Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan
November 2020 - December 2021 Our Business Get to know us
Hi there! We’re ViacomCBS Australia & New Zealand, and we’re a media company like no other. We deliver premium content to the Under 50s. Think drama, reality, comedy, podcasts, documentaries – we’ve got all the shows and content you love, living happily in our viewing playground. We deliver news differently, we tell stories and we invest in premium Australian content available on all platforms. We’re proud to house shows like The Project, Studio 10, Australian Survivor, I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, MasterChef Australia, The Amazing Race Australia, Have You Been Paying Attention?, The Masked Singer, The Bachelor Australia and The Bachelorette Australia, just to name a few. Our audience is curious, engaged, open-minded and young at heart. As the under 50’s network, we excel in the key demographics of 16 – 39s, 18 – 49s and 25-54s, delivering more top programs in these demographics than any other broadcaster. Our offering includes our linear channels 10, 10 Peach, 10 Bold and 10 Shake, our podcast platform 10 Speaks as well as our online platform 10 Play. Not to mention MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr and our relaunched streaming service Paramount+. So whether you dare to be Bold, you’re looking to Shake things up, ready to rock out with MTV or kick back with Nickelodeon, ViacomCBS has the content for every, and any, occasion. With close to 1000 permanent and 600 casual staff, we’ve got offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra, and have a national reach across the airwaves, and online. While the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees is not currently known, we’re committed to collecting this information and increasing employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as part of our RAP.
Reconciliation Action Plan 2 Our RAP
We’re leaders in delivering and creating premium content for all Australians. We believe we should use our voice to advocate a future of cultural understanding and inclusion with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. ViacomCBS Australia and New Zealand are developing a RAP to cement its commitment towards reconciliation with Australia’s First Peoples. Our aim is to use our unique platform as a media company to raise awareness, develop opportunities and celebrate the cultures and histories of First Nations Peoples. Over the 2020-21 RAP, we will build meaningful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, networks and education bodies, and promote reconciliation through internal and external stakeholders and within the media sector as a whole. Our Chief Content Officer & EVP, Beverley McGarvey, is committed to leading this for our company. In the coming year, we’re looking to expand our NAIDOC and National Reconciliation Week activities to celebrate and empower our First Nations peers and deliver content that acknowledges and champions the diverse histories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Our commitment to reconciliation will also be reflected in our content. An example of this includesThe Project’s in- depth coverage on deaths in custody and disproportionate incarceration rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. In 2021 we will air The First Inventors, a co-commission with National Indigenous Television (NITV), which will take viewers on a journey back through time – somewhere between 70,000 and 120,000 years ago – to a community in the midst of developing sophisticated stone tools, art, agriculture, irrigation and much more. As a multi-faceted media company, we are committed to utilising our platform as Australia works towards reconciliation. From celebrating First Nations cultures and histories to providing more education and employment opportunities, we are excited to partner with Reconciliation Australia and advocate for a more inclusive future.
Reconciliation Action Plan 3 Beverley McGarvey
Chief Content Officer & Executive Vice President ViacomCBS Australia & New Zealand
I would like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land. I would also like to pay my respects to Elders past and present. ViacomCBS Australia & New Zealand are proud to introduce its inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). We believe that First Nations Peoples should be equally empowered to share in the opportunities that exist within the wider community. As leaders in delivering and creating premium content for all Australians, we’re proud to use our voice to advocate a future of cultural understanding and inclusion with First Nations Peoples, as well as leverage our platform to work towards Reconciliation. We have a responsibility to drive this change, not only within our own organisation, but within society. We are committed to utilising our platforms to support and empower the next generation of Australians. Our RAP outlines our commitment to educating our community, demonstrating respect for First Nations People and embedding positive and sustainable cultural change. From celebrating First Nations cultures and histories to providing more education and employment opportunities, we are excited to partner with Reconciliation Australia and advocate for a more inclusive future. This is only the start of our reconciliation journey and I encourage all our employees, audience and business partners to support and adopt the initiatives we have identified in this document.
