Gunnedah Shire Council has developed its first Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) as part of the organisation’s commitment to strengthening its reconciliation journey.
Council’s Director Community and Planning and RAP Executive Champion, Andrew Johns, said the RAP was an operational document that articulated a clear set of actions to guide elected representatives and staff, as we continue to champion our community as safe, welcoming, respectful, and culturally inclusive for all.
“Recognising that change must come from within, the development of the two-year plan endorsed by Reconciliation Australia, positions our employees and our organisation to be advocates for building respectful relationships in the broader community,” he said.
“We want the Gunnedah Shire to be a place where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are valued and recognised as the Traditional Peoples of this land, and where full respect and understanding is extended to their histories, cultures and stories.”
Four key pillars have been identified in the Innovate RAP – Relationships, Respect, Opportunities and Governance. Each of these pillars includes an action, deliverable, timeline and who will be responsible for delivery.
The project was led by Council’s Community and Social Planner Debra Hilton and the Community and Development directorate and supported by the RAP Working Group, which includes staff representatives from across Council, elected representatives, and First Nations community members Helen Lickorish, Troy Silver and Cassandra Aldridge.
The custom artwork featured in the RAP, titled ‘Ours’, was created by Gamilaroi artist Sharon Wortley. The artwork focuses on unity, and provided the inspiration for the document’s graphic design.
Mr Johns said Council’s Executive Leadership Team commended the efforts and contributions of the working group and all those staff across the organisation who provided input and feedback, ensuring the actions are supported and achievable.
“We also acknowledge the working group’s First Nations community representatives, whose cultural insights and knowledge have played an invaluable role in developing this document and increasing our understanding of how critical it is to walk with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and stakeholders in the Shire, to shape a united future”, he said.
“Council and the Working Group have already commenced the next step of our reconciliation journey – the implementation of the identified actions.”
View the Reconciliation Action Plan here: https://www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au/index.php/list-files/preview?path=GunnedahShireCouncil%252FCOUNCIL%252FBETTER-INFRASTRUCTURE%252FStrategies-and-Plans%252FGunnedah%2BShire%2BReconcilition%2BAction%2BPlan%2B2026.pdf
Caption: Reconciliation Action Plan Executive Champion Andrew Johns, Project Lead Debra Hilton, Community Representative Troy Silver, Community Representative Cassandra Aldridge, Elected Representative Deputy Mayor Kate McGrath, Red Chief Local Aboriginal Land Council Chair Jean Hands, Working Group Representative Nikki Robertson, Community Representative Helen Lickorish and Working Group Representative Marie Low with the custom artwork, ‘Ours’, created by Gamilaroi artist Sharon Wortley.
