OzChild Disability Services. innovate reconciliation action plan

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1 innovate reconciliation action plan

2 Acknowledgement of Country acknowledges the Boon Wurrung people as the traditional and continued custodians of this land where the Disability Services office is located in Mornington on the Mornington Peninsula. We pay respect to their Elders, past and present, their families and their descendants. We acknowledge that the land on which we meet was the place of age-old ceremonies of celebration, initiation and renewal, and that the local Aboriginal peoples have had and continue to have a unique role in the life of these lands. According to Boon Wurrung tradition, this land has always been protected by Bunjil, the creator and spiritual leader who travels as an eagle, and by Waarn, who protects the waterways and travels as a crow. Bunjil taught the Boon Wurrung people to always welcome guests. But he required the Boon Wurrung people to ask all visitors to make two promises: To obey the laws of Bunjil, and Not to harm the children or the land of Bunjil Acknowledgment of Contributions We acknowledge and thank the OzChild CEO and Executive Leadership Team for their support of the development and actions of our Reconciliation Action Plan We acknowledge and thank the children who attended the Koori Camp in August 2015, for completing the art work for the cover of our Reconciliation Action Plan We also wish to thank the following people for their time and expertise in contributing to the development of our Reconciliation Action Plan: Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan For more information, please contact: 947 Nepean Highway Mornington T: E: jashton@ozchild.org.au (Children Australia Inc.) ABN: Carolyn Briggs, Senior Elder, Boon Wurrung Language Area Nation and Traditional Custodian, for her time and guidance in meeting with us for our first Reconciliation Action Plan consultation Shelley Reys, AO, for her valuable advice with regard to our Reconciliation Action Plan process The current members of our Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group who identify as Aboriginal, for their expertise, knowledge, enthusiasm and time in walking this journey with us Career Trackers Indigenous Internship Program for their professionalism and for providing us with the opportunity to employ the first Aboriginal member of our Disability Services Team Reconciliation Australia, for the comprehensive valuable feedback as we progress through this journey. Copyright OzChild (Children Australia Inc). Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan

3 Our Vision for Reconciliation will continue to strengthen relationships with the local communities based on mutual respect, and foster respect in our organisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. We will actively promote opportunities for local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to be involved with our organisation through service provision, employment opportunities and volunteering. We will contribute to Reconciliation in Australia by implementing our Reconciliation Action Plan and being recognised as an organisation that actively contributes to Closing the Gap by providing culturally appropriate services which are responsive to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, children and young people with disabilities in our region. We are committed to implementing meaningful actions in a shared journey with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families with children and young people with additional learning needs, resulting in a sustained contribution to the well-being of the children and their families in our sphere of influence. Our Vision for Reconciliation on a National level is that all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people with additional learning needs will have access to, and be able to fully participate in every aspect of life they choose. Our Business is one of the programs within OzChild. Other OzChild services include foster care, kinship care, child and family support, training and consulting services, outreach services - school and community support and youth pathways. The Program works with families from all walks of life who have a child/young person with a disability or special learning needs. Our program provides a range of services to children and young people with disabilities. Programs include recreation activities, foster care, family based respite, a respite facility, and camps, all of which aim to be person centred, flexible, and focus on the unique needs of each individual. has a well-established history over the last nine years in building strong connections with and providing services to Aboriginal communities. Over this period of time we have conducted Koori Camps for children from the Southern and Eastern Regions on a regular basis and currently experience strong demand for these camps from families in the Eastern Region. We will continue to provide culturally appropriate services to support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in the Eastern region, and also aim to increase our service provision to the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in the Southern region. Building strong relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is important to our core business activities because one of our fundamental organisational values is to work under the Charter of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child, which states that all children have the same rights Therefore we have a commitment to offering services that are fair, equal and inclusive to all children and young people. We service the South Eastern Region of Melbourne Victoria. 44 Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan

