BRISBANE BRONCOS RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN A MESSAGE FROM RECONCILIATION AUSTRALIA’S CEO On behalf of Reconciliation Australia I congratulate the Brisbane Broncos on the launch of their third Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)—a Stretch RAP. FOREWORD In opting for a Stretch RAP, the Brisbane Broncos have built on the learnings of their earlier RAPs, reinforcing and reinvigorating their commitment to provide sustainable employment and personal development opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. I am impressed by the new actions in the RAP including the Beyond The Broncos Program which will help guide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youngsters to make good life choices. Further enhancing the two way relationship with supporters through community engagement is another strong initiative. I commend the Broncos for being part of Reconciliation Australia’s RAP program and for taking their RAP to the next level. RAPs are driving social change in workplaces, sporting clubs and schools around the country and, as one of 600 plus RAP organisations, the Broncos are helping to influence that change through their sporting and community endeavours. This Stretch RAP strengthens the Broncos’ foundation for real respect and understanding between Aboriginal and Torres Strait players, staff and supporters and their non-Indigenous colleagues and football followers. I wish the Broncos well as they embark on the next step of their impressive reconciliation journey. Justin Mohamed CEO, Reconciliation Australia 3 RAP.indd 2-3 25/02/2016 3:48:16 PM BRISBANE BRONCOS CEO: PAUL WHITE The Brisbane Broncos remain committed to the promotion of and participation in reconciliation through the association and activities of the club. As we launch our third Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), we reflect on the success of our initiatives and programs and aim to remain committed in keeping the vision of FOREWORD reconciliation alive within our organisation. This RAP refresh reiterates our genuine desire to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities and to improve outcomes for First Australian Peoples. A number of key initiatives have been introduced and expanded since our first RAP in 2012. Our Broncos Indigenous Mentoring program, Beyond The Broncos, has evolved immensely since its inception in 2010. We look forward to building new relationships with our students and help them to reach their full potential. We are dedicated to building stronger relationships with First Australian Peoples and communities. We are especially proud to expand our relationship with the Institute of Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH) and their Deadly Choices program as we continue to encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders to make healthy lifestyle choices. This relationship demonstrates our commitment to the closing the gap campaign as we strive to close the life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians. On behalf of the Brisbane Broncos I would like to recognise Reconciliation Australia for its ongoing role in educating the community and promoting reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the broader Australian community. I also thank Reconciliation Australia for their continuous support in assisting the Brisbane Broncos with the RAP and its ongoing growth. We look forward to continuing our working relationship as we progress to make a positive contribution to closing the employment, economic and education gap between First Australian Peoples and other Australians. Paul White CEO, Brisbane Broncos Football Club 4 5 OUR VISION FOR RECONCILIATION The Brisbane Broncos Reconciliation Action Plan is a formal recognition of our activities within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, as well as a practical commitment to monitor and build on these activities. The Brisbane Broncos have a strong connection with members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players, staff, members and fans. These ongoing relationships have led to the Brisbane Broncos to utilise their sphere of influence by implementing a number of OUR VISION Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs in two key areas; closing the life expectancy gap closing the gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians and, provide and improve outcomes and opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people. Our vision for reconciliation includes stronger relationships and increased mutual respect for, the diversity of cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and a commitment to closing the social, health and economic gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Queenslanders. Our Reconciliation Action Plan outlines what we are doing to demonstrate and promote the key messages of reconciliation with a particular emphasis on the following: ● Provide opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people through community programs including the Beyond The Broncos program ● Develop an increased two way relationship and mutual respect with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander supporters and members of the community through community engagement ● Increase our knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture to build on existing relationships and demonstrate this respect in every interaction we have with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and community ● Increased opportunities for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ participation in Rugby League, and specifically to build the skills of our employees and our wider community The Brisbane Broncos Board, staff and players see our club as one which acknowledges and respects the values of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their rich cultures and we will work to further enhance these ties with the community. Indigenous Program Officer Jharal Yow Yeh after placing The artwork signifies the connection of the Brisbane his hand on an artwork by Chad Briggs at the Brisbane Broncos to the Queensland community and highlights the Broncos Staff National Reconciliation Morning Tea community gathering to watch the Broncos team play at supporting National Reconciliation Week. the home ground of Suncorp Stadium. 6 7 OUR BUSINESS The Brisbane Broncos are a professional rugby league team based in Brisbane, Queensland. The Brisbane Broncos hold a licence to compete in the National Rugby League (NRL) competition and are one of its most successful clubs having won six premierships in the 28 seasons since inception. The Brisbane Broncos are the only publicly listed sporting franchise on the Australian Securities Exchange. OUR BUSINESS The Brisbane Broncos endeavour to be a winning rugby league team which provides the community with world class entertainment and a club to be proud of. The Brisbane Broncos believe in maintaining a very high-class level of corporate governance, professional commercial practice, services excellence, integrity, creativity and initiative. All activities are performed to the highest ethical standards, and with great respect to all involved. Today, 22 of 160 staff and players of the Brisbane Broncos are of Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander persons which equates to 13% of the organisation. The Brisbane Broncos have an outstanding history of strong contribution by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples such as Wendell Sailor, Gorden Tallis, Steve Renouf, Sam Thaiday and current captain, Justin Hodges - to our on- and off-field success since our inception in 1988. The RAP is developed alongside the NRL RAP framework, specifically in using the Brisbane Broncos’ wide popularity within the game of Rugby League to promote increased respect and understanding for First Australian People, and commitment to social change in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs. 8 9 OUR RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN The Brisbane Broncos established the first Reconciliation Action Plan in 2012 in conjunction with the Broncos working group and Reconciliation Australia. Since 2012, the Broncos RAP program has expanded immensely with our plan now successfully reaching ‘Stretch’ RAP level. Our Stretch RAP demonstrates the Broncos’ commitment to the closing the gap campaign as we strive to close the social, health and economic gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples OUR RAP and other Australians through the Deadly Choices partnership and Beyond the Broncos program. Under Reconciliation Australia’s Stretch RAP framework, the third Brisbane Broncos RAP will set measurable targets for the club under three pillars of Relationships, Respect and Opportunities which we will work to embed as the way in which we do business. This RAP refresh reiterates our genuine desire to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities and to improve outcomes for First Australian Peoples. Brisbane Broncos Stretch RAP was developed and will be implemented by a working group consisting of: ● Chief Executive Officer – RAP Champion ● Community Services Coordinator ● Indigenous Program Officer ● Player Welfare and Indigenous Program Officer ● General Manager – External Relations and Corporate Strategy ● Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players ● Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members presently guiding the club in the engagement activities already in place The working group