At the Full Council Meeting in March, I was thrilled that our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) was unanimously adopted. The plan was initiated in early 2020, and is the first of the four RAP types; Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate, which allow RAP partners to continuously develop and strengthen reconciliation commitments in new ways. It is our hope that our Reflect RAP, based around the core pillars of relationships, respect and opportunities, will lay the foundations to enable our organisation to sustainably and strategically take meaningful action to advance reconciliation by increasing economic equity, supporting First Nations self-determination, and working towards closing the gap.

Our reconciliation journey began in late 2019 when a community information forum involving a panel discussion on the Uluru Statement from the Heart, was facilitated by community action groups, Blackwood Reconciliation Group (BRG) and A Better Boothby. From the floor of the meeting a motion was crafted calling for a voice to power in the Mitcham Council and for a RAP to be embedded at City of Mitcham. Elected members responded by requesting advice on how to implement a RAP and in March 2020 unanimously resolved to develop and implement a Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan.

A RAP working group was established who undertook Cultural Respect and Safety training which emphasised the institutionally enshrined policies and processes which disproportionately disadvantage First Nations peoples. The group were encouraged to consider ways in which the cycle could be disrupted and from this starting position, with the initial assistance of a First Nations consultant, to now working collaboratively with Kaurna Yerta Aboriginal Corporation, have developed a plan to embed meaningful action right across the business of Council. While we have often engaged and collaborated with Kaurna Community and implemented many positive activities our Reflect RAP will bring genuine purpose, structure, and consistency to these efforts, allowing us to enshrine the principle of reconciliation into the heart of everything we do for everyone in the community.

Despite the outcome of last year’s referendum, there is widespread support within our community for reconciliation with First Nations people. Overall, the City of Mitcham results supported the Voice and although some commentators have used the referendum result to question the validity of the RAP process, I believe its importance has increased post referendum. In being out and about, listening to our community, it is evident that no matter how they voted, most Australians want better outcomes for First Nations peoples. RAPs are a great way to represent tangible actions towards outcomes such as equity and self-determination. At time of writing, we are still awaiting the results of the South Australian Voice to Parliament election. I am excited by the prospect of testing the Voice proposal and I am looking forward to connecting and working with our local representatives. The SA Voice is a real opportunity to show that together we can take the necessary steps towards closing the gap between First Nations and non-Aboriginal opportunities and outcomes.

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