4 Our Reconciliation Action Plan We chose to develop a RAP as a practical and powerful way to make a contribution towards Reconciliation in Australia and to commit to specific business actions to provide us with a vehicle for engaging with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to ensure culturally appropriate services are available for children and young people with disabilities in the Southern Region. We aim to build on our relationships and the services we have provided with Aboriginal communities to date, and identify key focus areas to be implemented over the next two years. Our Achievements and Actions to Date In late 2013 we commenced a relationship with the Career Trackers Indigenous Internship Program. Our first Aboriginal intern joined Disability Services in June 2014, and remains an integral part of our RAP Working Group. She is our first Aboriginal employee. As a result of this relationship a second Aboriginal intern has since joined OzChild in the Home Based Care program. A specific Acknowledgment of Country for Disability Services is complete and has been distributed to staff for use as appropriate. Disability Services Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities Policy is in place, and is available on staff intranet. A document outlining the policy, procedure and guidelines regarding Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country is in place. A copy of this has been distributed to all Disability staff and is available on staff intranet. A copy of the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) booklet Caring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Out of Home Care is provided to all Disability Services carers. A process is in place for all non-aboriginal carers caring for an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander child to attend VACCA Nikara s Journey training. VACCA Aboriginal Cultural Competence training is now mandatory for all Disability Services staff who have not previously attended Cultural Awareness training hosted a NAIDOC Week event in July 2014 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags are displayed in the public reception area of Disability Services. The Aboriginal Australia Wall map is displayed in the Disability reception area There is a display of Aboriginal art work in the Disability reception area We have an Acknowledgment of Country plaque in the reception area Initial contact has been made with the First Peoples Disability Network to explore ways of working together We have developed a commercial relationship with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander catering business. This company now provides catering for our training and meeting events. 6 Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan

5 Developing our Reconciliation Action Plan When our first Aboriginal intern joined Disability Services in June 2014, she facilitated the commencement of our RAP and became an integral part of our Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group. She developed the Disability Services Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities Policy which is available on the staff intranet and has been submitted to the OzChild Executive Leadership Team. The Working Group is currently made up a combination of members from, the OzChild Research and Practice Enhancement Officer, who represents OzChild and is our link with the wider organisation, and representatives from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The first meeting was in July We acknowledge the expertise and knowledge of the current members of our RAP Working Group who identify as Aboriginal: Nadine Rudkin, a Barkindji woman whose Totem is the wedge tail eagle Deb Mellett, Aboriginal Health, Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association Incorporated We also acknowledge the expertise and knowledge of Julie Buxton, Advisor to the Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young people on human rights and justice issues, and coordinator for the annual Baany to Warrna (Water to Water) Festival: The Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association Incorporated in Hastings is a Partner in our Reconciliation Action Plan. The Baany to Warrna (Water to Water) Festival is a Partner in our Reconciliation Action Plan. The Senior Manager Disability Services is the Reconciliation Action Plan Champion. Reconciliation Actions Relationships We recognise the importance of maintaining ongoing respectful mutually beneficial relationships with the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and of building new relationships in order to expand our successful Koori Camp program, whilst also offering additional services to respond to identified needs. Providing Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander children and young people with opportunities to engage with education about their culture, offering opportunities for the children to form positive Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peer relationships, and actively engaging with the children and young people within a person centred framework is fundamental to our core business commitment to Reconciliation. We also recognise the importance of building strong relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people and other Australians and all our services will reflect this in order to provide opportunities for inclusion and equity. The Services RAP Working Group (RWG) will actively monitor RAP development, including the implementation of actions, progress tracking and reporting. will celebrate National Reconciliation Week each year with events to foster relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non- Aboriginal employees. will endeavour to maintain current relationships and build mutually beneficial relationships with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Organisations. RAP Champion (Senior Manager Services) RAP Champion (Senior Manager Services) RAP Champion (Senior Manager Services) Team Leader Flexible Respite Flexible Respite SEP 2015, 2016, 2017 DEC 2015 MAY 27 3 JUN th May- 3rd June, 2017 The RAP Working Group will meet twice a year in May and November to review actions, and consider additional goals and actions. The RAP Working Group will ensure that actions are delivered by the due dates as documented in RAP Following each RAP meeting, progress reports will be made available to all Disability Services staff detailing what has been achieved and any additional goals and actions. Progress reports will also be provided to the OzChild Executive Leadership Team. An Annual Report on progress will be submitted to Reconciliation Australia in compliance with the required dates The RAP Working Group will develop and distribute an Expression of Interest to join the group to appropriate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members Annual National Reconciliation Week events to encourage reconciliation by sharing culture between Disability Services staff and members of the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Invite the OzChild CEO and Executive Team to this annual event. Maintain relationship with Career Trackers Indigenous Internship Program. Maintain relationship with VACCA Maintain and strengthen relationship with Eastern Aboriginal Health Service by providing the service with regular feedback from Koori Camps and regular contact with families. Explore ongoing ways of working together with the First People s Disability Network Maintain relationships with venues which are culturally appropriate for Koori Camps Continue to explore other mutually beneficial relationships with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations Maintain and strengthen relationship with the Mornington Peninsula Shire Aboriginal Support & Development Team Maintain and strengthen partnership with Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association Incorporated Invite RAP partners who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander to Team Meetings to provide information about their roles and updates with regard to their programs. 8 Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan

