenous presenter, a guest presenter, a guest wildlife guide and three child participants on Play School; an Indigenous presenter on Bushwhacked!; an Indigenous co-presenter on I Can Change Your Mind about Recognition; four Indigenous panel guests on a Compass: Cleverman Special and a range of Indigenous subjects in of other Compass stories; panellists and interviewees on Q&A, Lateline and Hack Live; a range of speakers on the Indigenous episode of You Can’t Ask That; an Indigenous guest on The Weekly; two episodes of Back Roads from

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Indigenous communities (Thursday Island and Hermannsburg/Ntaria); and an Indigenous presenter on Over Represented: A Vice Special on Indigenous Incarceration.

A number of dramas and comedies featured Indigenous actors, including Black Comedy (30 actors), Cleverman (61 in a mix of lead and supporting roles), Ready For This (five lead + two supporting roles), Tomorrow When the War Began (one + one supporting), Karroyul (two leads), Nan and a Whole Lot of Trouble (three leads), Janet King (one lead), Rake (one supporting), Jack Irish (two supporting), DAFUQ? (one supporting; iview-only) and Wham Bam Thank You Mam (one).

The ABC’s video-on-demand platform iview carried a range of Indigenous content, including five programs or episodes commissioned specifically for the platform, a number of acquired programs and catch-up access to Indigenous programs broadcast on ABC television channels. The Back Roads program placed six digital-only extra programs on iview.

Behind the News aired 15 Indigenous stories (9.7%) out of 155 stories broadcast during the year, as well as three extended specials, “River Kids”, “Indigenous Issues” and “Australia”.

All Radio networks and stations report monthly on Indigenous content highlights. In June, for example, ABC Darwin content included coverage of the state funeral of Cyril Calippa (Rioli); a “Men’s Hour” interview with Michael Bell, Indigenous Liaison Officer at the Australian War Memorial, and Francis Hayes, Indigenous war veteran, discussing Indigenous servicemen in the Australian military; a story on the Tiwi Business Boot Camp, which aims to increase financial literacy and Indigenous-run local business opportunities on Tiwi Islands; and a live cross to celebrations of the unveiling of the bronze Matthias Ullungura statue on Bathurst Island. During the reporting period, ABC 702 Mornings with introduced a regular segment on Friday mornings called “Eora Nation”, in which she spoke with Indigenous talent from the Sydney region about issues of importance to the community.

On RN, Awaye! launched a national short series called “Word Up” which highlighted Aboriginal languages, including working with language teachers and speakers to appropriately represent community voices and honour their intellectual property. Earshot presented a two-part feature on Rottnest Island’s history as a prison for Indigenous men.

In August, ABC Darwin provided major coverage of the 50th anniversary of the Gurindji Walk Off at Wave Hill. In September, on the 25th anniversary of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, the Conversation Hour with Jon Faine looked back at the Commission’s report and asked what has improved since then and which recommendations have still not been implemented. In October, ABC Hobart provided extensive coverage of the formal State constitutional recognition of Aboriginal Tasmanians.

The Radio IRG developed an Indigenous experts contact list for use by program-makers. It also conducted an audit of all content during a week in August 2016. Results showed that, while Indigenous talent were being actively sought, it was only within a narrow band of occupations (especially artists and musicians) and only to talk on designated “Indigenous” issues. Editorial leaders were asked to consider the results and to make a great effort to use Indigenous speakers across a much broader range of topics. Among the ABCs music services, triple j strove to have regular on-air content focusing on Indigenous issues and perspectives, including seeking Indigenous talent with broad interests and expertise in many fields. It added a range of Indigenous artists to rotation. Indigenous gaming and

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technology expert Rae Johnston had a weekly segment on triple j Breakfast discussing trends and news in those areas.

Double J actively sourced music from Indigenous artists, increasing the level of Indigenous content in its playlist from 1% to 2% in the second half of 2016. The station’s flagship daytime program, Lunch with Myf, included feature interviews with Dan Sultan, Archie Roach, Wesley Enoch and East Journey. DoubleJ.net.au had music features, including a profile on Gawurra, coverage of the NIMAs and the Barunga Festival.

During November, ABC Classic FM presented Deborah Cheetham’s opera Pecan Summer as part of Australian Music Month. The work is the first full-length opera by an Australian Indigenous composer and was recorded live at a performance at the Sydney Opera House. The performance was also filmed by NITV; ABC Classic FM’s audio was used in this production.

