Effective governance is foundational to realising our RAP commitments. This involves transparent reporting on RAP progress and clarity of who is accountable for what. In this way, progress is thoroughly scrutinised and actions do not slip through the cracks.
Focus areas:
- ensuring the RAP Working Group operates effectively
- strengthening accountability and transparency to be able to confidently demonstrate progress
- maintaining Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation on the RAP Working Group and involvement in decision making
- maintaining accountability of senior executives for the RAP implementation.
| Action | Deliverable | Responsibility | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1 An effective RAP Working Group (RAPWG) to drive RAP implementation. | 4.1.1 RAPWG meets a minimum of 4 times per year to drive and monitor RAP implementation and reporting, in line with the Terms of Reference. | Lead: Reconciliation Champion Support: RAPWG Secretariat | November 2024, quarterly |
| 4.1.2 Maintain RAPWG membership to represent all key business areas and internal stakeholders (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, Mara Network and the Reconciliation Champion), in line with the Terms of Reference. RAPWG to consult with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community partner where opportunities arise. | Lead: Chief People Officer | November 2024, ongoing | |
| 4.1.3 Endorse and maintain resourcing needs for RAP implementation. Review as required. | Lead: Executive Board Support: People Branch; RAPWG, All SES leaders | November 2024, annually | |
| 4.2 Accountability and transparency through RAP reporting. | 4.2.1 Internally report on RAP progress a minimum of 4 times per year through:
| Lead: Chief People Officer; Reconciliation Champion Support: RAPWG | November 2024, annually |
| 4.2.2 Participate in the annual Reconciliation Australia Impact survey. | Lead: Chief People Officer Support: RAPWG | September 2025, annually | |
| 4.2.3 Submit a traffic light report to Reconciliation Australia at the conclusion of this RAP. | Lead: Reconciliation Champion Support: RAPWG | June 2027 | |
| 4.2.4 Communications Branch to work with business areas to publicise case studies of community engagement contributing to reconciliation. | Lead: Assistant Secretary, Communications | September 2025 | |
| 4.2.5 Develop a revised reporting template for RAP progress. | Lead: Chief People Officer Support: Policy Projects and Taskforce Office Consult: Mara Network, RAPWG, Reconciliation Champion | February 2025 | |
| 4.3 Demonstrated progress on reconciliation. | 4.3.1 Develop and include questions on reconciliation in the existing PM&C External Stakeholder Satisfaction Survey to baseline and record stakeholders’ perceptions of PM&C’s efforts to advance reconciliation. | Lead: Assistant Secretary, Governance, Performance & Audit | April 2026 |
| 4.3.2 Participate in Reconciliation Australia’s biennial Workplace Reconciliation Action Plan Barometer and publish results on the intranet. | Lead: Chief People Officer Support: Reconciliation Champion, RAPWG | November 2024 and September 2026 | |
| 4.3.3 Include multiple agency-specific questions in the annual APS Employee Census to measure, for example, perceptions of reconciliation, engagement in cultural learning and reconciliation activities and the extent to which staff actively seek to advance reconciliation in their roles. | Lead: Chief People Officer | June 2025, annually | |
| 4.3.4 Register via Reconciliation Australia’s website to begin developing our next RAP. | Lead: Chief People Officer | November 2026 |