Reconciliation Australia Annual Review 2014-15
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Annual Review 2014-15 Contents Our vision is for everyone to wake Co-Chairs’ message 3 to a reconciled, just and equitable CEO report 4 Australia. Our aim is to inspire and Reconciliation Action Plans 6 enable all Australians to contribute to reconciliation and break down Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Schools and Early Learning 8 stereotypes and discrimination. National Reconciliation Week 2015 10 We will know we have achieved Indigenous Governance Awards 12 our vision when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture Recognise: Constitutional Recognition 14 and rights are a proud part of our Research 16 everyday life. Partnerships 18 Garma Festival 2014 and 2015 20 Financial summary 22 Our supporters 24 Karen Oldaker of Medibank with Reconciliation Australia Board Director Djapirri Mununggirritj at the 2015 Garma Festival. Image by Reconciliation Australia. 1 Co-Chairs’ message In 2015, we have achieved much that we This year, Reconciliation Australia has played an Since our last Annual Review, there have been a can be proud of. Our programs and initiatives important role in engaging in the national debate few changes to Board membership. In December continue to grow and evolve, providing on reconciliation and influencing political decision 2014, the Board farewelled Mr Fred Chaney AO, after making. We made statements and submissions almost 15 years of service. On behalf of the Board, sustainable and meaningful opportunities for on the proposed closure of remote Aboriginal we would like to acknowledge and thank Fred for his Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. communities in Western Australia; constitutional tireless support for and contribution to reconciliation Notably, our more than 600 Reconciliation recognition; cuts to Aboriginal legal services; in Australia, both through Reconciliation Australia Action Plan (RAP) partners have an incredible Indigenous Advancement Strategy funding; outcomes and more broadly. In June 2015, we welcomed his collective impact on Aboriginal and Torres of the Close the Gap report; the Federal Budget and replacement, Mr Bill Lawson AM. Bill is a retired racism in sport. We were very pleased to see funding Strait Islander employment and business, as engineer from Tasmania who, over the past 15 cuts to Aboriginal legal services reversed and no new years, has become increasingly involved in Aboriginal well as building respect and understanding cuts to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs and Torres Strait Islander issues. In 2011, Bill was within their organisations and beyond. The announced in the 2015 Federal Budget. appointed to the Prime Minister’s Expert Panel for RAP program is now led by more than a constitutional recognition of First Australians. In dozen Elevate RAP organisations, who have We were also pleased to see the Federal Government September, the Board also welcomed Mr Glen Kelly, make progress on a referendum to recognise taken their RAP commitments to the highest the former CEO of South West Aboriginal Land and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in Sea Council. Both Bill and Glen bring a wealth of order and have embedded reconciliation in all our Constitution. Several of our Board Directors and knowledge and experience to Reconciliation Australia. that they do. our CEO Justin Mohamed attended the historic July Indigenous Leaders meeting with The Hon Tony We are incredibly grateful for the tremendous efforts Abbott MP and The Hon Bill Shorten MP to discuss and professionalism of the team at Reconciliation the next steps for constitutional recognition. We Australia and Recognise, without whom these are now looking forward to the new Prime Minister achievements would not be possible. conducting further consultation with the community as we pave the way for a referendum in the near Finally, we would like to thank all of our dedicated future. Meanwhile, our Recognise Campaign supporters and partners who work tirelessly to help continues to build momentum and support for us reach our vision for reconciliation. Together we are constitutional recognition across the nation. In 2015, bringing about the social change needed to improve many of Australia’s corporate and not-for-profit the social and economic wellbeing of Aboriginal and leaders, including BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and the NRL, Torres Strait Islander peoples. announced their official support for Recognise. Professor Tom Calma AO Ms Melinda Cilento Reconciliation Australia Co-Chairs Professor Tom Calma AO and Ms Melinda Cilento. Image by Joseph Mayers. 