ABC Local services in regional Australia carried a range of content for radio, online and mobile platforms featuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

In December 2016, ABC Regional launched a partnership with the National State Library Association (NSLA) called with Right Wrongs project. It will create a digital feature to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1967 referendum entitled “50 years, 50 voices, 50 stories”. The feature will be hosted by the ABC and be featured on the ABC Indigenous website during May and June 2017.

During the reporting period, ABC News delivered a wide range of stories about Indigenous issues. The various state and territory 7pm television News bulletins ran different numbers of stories: 92 in Adelaide, 63 in Brisbane, 36 in Canberra, 168 in Darwin, 27 in Hobart, 88 in Melbourne, 88 in Perth and 73 in Sydney. News noted an increase in the number of television news stories on Indigenous issues in the second half of the year as a result of the 4 Corners story on abuse at the Don Dale detention centre, riots in Kalgoorlie following an Indigenous teenager's death and controversy over a Bill Leak cartoon depicting an Indigenous father.

Similarly, the number of stories covering Indigenous issues in radio news bulletins across the ABC Radio networks varied, with 429 stories in Sydney and 487 in Melbourne and 975 stories in Darwin and 761 in Perth. During the first half of the year, the 24-hour radio news service NewsRadio aired 210 Indigenous stories, which roughly equates to seven hours of content dedicated to Indigenous issues in the six-month period. triple j News aired 113 stories focusing on Indigenous issues during the period.

ABC News Online published 1,513 items of Indigenous content, including 191 video clips and 161 audio clips. A highlight was an interactive Songlines map published in the first half od the year that had received over 12,000 visits at the end of June. In addition to that coverage, News digital also launched an Indigenous Affairs page in July that aggregates all content tagged as Indigenous.

On 8 May, the News Planning desk launched an eight-week Vote Compass project, one of the aims of which was to improve Indigenous representation on-air. The stories, which aired on ABC News 24 and 7pm News, used a combination of vox pops, case studies and expert commentary. For each topic, a preliminary list of potential talent was created in advance and Indigenous talent options were regularly discussed throughout the production of each story. Preliminary data demonstrated an increase in the representation of Indigenous peoples on air to 6.6%, which compares favourably to the 2% figure previously recorded in the News division’s 2015 annual on- air diversity analysis and exceeds the 2011 ABS Indigenous population estimate of 2.5%.

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With the help of the Aboriginal Interpreter Service in the Northern Territory, the ABC continues to produce an Indigenous-language News Service in Warlpiri, Yolngu Matha and Kriol. Three ABC news bulletins are recorded each week day for rebroadcast by Indigenous radio broadcasters and excerpts are aired on ABC Local Radio in Darwin.

ABC International’s multilingual team regularly produces and publishes content about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders, communities, issues and related policies. The Pacific (French and Tok Pisin) and Indonesian teams prioritise this content, reflecting strong audience interest in Australian Indigenous issues and people in those target markets. For example, in the second half of the year, the Radio Australia French site carried 60 stories with Indigenous elements or angles. In 2016, ABC International focused on relations between Yolngu (Arnhem Land) and Macassan (Indonesia) communities in special TV and online co-productions with Indonesian media partners. These stories will be showcased on television and online platforms across Indonesia, and Australia Plus platforms during July and August 2016. The AustraliaPlus digital content teams produced original digital stories for translation into multiple languages on topics such as Melbourne’s Indigenous history, and a trip by the AFL Indigenous Academy to China.

The Australia Plus Television international television service broadcast more than 20 programs/series that specifically focused on or included Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues. In particular, Australia Plus commissioned three short stories about the AFL Indigenous Academy’s trip to China. The service broadcast a number of ABC and acquired Indigenous documentaries, including Bush to Belly, Messages From Mungo, and First Contact (Series 1). The television service also takes news and current affairs and factual programs that cover Indigenous issues, including Four Corners, Australian Story and Kitchen Cabinet (series 5), and the acquired series Insight and Who Do You Think You Are (Series 6).

AustraliaPlus.com and RadioAustralia.net.au both published feeds of digital stories about Indigenous issues throughout the year, including on the Australia Plus Indonesia page and the Australia Plus China site.

During the year, ABC Commercial conducted an audit of the Indigenous products released over the previous three years and developed a strategic plan to increase the percentage of such products released year-on-year. The divisional Diversity Group will monitor progress against the strategy, while each relevant business unit is responsible for its implementation.

