CARERS AUSTRALIA RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN

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1 CARERS AUSTRALIA RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN

2 WORKING TOGETHER A WORD FROM OUR CEO Carers Australia is pleased to introduce our inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). This RAP seeks to formally implement steps in our commitment to reconciliation. Carers Australia is committed to recognising, celebrating and supporting Australia s 2.6 million family carers. Through implementing this RAP we aim to better represent and raise awareness of the needs and issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers, and commit to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities to best bring about change. Photography throughout this document has been supplied by Wayne Quilliam This Reconciliation Action Plan includes a range of initiatives that seek to actively demonstrate respect, recognition and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their cultures and communities. We look forward to growing our mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers, communities and organisations. I am proud to be the CEO of an organisation where all Board members and staff are committed to having a deepened understanding of the culture and needs of Australia s First peoples, and particularly the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers. We are committed to working together with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities to best ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers have the same rights, choices and opportunities as all other Australians. As the national peak body for carers and through our RAP we aim to provide a good practice model to other organisations in our sector. We will encourage active and participation in activities and events that contribute to enhancing the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities in Australia, with a particular emphasis upon carers in those communities. I would like to formally thank Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Agnes Shea, Annette Shea and Johnny Huckle for participating in, and making invaluable contributions to our RAP working group. With the guidance of these key members I feel confident that Carers Australia has created a foundational RAP from which we as an organisation can grow, learn and best bring about change. I look forward to reporting our successes and lessons learned from the first year of our RAP journey. CARERS AUSTRALIA / RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN /

3 OVERVIEW OUR VISION FOR RECONCILIATION OUR BUSINESS Carers Australia s vision for reconciliation is an Australia that celebrates diversity, upholds equality and recognises and respects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians. This vision is fundamental to our commitment to building a better Australia in which carers can live, work, socialise and care. Carers Australia acknowledges that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers often have unique and specific needs. We understand and recognise that it is essential that these needs be met so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers may have the same health and wellbeing outcomes and life opportunities as other Australians. We aim to reflect our vision for reconciliation in our organisational culture, which is one of recognition and respect. This culture is imbued across all that we do and permeates our governance, management, communication, stakeholder relationships and our day-to-day working activities. We commit to working collaboratively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers to best meet the needs of all carers in Australia. Carers Australia is the national peak body representing Australia s carers. Our vision is an Australia that values and supports the contribution that carers make both to the people they care for and to the community as a whole. At Carers Australia we work collaboratively with partners and our member organisations, the state and territory Carers Associations, to raise awareness, advocate for positive change and to deliver a range of essential national carer services. Carers Australia has worked since 1993 to bring the diversity of needs of carers to the attention of government and to the community. We have played an integral role in developing a community that better recognises and values carers. Today we live in an Australia that has a stronger awareness of carers and the caring role. We have carer recognition legislation at the federal level and in most states and territories. At the federal level we also have a National Carer Strategy. We work to ensure policy makers give attention to carers in key areas of policy development. Whilst we have had many successes, there is still much work to be done as carers often experience increased social isolation, poorer physical and mental health and greater financial stress than non-carers. 2 CARERS AUSTRALIA / RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN / CARERS AUSTRALIA / RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN /

4 OUR RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN Carers Australia s Strategic Plan contains specific commitments to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers, including the development and implementation of a RAP. This RAP has been developed by the Carers Australia RAP working group. Carers Australia s CEO Ara Cresswell as well as Board member Anne Butorac are active members of our working group, which also includes Ngunnawal Elder, Mrs Agnes Shea, Ms Annette Shea and Mr Johnny Huckle. The working group provided guidance and assistance to Carers Australia to ensure this RAP contains commitments to realistic and achievable outcomes. Aunty Agnes Shea circulated this RAP through the local Aboriginal community in the ACT for feedback; this feedback has been implemented throughout. The actions in this RAP outline some of the commitments and practical efforts Carers Australia will make throughout the next year in order to contribute to the reconciliation movement. Our approach centres around initiatives to better ensure that we at Carers Australia have a stronger and deeper cultural awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their needs as carers. We aim to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers and other peoples as well as their cultures are recognised in the way we work, and that this recognition will be championed and communicated to our stakeholders. As Australia s national peak body representing Australia s 2.6 million carers we are deeply committed to continuing development of innovative initiatives to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers and believe our Reconciliation Action Plan is a strong start to ensuring that we are positive and active contributors to reconciliation. 4 CARERS AUSTRALIA / RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN / CARERS AUSTRALIA / RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN /

