Reconciliation can mean different things to different people. At its core though, it’s about establishing and nurturing respectful relationships between non-Indigenous and Indigenous Australians with the intent to work together to close the gaps between the two. In essence, it’s about creating shared value.
We’re entirely supportive of companies who wish to establish reconciliation action plans and do what we can to help them create effective ones. While it’s always best to invest in seeking the advice of an Indigenous engagement consultant when establishing a reconciliation action plan, here are a few basic steps to get you started.
- Set up a Reconciliation Action Plan group
You don’t want the development and implementation of your Reconciliation Action Plan to be the sole responsibility of one person. Establish a diverse group who is responsible for its development. Ideally you want a few key personnel from within the company as well as stakeholders from within the Indigenous community who can offer their perspective as well. - Determine your reconciliation vision
What role will your company play in the reconciliation process? Be clear about what it is you hope to achieve and ensure that your vision is both achievable and practical. Be specific and ensure that the strategies you envisage will be truly helpful to your organisation as well as the Indigenous community. - Establish your Reconciliation Action Plan ‘actions’
How will you go about effectively implementing your Reconciliation Action Plan? The workplace framework set up by Reconciliation Australia, which provides organisations with a structured approach to reconciliation, is a good place to start. They set out four different types of Reconciliation Action Plans that organisations can develop, depending on where they are currently on their reconciliation journey: reflect, innovate, stretch and elevate. - Decide on a timeline and identify who will take responsibility for what
A Reconciliation Action Plan is unlikely to succeed if you don’t identify key people who will take responsibility for seeing it through. Establishing a timeline will allow you to set measurable goals which can be monitored to assess the effectiveness of short and long-term strategies.
For more information on Reconciliation Action Plans, check out Reconciliation Australia. If you’d like some assistance in establishing a plan for your organisation, we’re here to help. Get in touch with our team today.
