The City is currently preparing an Innovate RAP for 2023-2025, reflecting on where the City is at with reconciliation and what further actions are needed. The new RAP is expected to be in place by July 2023.
Reconciliation is about building and strengthening respectful and genuine relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians. Reconciliation Australia, which guides the development of RAPs views reconciliation as based on five dimensions that all work together: race relations, equality and equity, unity, institutional integrity, and historical acceptance.
Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) contribute to closing the gap in socio-economic outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
A RAP outlines practical actions to create inclusive opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, fostering respectful relationships and enhancing cultural understanding. They generally focus on areas such as relationships, respect, opportunities, and reporting.
The City has had three RAPs. The most recent was a Stretch RAP, which set targets for employment, engaging with Aboriginal businesses, and other actions.
Did you know?
Cockburn was the first Perth metropolitan local government to have a RAP approved by Reconciliation Australia in July 2011.
Achievements from the City's Previous RAPs
The City has made some significant achievements during its first three RAPs, including:
- Nyungar Tourist Trail
- Nyungar signage
- Use of stories in language
- Reconciliation and NAIDOC Week events
- Increase in employment of First Nations people
- Planning our Aboriginal Cultural and Visitors Centre.
Development of a new Innovate RAP for 2023-2025
The new Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan will provide a framework with actions, timeframes, and requirements to report, turning good intentions into measurable actions.
Consultation with elders, knowledge holders, and the community was completed in February 2023. The City is now preparing findings of the consultation to brief Council before preparing the draft RAP for presentation to Reconciliation Australia and Council.
For more information about the RAP, please contact the Aboriginal Community Development Officer on 08 9411 3444 or at [email protected].
For more general information about RAPs, visit Reconciliation Australia.