ABC Commercial distributed a number of Indigenous DVD products during the year, including 8MMM, Art + Soul (Series 1); Black Comedy (Series 1 and 2, and a combined box set), Bush Mechanics, Ready for This, Croke Island Exodus, The Gods of Wheat Street, Mabo and (Series 1, 2 and 3, and a Series 1–3 box set), and distributed a similar range of titles through electronic sell-through platforms, such as iTunes and Google Play.

Commercial likewise released a number of musical titles featuring Indigenous artists, story-telling, stories and history, including: Paul Grabowsky’s Nyilipidgi, which is the result of a decade-long collaboration with ceremonial musicians from the Wagilak people in Arnhem land; Desert Water by Indigenous musician Warren H. Williams and Dani Young; an audio-book of Salt Creek by Lucy Treloar; Conversations with Richard Fidler, which featured an interview with Stan Grant; the compilation album Play School: Celebrating 50 Years: Famous Friends, which features nursery rhymes and stories told by a range of artists and personalities, including Dan Sultan and Adam Goodes; the single Words Make The World Go Around, which was created for Indigenous Literacy Day and performed by the Gawura Indigenous School Choir, Josh Pyke, Justine Clarke

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and Indigenous soprano Deborah Cheetham; and the opera The Rabbits by Kate Miller-Heidke, Iain Grandage, Lally Katz and Opera Australia, which tells of the colonisation of Australia.

The division also licensed various audiovisual titles for carriage on Australian pay-TV and subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) platforms. Commercial licensed the rights to Black Comedy, Redfern Now and 8MMM to an international supplier of entertainment to cruise-ship companies, and 8MMM to a company that provides in-flight content to airlines around the globe. It licensed Redfern Now (Series 1) to Sky NZ.

4.2 Maximise audiences for Indigenous content and other initiatives through effective promotion. ˜ Action Leader Action Team Director Marketing, Content Directors

Timeframe(s) Deliverables Each December n Promote Indigenous content output, including through social media, and measure audiences. n Forward-promote Indigenous programming, including National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week, across program schedules, including in prime time. n Include Indigenous people, perspectives and issues in major content events (e.g. Mental As).

In 2016, ABC Audience and Marketing promoted a range of Indigenous television programs, including Cleverman, Black As, Satellite Boy, The Secret River (as part of a drama “binge”), Black Comedy, Redfern Now, Nan and a Whole Lot of Trouble, Karroyul, Ready For This and Over Represented: A Vice Special on Indigenous Incarceration.

The division forward-promoted Black Comedy (promo and lightbox), Cleverman (included transit and street posters, and paid Facebook campaign), Black As (iview promo and pre-rolls), Satellite Boy (within NAIDOC promos), the Vice Special (promo) and Ready For This (promo).

The division used its social media accounts to promote more than 10 Indigenous television programs, including Cleverman, Black Comedy, Redfern Now (Logie winners), Satellite Boy and several programs during NAIDOC Week.

ABC Television also promoted Cleverman extensively through its Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube accounts. It did 38 Cleverman-themed posts on Facebook alone, with the top most reaching more than 200,000 people. The series was also promoted through a paid Facebook campaign, with an estimated reach of 2.5 million.

Television hosted a Twitter Blue Room Q&A on 7 July with the Cleverman cast and creator. Tweets on the night of the Q&A reached over 200,000 users.

In June, Audience and Marketing launched a series of promotions for NAIDOC 2016, which the Corporation has declared an annual “tent pole” event (see 2.4, above). Six NAIDOC Week television programs were promoted through the ABC TV, ABC2 and ABC3 social media accounts, namely Black As, Australian Story, Nan and a Whole Lot of Trouble, Over Represented: A Vice Special on Indigenous Incarceration and The Story of Bran Nue Dae. NAIDOC Facebook posts reached approximately 25,000 people across the three accounts.

The ABC’s international television service, Australia Plus, promoted a range of Indigenous content, particularly before and during NAIDOC Week, and forward-promoted four programs. The service ran on-air promos for the documentaries Bush to Belly and Messages from Mungo, as

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well as a joint promotion in the week before NAIDOC Week, both in prime-time and off-peak. It likewise used social media to promote its NAIDOC Week programming.

ABC Commercial promoted the Indigenous music albums that its released during the period, Paul Grabowsky’s Nyilipidgi and Desert Water by Warren H. Williams and Dani Young (see 4.1, above).

