By Dongyun Kwon
The Yarra Ranges Council (YRC) will deliver innovative reconciliation actions over the next two years as it has endorsed the YRC Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) August 2024 – July 2026.
As the council’s Reconciliation Framework for Action 2013 – 2023 neared its expiry date, planning for a third iteration of a RAP and strategic approaches began.
The Innovative RAP has been proposed based on the advice and guidance of the YRC’s Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC).
The IAC strongly encouraged this plan to fall under the umbrella of Reconciliation Australia’s RAP requirements, integrate the concept of Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing, include a strong truth-telling theme, and capture YRC’s reconciliation journey.
IAC chair Lea Jones said the journey in developing the RAP is filled with excitement and significance.
“Its main goal is to support the healing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” she said.
“Additionally, it offers a platform to share the history, heritage, cultures and ongoing journey of reconciliation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people communities in the Yarra Ranges.
“The opportunity to share our story and reflect on the strong relationships, the dedication and the contribution from local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, alongside our non-Aboriginal brothers and sisters represents reconciliation at its absolute best.”
The Innovative RAP is the second stage out of four provided by Reconciliation Australia’s RAP Framework; Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate.
Ms Jones said the IAC will do everything to support the success of this RAP to move onto the next level.
“The Aboriginal people are the most over-consulted cohort in the nation, yet there’s not an outcome for every one of those consultations,” she said.
“But we have been consulted with, for and about this [Innovative RAP].
“It means a lot and it’s important to Aboriginal people in this community because there is accountability for everything in this [Innovative RAP].”
The YRC made a formal apology to the Stolen Generations in 1997, 11 years earlier than the national apology made by former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in 2008.
Yarra Ranges mayor Sophie Todorov said she was proud to see that YRC was the first council in Victoria to give an apology to the Stolen Generations and the progress the YRC has made since then and continues to make.
“I believe that voice, self-determination and truth-telling is the essence of this plan,” she said.
“As Lea pointed out, it’s really important that we hear the voices of the community that it impacts the most, not just to listen but to act upon that.
“We appreciate the immense history that we have with our First Nations people.”
