Innovative Reconciliation

Action Plan 2019–2021 -

Extended to December 2022

The Innovative Reconciliation Action Plan 2019-2021 (extended to December

2022) is Council’s second Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). It was developed in

consultation with the Brimbank Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Consultative

Committee, Traditional Owners groups, local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Peoples and builds on the strengths and achievements of our first Reconciliation

Action Plan 2013–2017.

The RAP outlines priority actions around key three themes:

and

Meaningful engagement with Traditional Owner

groups, the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

community and other stakeholders will ensure

relationships are the foundation of our RAP. Council is

committed to nurturing these relationships to build a

better understanding between Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander peoples and others, leading to a more

inclusive community.

Provided a range of “Be Brave” themed activities

for National Reconciliation Week 2022:

• The Koorie Homework Club participated in the

Kutcha Edwards workshops.

• Kutcha Edwards performed at the Bowery

Theatre in St Albans.

• Celebration of First Nations authors and

illustrators at the special First Nations Voices

Preschool Storytime.

Hosted the Brimbank Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander Consultative Committee Ask

Aunty/Ask Uncle Q&A for Council staff.

Hosted the Brimbank Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander Consultative Committee providing

Council with advice on Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander issues and supporting the

ongoing implementation of the RAP.

Revised the Acknowledgement of Country

and Welcome to Country protocols following

the appointment of Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung

Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation and the

Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation as

the Registered Aboriginal Parties in Brimbank as

per the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006

and held introductory meetings.

Councillors and Brimbank Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander Consultative Committee members

had an annual network meeting. An opportunity

to interact and advocate on important

community matters.

Continued to work in partnership with local

Aboriginal organisations such as Victoria

University Moondani Baluk, Local Indigenous

Network (LIN), Western Region Local

Government Reconciliation network and

Western Metro Aboriginal COVID- 19 Local

Response Network.

Council resolved to raise awareness at the

January 26 citizenship ceremony about what

the day means for Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander community.

• Observe a minute of silence at the January 26

Citizenship ceremony.

• Play an Elders' message recording about what

the day means to the Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander community.

• Produces pamphlets containing information

about the meaning of the Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander flags respectively,

significance of the plant given to new

citizens at the ceremony and in addition to

the Australian flag, distribute Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander flags.

Council acknowledges that Aboriginal peoples are

the Traditional Owners of the land we help govern

and that respect is built when the whole community

is more aware, better understands and celebrates

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,

cultures, histories and rights. Council values the

knowledge and expertise of Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander peoples and seeks ways to enhance

their contribution to our community.

Continued to fly the Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander flags at the Brimbank Community and

Civic Centre.

Council endorsed Aboriginal names be used to

name seven rooms identified for community use

at the Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre.

Ongoing acknowledgement of Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander Consultative Committee

members meeting outcomes and achievements

at Council Meetings.

Celebrated NAIDOC 2022, “Get Up! Stand Up!

Show Up! with a series of events honouring First

Nations People and culture:

• Be Bold Blak Out Festival and, Blak

voices of Brimbank.

• Neighbourhood Houses hosted art exhibition

Aunty Jeanie’s Dreamtime Stories.

• The Koorie Homework Club participated in the

NAIDOC Civic Flag Raising event and raised the

Aboriginal flag.

• The Koorie Homework Club participated in

planting native trees at Brimbank Aquatic and

Wellness Centre.

Playgroups have embedded two nursery rhymes

in Aboriginal languages and a Torres Strait

Islander song.

Brimbank Libraries delivered Wanyara Painting

Workshop and Indigenous Storytelling through

Art & Music, Native Australian Animal Craft.

Mural project honouring the legendary lives of local Indigenous

elders Aunty Joyce and Uncle Boots Cooper

NAIDOC flag raising

109 - 0321

It is important to create opportunities that build

the capacity and the socio-economic status of local

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents to

better determine their future. Council will continue

to look for ways to provide opportunities within

the Council’s programs and services for Aboriginal

and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities

through employment and professional development,

economic and business opportunities, community

development and to ensure all of our programs and

services are culturally safe.

Brimbank Council chamber mural

Conducted an Aboriginal Community Hub

Feasibility Study which consistently and

strongly endorses the need for a site specific

Aboriginal-led community space in Brimbank for

the community to meet, to heal and to connect,

while also being important for non-Aboriginal

people.

Created employment opportunities for

Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander people

within Council:

• Created and recruited an Aboriginal designated

role to oversee the implementation of the

Reconciliation Action Plan.

• Brimbank libraries recruited an Aboriginal

Library Liaison Officer.

• Brimbank Aquatic and Wellbeing Centre

appointed 2-3 Aboriginal designated roles.

Engaged Polity Research and Consulting

to deliver an Aboriginal Cultural survey to

understand levels of Council staff understanding

and engagement with First Nations cultural

initiatives, and establish a baseline measure of

attitudes and impacts.

Installed Aboriginal artwork in the Council

chambers.

Respectfully consulted with Aboriginal Elders

and Traditional Owners on matters related to

cultural heritage management.

Engaged Victoria based Aboriginal run

businesses listed on the Council’s social

procurement database available to Council

Officers.

Engaged Narrap (‘Country’) Team – the

Wurundjeri natural resource land management

organisation – as Council’s contractor for

conservation reserves in Brimbank.

Continued to program and deliver Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander programs at the St Albans

Community Centre such as Koorie Homework

support.

Continued to improve our services and build

better access pathways for access. For example:

there was a significant increase in the number

of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children

accessing the Koorie playgroup and Maternal

and Child Health Services.