“Reconciliation is driven through relationships, respect and opportunities.”
On behalf of Reconciliation Australia, I congratulate the National Indigenous Australian’s Agency (NIAA) on its formal commitment to reconciliation, as it implements its second Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) as a standalone agency.
Formed around the pillars of relationships, respect and opportunities, the RAP program helps organisations realise the critical role they can play in driving reconciliation across their work and area of expertise.
NIAA works to ensure that the needs and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are met by shaping government policies and providing advice to the highest government offices in Australia. This work puts NIAA at the forefront of reconciliation efforts and influence in Australia.
This Stretch RAP is built upon the considerable experience NIAA garnered in its previous RAP. With a strong focus on relationship-building, core to NIAA’s business is the implementation of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and embedding a Place-based Practice Framework to support effective relationships between governments and First Nations communities.
With these learnings, NIAA has developed a strong understanding of what really drives reconciliation outcomes and how it is best positioned to build momentum. To this end, NIAA is adjusting the structure of this RAP to align with the Priority Reforms outlined in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. This will enable NIAA to more directly embed transformational change into its everyday work while remaining committed to the RAP program’s pillars of relationships, respect and opportunities.
Reconciliation Australia will co-lead this pilot approach across the Australian Public Service to strengthen alignment between Closing the Gap Priority Reforms and the RAP Framework.
Through this new RAP structure and its commitments to Closing the GAP, NIAA has the potential to transform how government can drive reconciliation outcomes. On behalf of Reconciliation Australia, I commend NIAA on this Stretch RAP and look forward to following its ongoing reconciliation journey.
Karen Mundine
Chief Executive Officer Reconciliation Australia