6 Respect Respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures, lands and histories is important to because embedding Cultural Respect into the services and delivery we offer will lead to improved outcomes for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients, more efficient and effective services, and improved client satisfaction. will foster respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia within the organisation through creating opportunities for learning about and celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Embedding Cultural Respect into the services and delivery we offer will lead to improved outcomes for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients. evidence-based design employees and volunteers will be educated about the protocols of Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country, and understand the meaning and importance of each. MAR 2016 MAR 2017 All Disability Services employees and any new employees are informed with regard to the document outlining the policy, procedure and guidelines regarding Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country. An Acknowledgement of Country is used as a mark of respect at the beginning of meetings as appropriate. The document outlining the policy, procedure and guidelines regarding Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country is available for ongoing referral on the staff Intranet and is provided to the OzChild Executive Leadership Team. The above document is included in the Disability Induction Training Manual for new staff. Education of the protocols is provided in every Induction Training. will publicly display Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artwork and publications to show respect to the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities SEP 2015 Continue to explore options for publicly paying respect to the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, such as art, posters etc. Artwork for the cover of our RAP to be completed by Aboriginal children attending Koori Camp Consult with regard to agreement and consent for the use of all artwork and imagery with the families of the young artists. Acknowledge the contribution of all the young artists on the cover of the RAP. will provide opportunities for employees to learn about Australian cultures, fostering understanding and appreciation. Team Leader Flexible Respite A Welcome to Country from a Traditional Owner is included at every annual OzChild All Staff Day. All new staff in Disability Services to attend Cultural Competence Training. All direct staff working on the Koori camps or with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children attend VACCA training prior to working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children and young people. Ongoing review of existing formal carer/child matching process, inclusive of cultural needs, prior to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children being placed in care. will provide opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees to engage with their culture and community through NAIDOC Week events. JUL 2016 JUL 2017 Work with the OzChild Human Resources department to review organisation wide HR policies and procedures to ensure there are no barriers to staff participating in NAIDOC Week. Ensure that opportunities are provided for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees to participate in local NAIDOC Week events and that this is given priority over workloads. Host NAIDOC Week events. Invite the OzChild CEO and Executive Team to these annual events. JUN 2016 Develop a pilot cultural awareness training strategy so all staff can participate in additional Cultural Awareness Training. Priority is for staff working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, and foster carers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. 10 Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan

7 Opportunities OzChild is committed to providing services that are accessible to members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. To achieve this, we will actively work towards increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees, suppliers, and clients. OzChild has a partnership with the Career Trackers Indigenous Internship Program, which will be maintained and strengthened in order to take on more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander interns in OzChild, as well as encourage additional internships in all other programs. will actively work to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment opportunities in our organisation. Partnership with the Career Trackers Indigenous Internship Program is maintained in order to take on more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander interns in OzChild. Liaise with other programs in OzChild to encourage additional internships. Apply for Grants for funding to enable us to take on additional interns in partnership with the Career Trackers Program and offer additional camps to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people. All job advertisements for positions in Disability Services include the phrase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are encouraged to apply. All job vacancies are advertised in Koori Mail or other local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander media as appropriate Work with the OzChild Human Resources to review organisation wide HR procedures and policies to ensure barriers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees are addressed. Maintain engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and consult with them on employment strategies and professional development. Services will actively seek opportunities to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients accessing our programs. Flexible Respite Team Leader Flexible Respite Tracking progress and reporting MAR 2016 & 2017 SEP 2015, 2016, 2017 will report achievements, challenges and learnings to Reconciliation Australia for inclusion in the Annual Impact Measurement Report. will make the RAP available to the public on OzChild s website once endorsed by Reconciliation Australia. September annually Consult with the Aboriginal members of the RAP Working Party and community members with regard to strategies for determining the needs of the local communities. Maintain and review a system for initiating family referrals from local organisations, such as Peninsula Health, the Willum Warrain Community Centre, Headspace, Frankston Gathering Place, Dandenong Coop, Bunerong Coop and Mornington Peninsula Council. Ongoing consultation with the First Peoples Disability Network with regard to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and potential for referral to our programs. Ongoing provision of Flexible Respite brochures to Willum Warrain for distribution to the local communities. Ongoing inclusion of articles providing information about our services in Willum Warrain Newsletters. Participate in the Water to Water Festival in March annually. Facilitate the inclusion of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the OzChild Home Based Care program. Annual participation in the Bay Mob Indigenous Health & Education Expos. The RAP Impact Measurement Questionnaire to Reconciliation Australia is submitted annually. Assistant Manager When endorsed. Once endorsed by Reconciliation Australia, the RAP will be available to the public via the OzChild website. 12 Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan

8 Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan For more information, please contact: 947 Nepean Highway Mornington T: E: (Children Australia Inc.) ABN: Copyright OzChild (Children Australia Inc). 14 Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan