FAQs
Why has Council developed a draft Reconciliation Action Plan (and why a ‘Reflect RAP)?
Council recognises that there is a lot of work to be done to advance reconciliation initiatives in Australia that both support and empower First Nations people and bring together the entire community to strengthen relationships and create opportunities. Councils, as government institutions, have a unique responsibility to build relationships with First Nations people and organisations and to work towards common reconciliation goals.
Created and supported by Reconciliation Australia, Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) support organisations to sustainably and strategically take meaningful action to advance reconciliation.
Based on the core pillars of relationships, respect and opportunities, RAPs provide tangible and substantive benefits for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, increasing economic equity and supporting First Nations' self-determination.
Based on the Reconciliation Australia framework, SMRC made the decision to develop a ‘Reflect' RAP. This type of RAP provides Council with the opportunity to reflect first on its internal processes and stakeholders, in order to identify its scope and capabilities in the reconciliation space.
The RAP development framework is clearly prescribed by Reconciliation Australia for each RAP type. SMRC has followed the framework in the development of the draft Reflect RAP.
Were First Nations people involved in the development of the draft Reflect RAP?
Yes. A key aspect of the development of a Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan is the creation of a RAP working party which includes First Nations representation. For SMRC, the working party comprised representatives from across the organisation, including staff who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
How long will the draft RAP be on public exhibition?
The draft Snowy Monaro Regional Council Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan 2023 -2024 will be on public exhibition for a period of 6 weeks. This extended timeframe is in recognition of the diverse range of stakeholder groups who we would like to engage during this process and to allow additional time for community feedback.
Once the public exhibition process is completed, feedback will be incorporated into the final draft, which will then be submitted to Reconciliation Australia for final endorsement. If this is provided, the final draft will come back to Council for formal adoption and begin implementation.
How long will the Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan be in place for?
The draft Snowy Monaro Regional Council Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan 2023 -2024 has been developed as a 12-month strategic plan. It is expected that the actions in the draft RAP will be undertaken in the 12 months following its adoption by Council.
What happens after that?
The draft Snowy Monaro Regional Council Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan 2023 -2024 includes an action to begin the development of the next Reconciliation Action Plan towards the end of the 12-month period. This new plan would focus on bringing together the internal reflections and learnings of the ‘Reflect’ RAP, and move towards increasing external engagement in our Reconciliation journey.