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We recognise and value the knowledge and expertise held by First Nations peoples and organisations. We empower our workforce to build meaningful relationships with First Nations communities, peoples and organisations to inform new ways of working in partnership. We will develop and harness knowledge and expertise to improve all stages of our programs and services, from conception through to evaluation, ensuring we can contribute towards meeting the social and economic needs and expectations of First Nations peoples.
| Action | Deliverable | Timeline | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Establish and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with First Nations stakeholders and organisations. | 1.1. Work with First Nations stakeholders wherever we conduct business to develop local First Nations engagement protocols which support and encourage regular engagement. | December 2027 | Leads:
Support:
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| 1.2. Implement, promote and monitor the use of local engagement plans with First Nations stakeholders and organisations. | July 2026 | Leads:
Support:
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| 1.3. Work with First Nations organisations and peak bodies to establish mutually beneficial secondment programs for all levels of our staff (in addition to Jawun). | December 2026 | Lead: First Assistant Secretary, People and Communication Division Support: First Assistant Secretary, Workforce Australia Provider Support |
| Action | Deliverable | Timeline | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2. Build relationships through celebrating National Reconciliation Week (NRW). | 2.1. Organise at least one NRW event each year and register all our NRW events on Reconciliation Australia’s NRW website. | May 2026 May 2027 | Lead: First Assistant Secretary, People and Communication Division Support:
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| 2.2. Circulate and promote Reconciliation Australia’s NRW resources, reconciliation materials and activities to our staff and external stakeholders. | May 2026 May 2027 | First Assistant Secretary, People and Communication Division | |
| 2.3. Our Senior Executive Officers and members of RAP governance forums, including the RAP Working Group, to participate, advocate and promote participation by all staff in NRW events (internal and external), including using business plans and performance agreements. | May 2026 May 2027 | Lead: First Assistant Secretary, People and Communication Division Support:
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| 2.4. Commit funding for annual hybrid face-to-face/ online NRW programs of events across all our sites, with a focus on educating staff on our shared histories and engaging with local culture. | May 2026 May 2027 | First Assistant Secretary, People and Communication Division |
| Action | Deliverable | Timeline | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3. Promote reconciliation through our sphere of influence. | 3.1. Communicate our commitment to reconciliation and nurturing prosperous relationships with First Nations peoples and communities through our Corporate Plan, line area business plans, and individual performance agreements. | June 2027 | Lead: First Assistant Secretary, People and Communication Division Support: First Assistant Secretary, Employment Strategy and Policy |
| 3.2. Demonstrate our commitment to reconciliation publicly, including through digital platforms, branding and physical mediums (e.g. banners), including within our buildings. | June 2026 | Lead: First Assistant Secretary, People and Communication Division Support: Assistant Secretary, Activities and Experience
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| 3.3. Explore opportunities to positively influence our external stakeholders (for example industry associations, portfolio agencies, contracted organisations and other partners) to drive reconciliation outcomes and advocate new ways to add value and benefit for all stakeholders. | November 2027 | Lead: Assistant Secretary, PALM Delivery Branch Support: First Assistant Secretary, Workforce Australia Provider Support Division | |
| 3.4. Collaborate with organisations (for example relevant industry sectors or associations, portfolio agencies, contracted organisations, RAP organisations, partners and other stakeholders) to co-design innovative approaches to advance reconciliation. | November 2027 | Lead: First Assistant Secretary, Evaluation and Assurance Division Support:
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| 3.5. Publicly acknowledge our portfolios’ shared histories with First Nations peoples (truth-telling). | October 2026 | Lead: First Assistant Secretary, People and Communication Division Support: Assistant Secretary, Closing the Gap | |
| 3.6. Promote the Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme to Senior Executive Service Band 2 officers and above and set a target of up to four DEWR nominations per year to participate in training, for the life of the redress scheme. | June 2026 June 2027 | Lead: First Assistant Secretary, People and Communication Division Support: Assistant Secretary, Closing the Gap | |
| 3.7. Develop and implement a staff engagement strategy to raise awareness of reconciliation across our workforce. | May 2026 | First Assistant Secretary, People and Communication Division | |
| 3.8. Promote and encourage First Nations allyship with visual merchandise to support employees to reach out to a First Nations ally when required or in need of local support. | July 2026 | First Assistant Secretary, People and Communication Division | |
| 3.9. Work with the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) to develop a formalised program of allyship and implement within first year of RAP. | October 2026 | First Assistant Secretary, People and Communication Division |
| Action | Deliverable | Timeline | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4. Promote positive race relations through anti-discrimination strategies. | 4.1. Engage external First Nations experts, ensuring the procurement process is inclusive of certified vendors on Supply Nation, to conduct a review of HR policies and procedures in consultation with First Nations and other staff to identify and eliminate institutional racism. | January 2026 | First Assistant Secretary, People and Communication Division |
| 4.2. Continue to enhance, promote and monitor our “Managing Workplace Discrimination and Harassment Policy” to drive the elimination of bullying, harassment and discrimination. | March 2026 | First Assistant Secretary, People and Communication Division | |
| 4.3. Establish cultural safety standards for our staff and conduct an annual cultural safety health check, identifying specific areas for action. | June 2026 June 2027 | Lead: First Assistant Secretary, People and Communication Division Support: Assistant Secretary, PALM Performance Branch | |
| 4.4. Educate senior leaders and other staff on the effects of racism, including through unconscious bias training, and openly share examples of racism that occur daily within the Australian community. | September 2026 | Lead: First Assistant Secretary, People and Communication Division Support: Assistant Secretary, PALM Performance Branch | |
| 4.5. Implement processes to ensure all new and updated policies, guidelines and contractual documents (internal and external) are independently assessed for institutional racism; support the objectives of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap; and do not contravene the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). | May 2027 | Lead: First Assistant Secretary, Legal and Assurance Division Support:
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