Our Vision for Reconciliation
Our vision for reconciliation is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and governments to work together in genuine partnership, where First Nations peoples are heard, recognised and empowered, and where their cultures, histories and rights are respected as fundamental to Australia’s national story.
In this future, reconciliation is embedded in how governments design policies, deliver programs and make decisions — grounded in trust, shared responsibility and cultural safety. For the APS, reconciliation means transforming systems and behaviours so that partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are sustained, accountable and led by community priorities.
The NIAA’s vision also underpins a deliberate decision, made in partnership with Reconciliation Australia, to structure this Stretch RAP around the Priority Reforms of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, recognising that reconciliation is advanced through systemic, accountable change in how governments work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Our Commitment to Reconciliation
To realise our vision, reconciliation is embedded throughout all that we do—it shapes our values, systems, and the way we engage with First Nations peoples and communities. As the Commonwealth agency responsible for leading policy, program design, and service delivery in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, we are committed to walking the reconciliation journey with integrity, humility, and courage.
Our Stretch RAP (2026–2029) reflects this commitment, driving systemic change through truth-telling, accountability and healing, and supporting the transformational shifts required under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.