Reconciliation Australia has just released a report highlighting the achievements of Reconciliation Action Plans in Australian workplaces showing just how successful they are in making positive and sustainable change.
The Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Impact Measurement Report evaluates the collective impact of the RAP program and details the significant milestones made by the growing RAP community.
The RAP program was launched by Reconciliation Australia in July 2006 to turn good intentions into action by encouraging and supporting organisations, large and small, to engage within their sphere of influence in the national effort to close the 17-year gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and other Australians.
Nareen Young, DCA’s CEO is delighted to see how much has been achieved in terms of employment outcomes for Aboriginal people:
“Corporate Australia has embraced RAPs as a very valuable framework within which to build positive relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australia. We are pleased to see so many DCA member organisations highlighted in the report, including National Australia Bank, Allens, Woodside, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Department of Immigration & Citizenship and Wesfarmers to name a few.
“Employers who have yet to embark on a RAP should take a close look at how much Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians can benefit from this approach,” said Ms Young.
Reconciliation Australia Co-Chair Dr Tom Calma said: “RAPs provide a framework for organisations to pursue reconciliation through clear actions and commitments focused on respect, relationships and opportunities – and this is producing results.
“Creating a culture of respect in the workplace is fundamental to delivering sustainable opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” said Dr Calma.
The following statistics in the report highlight the significant achievements of the RAP program:
- Over 280 organisations have a RAP.
- More than 1.6 million Australians currently work or study in an organisation that has a RAP.
- RAP organisations are committed to employing more than 21,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. So far, 13,397 positions have been filled.
- RAP organisations have filled nearly 1,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander apprenticeships and traineeship positions.
- RAP organisations have purchased $26 million worth of goods and services from suppliers certified by the Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council (AIMSC) helping to further build Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned businesses and employment.
- More than $9 million has been provided by RAP organisations to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander scholarships.
- RAP organisations have committed to put 170,000 people through cultural awareness training and 22,000 have already taken this up.
- 161 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and communities are working with a RAP partner.
For more information on how you can develop a RAP for your organisation, visit: http://reconciliation.org.au/home/reconciliation-action-plans.
DCA and Reconciliation Australia partner to coordinate the National Indigenous Corporate Network. If your organisation has employees who are eligible to join the network, please contact Amber Roberts on (02) 9035 2852.