4.3 Increase the number of Indigenous on-air presenters across all platforms. ˜ Action Leader Action Team Divisional Directors, Hiring line managers IRGs/DGs, Bonner Committee, Indigenous Employment and Diversity Team

Timeframe(s) Deliverables Each December n Increase Indigenous representation in on-air roles (20 regular presenters at 30 June 2015). n Ensure development plans are in place for all Indigenous on-air roles.

At the end of the reporting period, the ABC had 35 Indigenous employees on air on television and radio. A number of on-air presenters are employed on contracts and, as a result, are not included in the Corporation’s overall Indigenous employment statistics.

ABC Gippsland has an Indigenous co-host for the 10.00–11.00 am Local Radio program every Friday morning. During the year, an Indigenous presenter was introduced for the same program slot in Dubbo in New South Wales.

In early 2016, Professor Larissa Behrendt and singer Christine Anu took up radio presentation roles—on Speaking Out and ABC 702 Sydney Evenings, respectively. At the end of 2016, ABC Radio announced a number of expanded or additional roles Indigenous presenter roles for 2017.

News appointed Indigenous employees to roles presenting the triple j Breakfast and the Canberra 7pm News.

An Aboriginal reporter working on the children’s news programs Behind the News and BTN Newsbreak hosts the national daily news bulletin BTN Newsbreak on ABC Me twice each week.

All Indigenous employees are provided with the opportunity to complete a professional development plan. The Indigenous Employment and Diversity team is working with on-air employees to ensure they have a development plan in place.

4.4 Support the Indigenous community media sector. ˜ Action Leader Action Team Divisional Directors Indigenous Employment and Diversity Team

Timeframe(s) Deliverables Each December n Provide in-kind support, advice and, where appropriate, training to organisations in the Indigenous community media sector.

ABC Regional began a pilot skills-transfer program with CAAMA in mid-August (see 1.3, above). Under the program, ABC and CAAMA Staff members complete four one-week blocks working at each other’s organisation. ABC Regional intends to review the lessons from the pilot program with CAAMA in the hope of applying them to other partnerships with organisations in the community media sector across the country. Regional staff have already identified organisations in other states that they would like to partner with and support.

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triple j Unearthed established a partnership with Koori Radio in Sydney that included a number of students working at triple j as part of the Young, Black & Deadly program. A triple j engineer will assist Koori Radio with a recording studio audit to help maximise the benefit from their studio arrangement.

triple j has also developed an Indigenous media contact list and maintains regular contact to support cross-promotion of content on and from triple j.

ABC Radio senior management attended the Remote Indigenous Media Festival in Yirrkala in September to share information on career opportunities for Indigenous broadcasters within the ABC. Northern Territory Grandstand presenter Charlie King ran a sports commentary workshop at the event. Radio announced an Indigenous fellowship at the media festival; the successful applicant will undertake a month long placement with ABC Radio Darwin in March 2017. ABC Darwin has secured offers for other applicants to undertake placements in other ABC Radio locations around Australia.

In Western Australia, Radio maintained relationships with Noongar Radio, Goolarri Radio and Radio Mama.

The Editor of the Indigenous Radio Unit in RN, Lorena Allam, was a judge on community radio’s national documentary competition again in 2016, and mentored two Indigenous entrants, one from Dubbo and the other from Broome. She also taught Indigenous Certificate IV students in radio feature-making through the Community Media Training Organisation (CMTO).

Tracking Progress and Reporting

5.1 Monitor and report on progress against RAP commitments. ˜ Action Leader Action Team Bonner Committee Chair Bonner Committee

Timeframe(s) Deliverables Each February and July n Report to the ABC Executive on progress against RAP targets biannually. Each March and October n Publish external report on progress against RAP targets annually, including in the Equity and Diversity Report and Annual Report.

This report constitutes the first annual report on progress against the Stretch RAP targets. Data on the ABC’s progress against its RAP targets were included in the Annual Report 2015–16 and the ABC Equity and Diversity Report 2016.

The first biannual report against the RAP was completed in August.

5.2 Provide data to Reconciliation Australia on RAP progress. ˜ Action Leader Action Team Bonner Committee Chair Bonner Committee

Timeframe(s) Deliverables Each September n Provide RAP Impact Measurement Questionnaire responses to Reconciliation Australia.

The ABC responded to the 2016 RAP Impact Measurement Questionnaire.

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5.3 Refresh and update the ABC RAP. ™ Action Leader Action Team Bonner Committee Chair Bonner Committee

Timeframe(s) Deliverables May 2018 n Liaise with Reconciliation Australia on the preparation of the new RAP. December 2018 n RAP renewed.

Work on refreshing the RAP will commence in 2018.

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