Reconciliation Action Plan June 2021-June 2022 THE AOC VISION FOR Acknowledgement Contents Reconciliation of Country ALL AUSTRALIAN’S INSPIRED BY THE SPIRIT OF OLYMPIC SPORT. The AOC has renewed its commitment to establishing sustainable practices and programs that actively lead to reconciliation, through the power of The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) The AOC Vision for Reconciliation 3 Australian Olympic Committee Constitution, Objective 6.6 3 sport, for the benefit of Indigenous acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. peoples of this nation. Message from the President 4 Message from the Chief Executive Officer 5 We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of all Message from the Chair 6 the lands on which we are located on. We pay our Message from Reconciliation Australia 7 respects to ancestors and Elders, past and present. Australia’s Indigenous Olympians 8 Signifiicance of the Art 9 We celebrate and honour all of our Aboriginal and THE AOC CONSTITUTION, Our Organisation 10 Torres Strait Islander Olympians past and present. Our Reconciliation Action Plan 12 The Australian Olympic Committee is committed Our Reconciliation Journey 16 Objective 6.6 Partnerships and Current Activities 20 to honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ‘to recognise the heritage, culture and Relationships 22 peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual relationships contributions of our Nation’s First to the land, waters and seas and their rich Respect 24 Opportunities 27 people and to give practical support to contribution to society and sport. Governance 29 the issue of Indigenous reconciliation Contact 32 through sport’ MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT, MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE John Coates AC Matt Carroll AM It is with great pride that the “To recognise the heritage, culture and Games athlete when he competed in As we take our first steps on this RAP The AOC is uniquely placed By undertaking our RAP journey, we can Our RAP will allow the AOC to expand Indigenous students. contribution of our Nation’s First people figure skating in PyeongChang, South journey, the AOC acknowledges the truly fulfil that role. We are committed the real support we can provide, building Australian Olympic Committee to give practical support to The AOC believes Olympians themselves and give practical support to the issue of Korea. wonderful contribution made by our to accelerating the integration of the on existing programs and opportunities. have a significant role to play in advancing (AOC) launches its first Indigenous reconciliation through sport.” Indigenous Olympians. Indigenous reconciliation Olympic movement into Aboriginal and Samantha Riley OAM became the first The award-winning Olympics Unleashed reconciliation. In 2020, an initiative of the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). through sport. Torres Strait Island communities and This initial RAP is an important further Indigenous athlete to win an Olympic Their example has inspired future program has taken Olympians into IAC and the AOC Athletes’ Commission equally ensuring Indigenous culture The AOC is determined to take step in our journey to act upon the medal when she won bronze at the generations, Indigenous and non- Our Members are 33 summer Indigenous communities motivating led to the first Indigenous Forum, held and traditions are cherished within the commitment we made with that Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992 in the Indigenous alike. As we prepare our Team school children about goal-setting, on-line. meaningful action to improve sports and seven winter sports. Olympic movement. constitutional change. 100-metre breaststroke. for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in finding their passion and inspiring the lives of our First Nations Our role not only commits us The “Walk with Us” forum held in November 2021, we know our Australian Team will To this end, we have established an them to be their personal best. These We know that sport has the power to Appropriately, the Sydney 2000 Torch 2020 was designed to educate Olympians peoples. In 2015 we changed take with them a celebration of Aboriginal to providing athletes within Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC), visits include remote locations such as heal and unite. Catherine Freeman’s Relay began its journey from Uluru in and athletes aspiring to the Tokyo Games on our constitution to reflect that and Torres Strait Islander cultures and those sports the opportunity chaired by Olympian Patrick Johnson Aurukun, Mornington Island, Moe and victory in the 400-metres at the Sydney the presence of Uluru’s Pitjantjatjara Indigenous history, culture, issues and the traditions. OLY, to provide advice and direction. Saibai Islands in the Torres Strait. ambition. 