I was proud to support the launch of our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) at the Natural Hazards Research Forum in Brisbane earlier this month, as a symbol of our commitment to First Nations reconciliation. You can read the RAP here.
This RAP is just the start of many years of strengthening our connections with First Nations peoples and communities and, on behalf of the Board and Centre staff, I recognise that we have much to learn – not just within our organisation but also across the sector. This is our first RAP and so is pitched at the Reflect stage, which means we are taking the time as a Centre to explore and learn about what’s needed to build solid foundations of reconciliation. It’s my hope that this RAP will also help drive change across the broader sector and that more organisations will embrace First Nations research, knowledge and capability.
I’d like to thank those who joined us at the RAP launch, especially the First Nations people who shared their knowledge with us. Everyone who attended the launch was welcomed on stage for a smoking ceremony from Tommy Bundamba-Ya, a Yuggera man who had also opened the Forum with a Welcome to Country earlier in the day. As he said, the smoking ceremony was an important symbol of welcoming us to Yuggera Country and inviting us to share connections with each other.
It was great to hear perspectives from Bundjalung man and Board member Oliver Costello, who MC’d the launch. He shared his recent experiences of flooding in the northern rivers and how important it is to consider what Country can teach us about how to care for it. He also presented the Centre with new message sticks, which were commissioned from Uncle Marcus Ferguson, a Nyangbul artist from Bulinaa. We plan to take the message sticks with us to our events as a symbol of good intentions and open knowledge sharing, as was Uncle Marcus’s intention for them.
We also heard from Leanne Brook, a Murramarang Yuin artist and land management expert, who created the RAP artwork. As she said, Country and people are suffering the impacts of natural hazards, and her artwork Manawaradhanjin 'in our hands' tells a story of healing and reconciliation. I’d encourage you to look more closely at the artwork and the story behind it here. Leanne reminded us that we can work together to make change, so we can help rectify mistakes made in the past.
Finally, on behalf of the Board and staff, I’d like to thank former CEO Richard Thornton for championing the RAP, as well as all the members of the Reconciliation Working Group that have worked hard to create these strong reconciliation foundations: Ricky Archer, Tammy Small, Oliver Costello and Bhiamie Williamson, former member Jade Ritchie, our Board member Sandra Whight, as well as the Group’s Chair Bethany Patch and other staff representatives Kat Haynes, Nicklaus Mahony and Friedo Ligthart.
We are now being guided by ongoing discussions with our Reconciliation Working Group in the implementation of the deliverables within the RAP. Staff are also participating in cultural safety training in November and will be supported with other reconciliation-related activities moving forward.
A recording of the RAP launch can be viewed below.