The City of Mitcham is located on the traditional Country of the Kaurna people. Learn about the reconciliation initiatives of Council and how they put them into action.

The City of Mitcham acknowledges the Kaurna People as the Traditional Custodians of our Council area. We pay our respects to Kaurna Elders past, present, and emerging and value the contribution that First Nations people make to the community.

Council leads the way in reconciliation

Reconciliation is about strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples, for the benefit of all Australians.

Reconciliation Action Plan

Council’s reconciliation journey began on 26 November 2019 when Council first supported the idea of a Reconciliation Action Plan within the City of Mitcham and on 24 March 2020 Council formally committed to the development of a Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan.

A draft Reflect RAP was endorsed by Council in November 2023. The draft was prepared in consultation with an Aboriginal consultant from an organisation specialising in facilitating employment opportunities for First Nations people and consulting with Government/Local Government on policy development and meaningful cultural partnership. Council also consulted with Kaurna Yerta Aboriginal Corporation and the draft RAP has now been submitted to Reconciliation Australia for feedback.

Council has committed $50,000 to the RAP covering the registration and membership fees, RAP artistic design, cultural respect and safety training, attendance at reconciliation events, policy and practices review and the development of a strategy and business case for Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander employment at the City of Mitcham.

Reconciliation in action

The City of Mitcham has a proud and growing record of acknowledging Kaurna / First Nations history and culture which includes:

• Kaurna Acknowledgement at all Council and significant meetings.
• Flying of the Aboriginal Flag at the Civic Centre and in the Council Chambers.
• Welcome to Country or Acknowledgement of Country at Council civic and community events.
• Reconciliation Week is celebrated each year with a flag raising ceremony, art exhibition, storytelling and bush tucker morning tea and Welcome to Country at the Council Meetings.
• Inclusion of bush tucker in Citizenship Conferee gift bags.
• Constructive working relationship with the Blackwood Reconciliation Group.
• Community Grants, to organisations including the Blackwood Reconciliation Group.
• Public Art such as the Hawthorn Community Centre mural, Shepherds Hill Road mural, Mitcham Reserve Playground, and Soldier’s Memorial Gardens.
• Karuna acknowledgement at Soldier’s Memorial Gardens, Hawthorn.
• Mayor attended the Blackwood Reconciliation Groups “Uluru from the Heart Forum”.
• Working with the Kaurna Nation Cultural Heritage Association (KNCHA) on developing Wirraparinga Loop Trail Native Title section of land in Belair.
• Colebrook Home Memorial is included in induction tours for staff and Council Members.
• Supporting heritage surveys (Maggy Ragless, while the local historian, undertook a Kaurna Heritage Survey of Shepherds Hill Recreation Park with Flinders University).
• Council Members are invited to and regularly attend Blackwood Reconciliation Group Walk for Reconciliation in May.
• A panel of preferred suppliers was established to deliver culturally sensitive services on an as-needs basis. Services provided on this panel include:
  • Mayoral and Elected Member advisory services
  • Cultural awareness inductions
  • Cultural heritage recordings and research
  • Management of cultural heritage places
  • Salvage and excavation
  • Cultural practices for events
    • Welcome to Country Ceremony
    • Smoking Ceremony
    • Dance (Corroboree)
    • Traditional Music (Yidaki)
    • Showcasing Artwork
  • Education, tours and cross-cultural awareness training
  • Cultural walks and experiences
  • Cultural consultations
  • Language and naming of public places
• Blackwood Community Hub named Tiwu Kumangka.
• Tiwu Kumangka cultural monitors.
• Tiwu Kumangka Smoking Ceremony.
• Development of Kaurna scripts for heritage walks.
• The name of the former Eden Hills landfill site Kaurna Views was rescinded.