2 3 CEO report When I took on the role of CEO of In National Reconciliation Week (NRW), we engaged Reconciliation Australia at the end of 2014, more Australians than ever, with a record 1,128 I knew it was a great opportunity to continue registered events held across the country. The week began with our national launch at Dreamworld’s the work I started in my early career in health Corroboree, where we were joined by many of our and juvenile justice to create a stronger supporters, including The Hon Tony Abbott MP, Aboriginal nation. This has certainly been via video message, Senator the Hon Nigel Scullion true of my first 12 months at Reconciliation and Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt MP. As part of Australia, where I have been able to advocate NRW, we held our Sing Loud! competition with The for improved outcomes for our people and for Veronicas and Shellie Morris judging the 40 inspiring entries from workplaces, communities and schools. an increased understanding of our cultures and shared histories. In 2015, we continued our work to build a vocal, bold and loyal community of partners and supporters As you will read in the pages that follow, the RAP who will stand alongside us on the journey toward program is in its ninth year and creating a greater reconciliation. In July, I was very proud to see impact each year as the program grows. This was the nation, led by many of our RAP partners and reflected in our latest RAP Impact Measurement supporters, stand up to racism following the taunts of Report, which revealed that RAP organisations AFL great Adam Goodes. At the same time that our have collectively employed 29,500 Aboriginal and partners were speaking out on this, Reconciliation Torres Strait Islander Australians and purchased $20 Australia hosted a group of senior leaders from million worth of goods and services from Supply prominent Australian corporate and Aboriginal-led Nation certified businesses. Also, our Australian organisations at the Garma Festival in Arnhem Land. Reconciliation Barometer showed the positive impact The group shared stories of language, culture and RAPs are having on attitudes and behaviours in community and many publicly stood in solidarity workplaces and communities. with Adam Goodes. It is extremely heartening to see committed CEOs prepared to use the reputation of This year we took another step forward in building their businesses and organisations to set the bar for reconciliation among the next generation with the reconciliation in Australia. official launch of our Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Schools and Early Learning program in May. I am very proud of all that we have achieved this year The launch event was held at Taoundi College and and sincerely thank our Board and our hard working highlighted elements of the program, including the staff for their contribution to our success. I know online RAP developer, which is now used by we are all looking forward to making an even bigger 300 schools and early learning services. impact in 2016 as we work toward a reconciled, just and equitable Australia. Reconciliation Australia Chief Executive Officer Justin Mohamed. Mr Justin Mohamed Image by Hilary Wardhaugh. 4 5 Reconciliation Action Plans Our RAP program continues to inspire As part of 2015 NRW celebrations, we launched Australian organisations in all sectors and at all our latest RAP Impact Measurement report. The levels, to take their place on the reconciliation report revealed that our RAP program partners are continuing to drive impressive change to contribute journey. Our community of diverse RAP to the social and economic wellbeing of Aboriginal organisations are successfully taking action and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Since the to build strong relationships and enhanced beginning of the RAP program, the RAP community respect between the wider community and has collectively employed 29,500 Aboriginal and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Torres Strait Islander Australians and purchased $20 million worth of goods and services from Supply The past year has seen the RAP program grow to Nation accredited businesses. Importantly, the impact more than 600 organisations, with another 500 in of the RAP program extends beyond employment and development. In 2015, we welcomed more than business, with RAP organisations having contributed 100 new RAP partners and eight new Elevate RAP $55 million towards education scholarships for partners, including Sodexo, Brierty, Crown Resorts, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and $42 Telstra, Herbert Smith Freehills, Richmond Football million worth of pro-bono support. Club, Department of Human Services and Qantas. RAPs are also continuing to help organisations create These new Elevate organisations, along with our a culture that values and respects the contributions existing Elevate RAP partners, are at the forefront of of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples the RAP program and have taken their reconciliation and transforms attitudes and workplace cultures. obligations to the highest level. We look forward to Our 2014 Australian Reconciliation Barometer, working with all of our Elevate partners in 2016 to released in September, showed that compared to lead reconciliation action and motivate others to the general community, people who work in RAP get involved. organisations are far less prejudiced, trust each other In 2015, we have had strong engagement with the more, and enjoy more frequent interaction. RAP program from the not-for-profit sector, as well as In August 2015, we launched an updated version of the corporate sector.