City adopts Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2018-2020

Maroondah City Council has adopted its Maroondah Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2018-2020, which outlines Council’s commitment to promoting and working towards greater reconciliation in Maroondah.

The Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) was formally endorsed at the Council Meeting on Monday 29 April, 2019.

The RAP sets out the focus areas and actions that Council will prioritise to promote understanding and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Maroondah Mayor, Cr Rob Steane said the RAP would promote a range of spiritual, social, economic, health and educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians living within the municipality, while also celebrating Indigenous culture and knowledge.

“By adopting the RAP, Council commits to continuing working positively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members, to learn, acknowledge and move forward together as one whole community.

“We are excited to present our RAP and are confident the actions and aims it sets out will assist Council to embed reconciliation in its core business, and in doing so, benefit the wider community,” Cr Steane said.

The RAP will build on Council’s considerable work within the reconciliation space to date, which has occurred under its Maroondah Reconciliation Policy Statement 2008. Activities have included the annual Reconciliation Week program, as well as collaborations with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and individuals on various initiatives, networks and events.

“This RAP further encapsulates Council’s commitment to the important process of reconciliation and desire to build strong partnerships with the local Indigenous community,” he said.

Cr Steane acknowledged the contribution of the Maroondah Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group (MRAP), community stakeholders and the broader community in developing the RAP.

“Council’s RAP is our guiding policy document on reconciliation that has been developed in consultation with the MRAP, which comprises representatives from the Wurundjeri Tribal Land Compensation and Cultural Heritage Council, Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place, Boorndawan William Aboriginal Healing Service, EACH and the Maroondah Movement for Reconciliation,” he said.

Cr Steane said Council had progressed significantly along its reconciliation journey with some great achievements, including:

Observance of Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country protocols for significant events and meetings. Working alongside local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and with individuals on various initiatives, networks and events. Naming places and sites in Maroondah after words from the Wurundjeri language, such as the Mullum Mullum Cultural Heritage Trail depicting Aboriginal and early-settler history. Funding and supporting local reconciliation groups: Learning and Reconciliation Maroondah Inc. and Maroondah Movement for Reconciliation Inc.

“Council recognises the valuable contribution to the Maroondah region made by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and looks forward to a future of mutual respect and harmony,” Cr Steane said.

The Maroondah Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2018-2020 will be officially launched to the community as part of Council’s Reconciliation Week event on Tuesday 28 May at the Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place, 47-49 Patterson Street, Ringwood East. To find out more