“I will not assume I know what impacts my work will have on our First Nations communities.
I will listen, I will adapt, I will evolve and I will always seek to learn from the past”
Reconciliation at PM&C is everyone’s business. All staff in PM&C had the opportunity to contribute to the development of the RAP. This included authentic collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and stakeholders, ensuring their voices, aspirations and experiences are at the centre of its design.
Engagement for this RAP
To develop this RAP, a dedicated project team initially led by Dr Lisa Conway, Chair of the APS Senior Executive Service (SES) Indigenous Network, undertook a multi-faceted engagement process to capture insights and perspectives on reconciliation from departmental staff and Ngunnawal Elders.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander engagement – the RAP was shaped through an open, ongoing dialogue with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander colleagues. Dr Conway held yarning circles with First Nations staff (including the Mara Network) met one-on-one with the First Nations Champion, and conducted a yarning circle with senior Ngunnawal Elders. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff were regularly provided draft copies prior to actioning broader consultation.
- All-staff engagement – ideas for the new RAP were sourced from all-staff via a survey (190 respondents) and subsequent yarning circles. All-staff in PM&C were given the opportunity to provide detailed feedback on the draft RAP in June via the intranet and webinars.
- SES 1:1 engagement – yarns were held with departmental SES leaders to inform the scope and ambition of the new RAP. Dr Lisa Conway led these sessions using Dadirri ‘Aboriginal deep listening’ principles. In finalising the draft, SES were consulted directly where actions were relevant to their divisions/branches.
Ongoing consultation will be necessary to plan and implement the commitments outlined in the RAP, notably between the RAPWG, the Mara Network, Corporate Division and Information Services Division.
PM&C RAP Working Group
PM&C’s RAP Working Group drives and monitors progress of RAP actions, with transparency and accountability embedded into its governance structure. It comprises broad membership from across the department to ensure a representative mix of perspectives and lived experience is brought to the table.
| Role | Description | Responsible officer |
|---|---|---|
| Chair | Chairs meetings, coordinates activities, and seeks endorsement. | Reconciliation Champion |
| Responsible lead | Ensure work is occurring within their relevant functional/line areas to meet commitments under the RAP. | First Assistant Secretary – Corporate Chief People Officer Assistant Secretary – Communications Assistant Secretary – Shared Services |
| Key stakeholder | Optional involvement. Provide advice and visibility on the impacts of RAP actions on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. | First Nations Champion |
| First Nations community partner | Brings Ngunnawal perspectives including their community’s aspirations and lived experience. | Ngunnawal Elder |
| Contributors | Optional involvement. Provide advice and visibility on the impacts of RAP actions on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. | 4 x Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander employee representatives including 2 from the Mara Network (where possible at least one Torres Strait Islander representative) All First Nations SES (disclosed) |
| Advocate for reconciliation within their groups and bring their group’s views to the Working Group. | 5 x group representatives (one member from each PM&C group) | |
| Advises how policies can contribute to RAP actions and ensure alignment with Closing the Gap. | 1 x First Nations Policy Branch representative |