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Reconciliation Action Plan 2009
The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation who are the Traditional Custodians of the land on which the ALRC stands, and we pay our respects to their elders, both past and present.
The ALRC’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) documents the aims and strategies that the ALRC will adopt to contribute to and promote reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
The ALRC is a federal statutory authority, operating under the Australian Law Reform Commission Act 1996 (Cth) and the Commonwealth Agencies and Companies Act 1997 (Cth).
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Our vision for reconciliation
The ALRC sees reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians as comprising both processes and outcomes. Both of these things require meaningful and ongoing dialogue between Indigenous peoples and the ALRC. For the ALRC, respect for Indigenous peoples; participation and representation of Indigenous peoples; and consideration and understanding of issues that are important to Indigenous peoples are essential features of the journey to, and achievement of, reconciliation in Australia. The ALRC recognises that our RAP needs to achieve practical outcomes. Therefore, we commit under our RAP to:
The ALRC shares the Australian Government’s commitment to ‘a future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity’ and acknowledges that the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments ‘have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians’ (Kevin Rudd PM Apology to Australia’s Indigenous Peoples 13 February 2008). The ALRC recognises that historically the Australian legal system has failed to deliver better social and economic outcomes for Indigenous peoples. As a law reform body, the ALRC has the opportunity to contribute to social justice, equity and inclusion in Australia. The ALRC commits to building trusting relationships with Indigenous peoples, while recognising that building relationships and trust takes time and requires resourcing. The ALRC will take account of this in the way it organises its activities and priorities. |
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Our business Promoting informed government decisions about the development, reform and harmonisation of Australian laws and related processes through research, analysis, reports and community consultation and education. |
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Our RAP The ALRC’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) has been developed with input from ALRC staff, and the ALRC President and Commissioners. The ALRC has a RAP Working Group that is chaired by the Executive Director, with representation from across the organisation. The RAP Working Group will also include members from the ALRC’s Indigenous Advisory Committee. The RAP Working Group is committed to monitoring the ALRC’s compliance with the goals of the RAP and to evaluating and updating the RAP annually to ensure the ALRC’s commitment to reconciliation is ongoing and constantly developing to achieve successful and positive outcomes. Initially the ALRC met with a number of Indigenous people to discuss the formulation of a RAP and possible initiatives specific to the role and functions of the ALRC. These discussions are recorded in the ALRC’s Board of Management Papers. The RAP has also been developed during the cultural awareness training delivered by Tranby Aboriginal College in February 2009. During this training a ‘Welcome to Country’ protocol for the ALRC was developed along with implementation strategies for a number of initiatives including the establishment of the Indigenous internship program. The RAP has also had input from Reconciliation Australia. |
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| Relationships | Consultation lies at the heart of our work. The ALRC relies on contributions from expert, legal community and individual stakeholders to inform its processes and recommendations for reform. Effective engagement with Indigenous peoples will depend on the quality of the relationships between the ALRC and Indigenous groups, individuals and organisations. | ||
| Focus area: To encourage the participation of Indigenous people in the work of the ALRC, we will focus on improving engagement and consultation strategies. | |||
| Action | Responsibility | Timeline | Measurable Target |
| 1.1 Establish a RAP Working Group made up of Indigenous and Non-Indigenous staff/stakeholders | Executive Director | December 2008 | RAP Working Group established and operating. Current membership consists of ALRC staff and will include ALRC Indigenous Advisory Committee members. |
1.2 Identify opportunities for consultation with a diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly face-to-face consultations |
President |
Ongoing | Number of consultations with Indigenous peoples held per inquiry. |
1.3 Update the ALRC’s contact database and ensure Indigenous legal organisations, lawyers and Indigenous stakeholders are included in the ALRC’s mailing lists and invited to ALRC functions |
RAP Working Group | February 2009 |
During Feb 09 a new database was created to target Indigenous legal organisations, lawyers and other relevant stakeholders who are interested in the ALRC’s initiatives in the area. This will be constantly updated. |
| 1.4 Invite Indigenous people to participate in Advisory Committees for ALRC references | President |
March 2009 | Wherever possible, Indigenous people will be invited to serve on the ALRC’s Advisory Committees. For example, Indigenous people have been invited to serve on the Royal Commissions Advisory Committee |
| 1.5 Establish and consult with ALRC Indigenous Advisory Committee on all aspects of ALRC activities to ensure the input of Indigenous views and perspectives | President |
Establish in March 2009 Consultation ongoing |
Establishment and extent of consultations with Indigenous Advisory Committee. |
| Respect | The ALRC’s vision of social equity and fairness is underpinned by a respect for all Australians. Respect for Indigenous peoples engenders trust, fosters good relationships and encourages greater participation by Indigenous peoples in the ALRC’s processes, which in turn leads to higher quality and more diverse research and recommendations for law reform. | ||