Reconciliation Action Plan 4 Karen Mundine Chief Executive Officer Reconciliation Australia
Reconciliation Australia welcomes ViacomCBS Australia and New Zealand to the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) program with the formal endorsement of its inaugural Reflect RAP. ViacomCBS Australia and New Zealand joins a network of more than 1,100 corporate, government, and not-for-profit organisations that have made a formal commitment to reconciliation through the RAP program. Since 2006, RAPs have provided a framework for organisations to leverage their structures and diverse spheres of influence to support the national reconciliation movement. The program’s potential for impact is greater than ever, with over 2.3 million people now working or studying in an organisation with a RAP. The four RAP types — Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate — allow RAP partners to continuously develop and strengthen reconciliation commitments in new ways. This Reflect RAP will lay the foundations, priming the workplace for future RAPs and reconciliation initiatives. The RAP program’s strength is its framework of relationships, respect, and opportunities, allowing an organisation to strategically set its reconciliation commitments in line with its own business objectives, for the most effective outcomes. These outcomes contribute towards the five dimensions of reconciliation: race relations; equality and equity; institutional integrity; unity; and historical acceptance. It is critical to not only uphold all five dimensions of reconciliation, but also increase awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, knowledge, and leadership across all sectors of Australian society. This Reflect RAP enables ViacomCBS Australia and New Zealand to deepen its understanding of its sphere of influence and the unique contribution it can make to lead progress across the five dimensions. Getting these first steps right will ensure the sustainability of future RAPs and reconciliation initiatives, and provide meaningful impact toward Australia’s reconciliation journey. Congratulations ViacomCBS Australia and New Zealand, welcome to the RAP program, and I look forward to following your reconciliation journey in the years to come.
Reconciliation Action Plan 5 Jade Dolman Artist
Jade is a Whadjuk/Balladong Nyoongar (Mother’s side), Eastern Arrernte (Father’s side) woman from Perth. She is a visual artist and remains connected to her culture through painting and family. She has a passion for making a change through art for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Her purpose is to highlight that all land is traditional country which our ancestors have practiced culture on for thousands of years. Her murals and public art are a contemporary continuation of traditional culture.
Connection, by Jade Dolman
Reconciliation Action Plan 6 Reconciliation Action Plan
Relationships
Action Deliverable Timeline Responsibilities
1. Establish and strengthen mutually beneficial Identify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders and December 2020 Human Resources Business Partner relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait organisations within our local area or sphere of influence. (HRBP) Islander stakeholders and organisations. Research best practice and principles that support partnerships January 2021 HRBP & Human Resources Advisor with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders and organisations. 2. Build relationships through celebrating Circulate Reconciliation Australia’s NRW resources and May 2021 Head of Communications National Reconciliation Week (NRW). reconciliation materials to our staff. RAP Working Group members to participate in an external NRW May 2021 RWG Chairperson event. Encourage and support staff and senior leaders to participate in May 2021 Chief Content Officer & EVP at least one external event to recognise and celebrate NRW.
3. Promote reconciliation through our sphere Develop a communication strategy to communicate our November 2020 Chief Content Officer & EVP of influence. commitment to reconciliation to all staff. Identify external stakeholders that our organisation can engage June 2021 RWG Chairperson with on our reconciliation journey Identify RAP and other like-minded organisations that we could July 2021 HRBP approach to collaborate with on our reconciliation journey.
