Innovate RAP – PM&C was the lead agency for Indigenous Affairs across the Australian Public Service during the time of this reconciliation action plan. This RAP was developed to complement PM&C’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment Strategy 2015–2018. The RAP contributed to positive outcomes such as:

• Strengthening the relationships with the department’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff.
• Fostering partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses and local communities.
• Offering PM&C employees opportunities and experiences to increasing cultural awareness and capability through learning about and connecting with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and heritage.
• Developing new strategies to attract, recruit and retain Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff.

The deliverables of this RAP were regarded as successful within the department. In 2017, the actions were reviewed and updated to reflect PM&C’s increased commitment, measurements and responsibilities towards reconciliation.

Stretch RAP – The success of the previous RAP enabled PM&C to move on to a ‘Stretch’ level RAP. The department undertook extensive consultations using an online platform (the Ideas Hub), face to face and video conferencing, focus group sessions, ongoing engagement with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employee Network, the department’s Indigenous SES and Reconciliation and Indigenous Champions. Some of the RAP outcomes include:

• Building understanding of truth telling and historical acceptance through staff networks and raising awareness on the impact of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Driving internal cultural change and further increasing the cultural competency of staff following a review of the department’s cultural awareness and development of a staff training strategy.
• Exceeding Indigenous Procurement Policy targets across the term of the RAP.

For the first time, the RAP featured a snapshot of achievements and case studies of reconciliation work completed to date.

For the duration of this RAP, 40% of the RAP Working Group were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees.

Innovate RAP – The department’s latest RAP was developed and implemented in the context of (1) the Indigenous Affairs portfolio moving to NIAA, (2) climate disasters in multiple states, (3) the international health, economic and social impacts of the global Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, (4) a Federal Election and (5) the 2023 referendum on a Voice to Parliament.

Despite more challenging circumstances as outlined above, a key outcome of this RAP was the elevated internal focus on opportunities around professional career development and advancement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, which was closely aligned with the Commonwealth Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Workforce Strategy 2020–24. This was achieved through the establishment of the Indigenous Staff Liaison Officer (ISLO) and Indigenous Liaison Officer (ILO) positions within the department’s People Branch to provide mentoring and culturally-suitable and safe support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff.

The RAP also used local Ngunnawal language throughout and was supported by an artwork by proud Gamilaroi Ularoi/Yuwaalaraay woman Lakkari Pitt. A key theme of the artwork was empowerment and the journey of reconciliation (story-telling) with the department as a central meeting place with its goal of creating opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Additionally, this RAP explored PM&C’s sphere of influence and contributed to strengthening the department’s collaboration with other government agencies through sharing experiences and resources concerning our mutual reconciliation journey.