As the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Secretary and Reconciliation Champion, we are proud to reaffirm PM&C’s ongoing commitment to reconciliation through our new 2024–2027 Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

This Innovate level RAP is an important step in our journey. Over the next three years, we intend to build on our strong foundations necessary to commit to a Stretch RAP in 2027. The focus of this RAP is on building relationships, fostering a culturally safe workplace for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, and ensuring our policy advice is well-informed and leads to positive impacts in communities.

As a central agency invested in all areas of policy development, the department is uniquely positioned to influence reconciliation across the Australian Public Service (APS). This RAP will complement the Government’s commitment to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. It identifies tangible ways we can listen to, and work with, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partners to move reconciliation forward.

The actions in this RAP come from extensive engagement with staff across the department, including with PM&C’s Mara Network, and Ngunnawal Elders. Through deep listening yarning circles, one-on-one yarns with senior leaders, workshops and an all-staff survey, we fostered a safe place that allowed for truth-telling discussions.

This RAP sets out our commitment to continue to engage meaningfully and constructively with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders, build the cultural awareness and capability of our non-Indigenous staff, improve recruitment and retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, and ensure transparency and accountability of RAP implementation.

As leaders, we will encourage all PM&C staff, at all levels, to lead by example and to use our unique position to build a more inclusive Australia.