4. Promote positive race relations through Research best practice and policies in areas of race relations and August 2021 Employee Relations Lead anti-discrimination strategies. anti-discrimination Conduct a review of HR policies and procedures to identify September 2021 Employee Relations Lead existing anti-discrimination provisions, and future needs. dsfg
Reconciliation Action Plan 7 Reconciliation Action Plan
Respect
Action Deliverable Timeline Responsibilities
5. Increase understanding, value and Develop a business case for increasing understanding, value and March 2021 RWG Chairperson recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, Islander cultures, histories, knowledge and histories, knowledge and rights within our organisation. rights through cultural learning. Conduct a review of cultural learning needs within our May 2021 Learning and Development Lead organisation. 6. Demonstrate respect to Aboriginal and Develop an understanding of the local Traditional Owners or April 2021 HRBP Torres Strait Islander peoples by observing Custodians of the lands and waters within our organisation’s cultural protocols. operational area. Invite local Traditional Owners or Custodians to provide a July 2021 RWG Chairperson Welcome to Country or other appropriate cultural protocol at one significant event at each office location. Increase staff’s understanding of the purpose and significance June 2021 behind cultural protocols, including Acknowledgement of Country RWG Chairperson and Welcome to Country protocols. 7. Build respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Raise awareness and share information amongst our staff about July 2021 Head of Communications/Chief Content Islander cultures and histories by celebrating the meaning of NAIDOC Week Office & EVP NAIDOC Week. Introduce our staff to NAIDOC Week by promoting external events July 2021 Chief Content Officer & EVP in our local area. RAP Working Group to participate in an external NAIDOC Week July 2021 RWG Chairperson event. 8. Demonstrate Respect to Aboriginal and Identify ways to promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander August 2021 Head of Programming & HRBP for Torres Strait Islander Peoples through our stories through our production and Media Streams. Content production and Media Streams.
Reconciliation Action Plan 8 Reconciliation Action Plan
Opportunities
Action Deliverable Timeline Responsibilities
9. Improve employment outcomes by Develop a business case for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander May 2021 Talent Acquisition Business Partner increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment within our organisation. recruitment, retention and professional development. Build understanding of current Aboriginal and Torres Strait April 2021 Talent Acquisition Business Partner Islander staffing to inform future employment and professional development opportunities. Engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff to consult June 2021 Talent Acquisition Business Partner on our recruitment, retention and professional development strategy. Develop and implement an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander December 2021 Talent Acquisition Business Partner recruitment, retention and professional development strategy. 10. Increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Develop a business case for procurement from Aboriginal and October 2021 VP Operations & Facilities Islander supplier diversity to support improved Torres Strait Islander owned businesses. economic and social outcomes. Investigate Supply Nation membership. October 2021 VP Operations & Facilities 11. Support educational opportunities and Identify stakeholders we can partner and consult with that are August 2021 Learning & Development Lead outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait working in this space. Islander students Investigate ways we can use our platform to highlight Aboriginal September 2021 Learning & Development Lead and Torres Strait Islander students, teachers and educational needs.
Reconciliation Action Plan 9 Reconciliation Action Plan
Governance
Action Deliverable Timeline Responsibilities
12. Establish and maintain an effective RAP Form a RWG to govern RAP implementation. January 2021 Human Resources & Executive Working Group (RWG) to drive governance of the Leadership Team (ELT) R AP. Draft a Terms of Reference for the RWG. April 2021 HRBP Establish Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation on March 2021 HRBP the RWG. 13. Provide appropriate support for effective Define resource needs for RAP implementation. December 2020 Human Resources VP (HR VP) & HRBP implementation of RAP commitments. Engage senior leaders in the delivery of RAP commitments. December 2020 HR VP Define appropriate systems and capability to track, measure and report on RAP commitments. March 2021 Head of Research and Insights
14. Build accountability and transparency Complete and submit the annual RAP Impact Measurement 30 September, 2021 RWG Chairperson through reporting RAP achievements, Questionnaire to Reconciliation Australia. challenges and learnings both internally and externally. Submit quarterly reports to ELT Jan/Mar/June/Oct 2021 RWG Chairperson 15. Continue our reconciliation journey by Register via Reconciliation Australia’s website to begin August 2021 HR Business Partner developing our next RAP. developing our next RAP.
Contact Details Helen Tran Human Resources Business Partner [email protected]
Reconciliation Action Plan 10 Connection The story behind the artwork
Connection - Using a national platform to connect Australians through story telling. Whether they’re stories of love, adventure, tragedy, food, reality or fiction. This piece is a collaboration between my Mum and me. Her artwork is within the yellow line and mine is around it. She did her painting around the time I was born and we both thought it would be lovely to collaborate on this artwork. The white line through the middle is Mum and me, connected from Perth to Sydney (rotated clockwise on the side is a map of Aus). The circles and lines are the waterways that run between us and nourish the land. The people on the outside are our family and friends framed by the flowers of the eucalyptus. Then there’s mum’s design from over 20 years ago which centres in the middle.
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