| Focus area: Improve the cultural awareness of ALRC staff, formalise Indigenous protocols in the processes of the ALRC and where possible, promote and acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and designers. | |||
Action |
Responsibility |
Timeline |
Measurable Target |
2.1 All ALRC staff to undertake Indigenous cultural awareness training |
Executive Director |
18 & 25 February 2009 |
16 staff and Commissioners attend 2 days cross cultural training at Tranby Aboriginal College. |
2.2 Indigenous Cultural Awareness to be part of the induction for all new staff, and induction materials updated to include Indigenous protocols and policies |
Executive Director |
Ongoing |
New staff will be made aware of the RAP Working Group and plan. Induction materials updated with material provided at Tranby Aboriginal College cultural awareness training. |
2.3 Develop protocols for use by ALRC legal staff in all consultations with Indigenous peoples that reflect their diversity of circumstances. This may mean using local Indigenous consultants, interpreters, taking oral submissions and other flexible consultation processes so that Indigenous perspectives and opinions are understood |
Research Manager |
June 2009 |
Protocol documents produced and published on ALRC website. Protocols implemented. |
2.4 Develop a policy and protocol for handling Indigenous material and the intellectual property and cultural knowledge rights of Indigenous stakeholders that make submissions to the ALRC |
Research Manager |
June 2009 |
Policy and protocol in place, used by staff and published on ALRC website. |
2.5 Develop and use a protocol for Indigenous ‘Welcome to Country’ and the acknowledgement of the traditional owners and ancestors for use at ALRC functions and events |
RAP Working Group |
February 2009 |
Protocols in place and to be used at ALRC events and functions. |
2.6 Identify Indigenous events that can be celebrated and/or acknowledged by the ALRC |
RAP Working Group |
By April 2009 and then annually |
Number of Indigenous events attended by ALRC staff and interns (eg NAIDOC week). Number of Indigenous events promoted on the ALRC’s website. 16 staff and commissioners attend 2 days cross cultural training at Tranby Aboriginal College. |
2.7 Maintain subscriptions to Indigenous magazines and newsletters, Indigenous law journals |
Research Manager |
Ongoing, report December 2009 |
Current subscriptions |
2.8 Where possible promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and designers
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RAP Working Group |
Ongoing, report December 2009 |
Number of Indigenous artworks/designs used in ALRC publications. Gilimbaa designed the front cover and invitation for the launch of Reform 93. Maurice Shipp designed the front cover of the ALRC’s RAP Plan 2009. |
2.9 Seek opportunities to purchase and display Indigenous artwork and use Indigenous consultants whenever possible |
Executive Director |
Ongoing, report December 2009 |
Indigenous consultants or services utilised by the ALRC. ALRC was given a picture from Maurice Shipp. |
| Opportunities | The ALRC is committed to creating opportunities for Indigenous peoples to be involved with the ALRC as staff members, interns, advisory committee members and consulted stakeholders in order to enhance our core business. | ||
| Focus area: As the ALRC’s workforce is small and stable, the focus will be on recruitment for the ALRC internship program, and enhanced participation in consultation and advisory processes. | |||
Action |
Responsibility |
Timeline |
Measurable Target |
3.1 Increase the number of Indigenous applicants to ALRC positions—advertise all new jobs in Indigenous media |
Executive Director |
Ongoing |
Number of Indigenous advertisements for each position. Legal Officer position was advertised in the Koori Mail and Indigenous legal network. |
3.2 Establish an Indigenous component to the internship program at the ALRC |
Executive Director
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Internship Program in place by June 2009 |
Number of Indigenous interns working at the ALRC. Strategic plans were developed at training at Tranby Aboriginal College. |
3.3 Set up mentorship program for Indigenous staff and interns by ALRC Indigenous Advisory Committee and/or commissioners and staff. Build relationships with Indigenous law students through organisations such as the UNSW Indigenous Law Centre and Indigenous Pre-Law Program |
President |
December 2009 |
Mentor program set up. |
3.4 Promote, monitor and report on use of Indigenous media and networks for recruitment and the internship program |
Executive Director |
At each recruitment and bi-annually for the internship advertisement |
Number of ads in Indigenous media and law student publications. Legal Officer position was advertised in the Koori Mail and Indigenous legal network. |
3.5 Identify suggestions for new ALRC references of primary interest to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by consulting with Indigenous Advisory Committee and Indigenous stakeholders |
President |
June 2009 |
Suggestions identified. Prioritised suggestions for new references to be referred to the Attorney-General of Australia. |
| Tracking progress and reporting | |||
Action |
Responsibility |
Timeline |
Measurable Target |
4.1 ALRC’s RAP Working Group to meet quarterly to monitor the implementation of the ALRC RAP |
Executive Director |
Quarterly commencing June 2009 |
Progress on ALRC RAP is reported to the ALRC’s Board of Management quarterly, to Attorney-General’s Department & Reconciliation Australia annually. |
4.2 Report progress to BoM and Staff |
RAP Working Group |
Quarterly |
RAP reviewed for effectiveness and updated. |
4.3 Report progress in Annual Report |
Executive Director |
Annually |
Report included in Annual Report. Report uploaded on ALRC and Reconciliation Australia websites. |
4.4 Report progress to Attorney-General and to Reconciliation Australia |
President |
Annually |
Report provided. |
4.5 Update RAP |
RAP Working Group |
Annually from February 2009 |
New RAP developed and approved by the ALRC’s Board of Management and Reconciliation Australia. New RAP uploaded on both websites. |