5 RELATIONSHIPS ACTION RESPONSIBILITY TIMELINE MEASURABLE TARGET Carers Australia is committed to building, maintaining and fostering mutually beneficial relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and organisations. We are committed to forming successful partnerships and collaborations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and organisations which are based on trust and respect. FOCUS AREA: UNDERSTANDING THE CARING ROLE OF ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER CARERS THROUGH ENHANCED RELATIONSHIPS Establish a national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Carer Expert Reference Group (ERG) to inform best practice and cultural awareness. Increase collaboration and relationships with key peak bodies and other national organisations representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. CEO and National Engagement Coordinator. CA Board, CEO, National Engagement Coordinator October 2013 ERG established. ERG participation of up to 6-8 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers from various communities within Australia. ERG to meet once in first year to contribute to best practice and policy concerning all issues related to Carers in Australia as well as cultural awareness within the organisation itself. Carers Australia to establish relationships with key Peak and National bodies representing Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander peoples; including but not limited to: First Peoples Disability Network (FPDN), National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS). Share RAP journey with state and territory Carers Associations. RAP working group May 2013 All state and territory Carer Associations informed of Carers Australia s RAP journey. Increase access to information regarding the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander caring role and the Indigenous caring model. Communications Manager June 2013 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander online resource page created and promoted Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resources promoted through state and territory Associations 6 CARERS AUSTRALIA / RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN / CARERS AUSTRALIA / RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN /

6 RESPECT ACTION RESPONSIBILITY TIMELINE MEASURABLE TARGET Carers Australia recognises and upholds respect as the key to successful relationships and empowerment. Carers Australia believes that actively demonstrating respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will contribute toward ensuring programs supported and funded by us have the best success for all involved. Carers Australia commits to provide a welcoming environment and appropriate services and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers and their families. FOCUS AREA: DEMONSTRATING RESPECT AND ENSURING SERVICES ARE APPROPRIATE AND RESPECTFUL OF ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEOPLES AND CULTURES Carers Australia Board and staff members to be given the opportunity to participate in cultural awareness training. Acknowledgement of Country is practiced at events and meetings. Welcome to Country practiced Participate in Indigenous cultural events such as National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC. Subscribe to Indigenous media for access in the office for both staff and visitors. RAP working group Business Manager Organisation wide responsibility CEO to ensure policy upheld Organisation wide responsibility CEO to ensure policy upheld CEO September 2013 Formal cultural awareness training completed by 70% of Carers Australia s Board and staff by September Ongoing cultural awareness embedded in organisational policy. Acknowledgement of Country displayed in national office. Acknowledgement of Country at all board and staff meetings. Acknowledgement of Country to be made at public events. Welcome to Country organised for all large public or media events for which Carers Australia is responsible. Active participation in and promotion of Indigenous specific cultural events. National events advertised and promoted: on the Carers Australia website and through social media platforms in Carers Australia national news. CEO August 2013 Subscription to the National Indigenous Times, the Koori Mail or Tracker. Subscription made visible for viewing at reception and in common staff areas. Ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are represented in all visual communication material. CEO Communications Manager November 2013 All visual communications methods, ie websites, newsletters and marketing collateral, to include positive images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers and communities. Ensure wording regarding respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture is present on marketing collateral including website. Ensure research involving Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples complies with ethical guidelines. Research officer / Policy Policy Manager May 2013 August 2013 All research follows Guidelines for Ethical Research in Australian Indigenous Studies (AIATSIS). Carers Australia research policy created. 8 CARERS AUSTRALIA / RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN / CARERS AUSTRALIA / RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN /

7 OPPORTUNITIES Carers Australia works to improve the lives of carers. We do this through advocacy and national program management. We recognise that true advocacy and service delivery is founded and embedded in mutually beneficial relationships and opportunities. Carers Australia will extend and improve opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers and their families through a number of practical approaches within this RAP. ACTION RESPONSIBILITY TIMELINE MEASURABLE TARGET Create an Indigenous engagement strategy informed by the Expert Reference Group. Communications Manager December 2013 December 2013 March 2014 Indigenous engagement strategy created. Indigenous engagement strategy made publicly available via Carers Australia website. First stage of Indigenous engagement strategy implemented. Advertise future positions in Indigenous media in addition to usual outlets. Business Manager June 2013 and Employment opportunities advertised in Indigenous media. FOCUS AREA: INCREASED CONSULTATION, ENGAGEMENT AND OPPORTUNITIES WITH ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEOPLES AND ORGANISATIONS Build relationships with Indigenous suppliers for future procurement including office supplies. Research project undertaken to explore practical ways to overcome the various forms of isolation experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers. Business Manager December 2013 Policy Manager May 2013 May 2013 Quotes from Indigenous suppliers and business operators attained when sourcing procurement quotes. Two new relationships built with Indigenous suppliers. Report to be made publicly available. Report distributed to state and territory Carers Associations, relevant peak bodies and key Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders. 10 CARERS AUSTRALIA / RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN / CARERS AUSTRALIA / RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN /

8 TRACKING PROGRESS AND REPORTING ACTION RESPONSIBILITY TIMELINE MEASURABLE TARGET RAP is embedded and celebrated within Carers Australia as an inclusive and dynamic process. RAP champion RAP is a standing agenda item at all staff, team, management and board meetings. RAP included on website and shared with all other Carer Associations. Reporting RAP working group Ongoing monthly RAP meetings to ensure RAP on track. Annual report and review of RAP made available within Carers Australia Annual report. Quarterly report on RAP to Board. 12 CARERS AUSTRALIA / RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN / CARERS AUSTRALIA / RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN /

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