THE Greater Shepparton City Council has adopted its second Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), called “Innovate,” for the period of July 2023 to July 2025. The adoption of this plan demonstrates the Council’s ongoing commitment to reconciliation and its collaboration with First Nations People and the broader community. The development of the Innovate RAP involved an extensive two-phase consultation process, during which feedback was gathered from more than 380 community members and Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal organisations.
The Innovate RAP is structured around four main themes: Acceptance and Acknowledgement, Cultural Safety, Freedom and Equality, and Education and Employment. These themes reflect the Council’s goals of fostering acceptance and acknowledgement of First Nations People’s history, ensuring cultural safety and removing barriers, and increasing education and employment opportunities that promote First Nations People’s culture and history. These themes align with Reconciliation Australia’s four pillars: Relationships, Respect, Opportunities, and Governance.
The Innovate RAP includes specific actions with measurable timelines and deliverable outcomes. Some of these actions include celebrating National Reconciliation Week to build relationships, promoting cultural learning to enhance understanding and recognition of First Nations People’s cultures and rights, and advocating for and recognising significant dates for First Nations People.
Mayor Cr Shane Sali expressed appreciation for the extensive work that went into developing the second RAP. The endorsement of the Innovate RAP reaffirms the council’s dedication to its reconciliation journey.