2000 Olympic Games is a shimmering traditional owners. to excel at the Olympic Games, challenges of reconciliation. example of that power. This inaugural RAP marks an important we are tasked with promoting Our Indigenous strategy will allow us to Olympians have also been prominent Our first Indigenous gold medallist The AOC is aware that reconciliation milestone for the AOC. My thanks to the values of Olympism and pursue opportunities fostering health in support of the Indigenous Marathon Catherine is one of 52 proud Indigenous Nova Peris, in bare feet, ran the first leg requires a commitment to meaningful, Reconciliation Australia for their help and and wellbeing in Indigenous communities Project, founded by Robert De Castella athletes who have represented their of a 27,000-kilometre journey which promoting the benefits of sport sustainable and practical initiatives for guidance as we walk together. through sport, growing Indigenous AO MBE (four-time Olympian) which country as Olympians, competing in finished at Sydney Olympic Park on the to all Australians. our Indigenous communities. This Reflect representation in Australian Olympic promotes the health benefits of running 14 sports. traditional lands of the Wann clan, known RAP further commits us to that path. I Teams, developing career opportunities and walking in communities. The highlight as the Wann-gal.. Catherine Freeman would like to thank all who have worked In a generation before her, Michael Ah in sport, ensuring our protocols cherish for Olympians has been participating in the took the final steps to light the Olympic hard to bring us to this point, including Matt (basketball), Adrian Blair (boxing) and Indigenous culture and customs as well as Deadly Fun Run relay around Uluru each cauldron to complete that great journey. the members of the IAC whose support Francis Roberts (boxing) became our first work alongside organisations which assist year. The AOC has also been working with and advice has been generous and Indigenous Olympians at the 1964 Tokyo Indigenous communities. the Cathy Freeman Foundation in recent indispensable. Olympic Games. In 2018, Harley Windsor years in support of efforts to broaden became our first Indigenous Winter the educational horizons for young 4 5 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR, MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, AOC INDIGENOUS ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECONCILIATION AUSTRALIA Patrick Johnson OLY Karen Mundine As an Olympian, a proud Kaanju It is a major milestone for the Olympic In sport, as in life, nothing comes easily. Reconciliation Australia Since 2006, RAPs have provided a These outcomes contribute towards the man and Chair of the AOC’s movement in Australia. This RAP comes To achieve something substantial and welcomes the Australian Olympic framework for organisations to leverage five dimensions of reconciliation: race at a critical time as we ask ourselves meaningful from this RAP will require their structures and diverse spheres relations; equality and equity; institutional Indigenous Advisory Committee, questions and we look for answers. many years of collegiate effort. Committee to the Reconciliation of influence to support the national integrity; unity; and historical acceptance. there is enormous pride in Action Plan (RAP) program with reconciliation movement. The program’s I am a great believer in timing. Australia’s We have a vision for Aboriginal and It is critical to not only uphold all five potential for impact is greater than ever, being so deeply involved in this Olympians are ready for conversations Torres Strait Islander people that we can the formal endorsement of its dimensions of reconciliation, but also with over 2.3 million people now working process to deliver the AOC’s first that could be difficult, challenging, bring to life through that effort. inaugural Reflect RAP. increase awareness of Aboriginal and or studying in an organisation with a RAP. Reconciliation Action Plan. uplifting and enlightening. The time is Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, Recognition, acknowledgment, and The Australian Olympic right. The four RAP types – Reflect, Innovate, knowledge, and leadership across all reconciliation. They are big words, but Committee joins a network of Stretch and Elevate – allow RAP partners sectors of Australian society. The “Walk with Us” forum held in late they have to be real. We have a long way more than 1,100 corporate, to continuously develop and strengthen 2020 reinforced my view that we to go, but we have taken an important This Reflect RAP enables the Australian reconciliation commitments in new ways. can successfully engage and create step. government, and not-for- Olympic Committee to deepen its This Reflect RAP will lay the foundations, awareness. profit organisations that