Action Deliverable Timeline Responsibility

Transcription

1 Relationships QLS recognises the importance of developing meaningful and respectful relationships with First Nations peoples. We look forward to working together to ensure a strong and positive shared future focused on developing relationships, mutual respect and increased opportunities for an inclusive legal profession with adequate cultural representation. Action Deliverable Timeline Responsibility 1. The QLS RAP Working Group () actively monitors RAP development and implementation of actions, tracking progress and reporting. Oversee the development, endorsement and launch of the RAP. Ensure First Nations peoples are represented on the. Meet at least quarterly each year to monitor and report on RAP implementation. July 2017 July 2016 February 2017 May 2017 August 2017 November 2017 Corporate secretary/ CEO/ president Corporate secretary/ CEO/ president Establish Terms of Reference for the RAP. July 2016 Corporate secretary/ CEO/ president/ 2. Celebrate and participate in National Reconciliation Week (NRW) by providing opportunities to build and maintain relationships between First Nations peoples and other Australians. Organise at least one internal event for NRW each year. Register our NRW event via Reconciliation Australia s NRW 27 May - 3 June, website. Support an external NRW event. Ensure our working group participates in an external event to recognise and celebrate NRW. Establish and publish a list and maintain a database of key First Nations stakeholders in legal organisations. Organise bi-annual meetings with key First Nations stakeholders in legal organisations. Investigate opportunities within the Queensland legal profession to promote NRW October 2017 and April 2018,, People and Culture / Events / CEO / and Design / Proctor) / / president /CEO / Marketing, Digital and Design / 1

2 3. Develop and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with First Nations peoples, communities and organisations to support positive outcomes. Develop and implement an engagement plan to work with our First Nations stakeholders. Meet with local First Nations organisations to develop guiding principles for future engagement. January 2018 CEO / president / CEO /president / Work with private, community and pro bono legal organisations to develop processes for facilitating free community legal education for First Nations groups. Start September 2017 CEO / president / / L&PD / QLS Ethics Centre 4. Raise internal and external awareness of our RAP to promote reconciliation across our business and sector. Implement and review a strategy to communicate our RAP to all internal and external stakeholders. Promote reconciliation through active engagement with all stakeholders. May 2017 Ongoing General manager,, and Design President / CEO Present and promote the RAP to all members and employees to ensure they gain a greater understanding of how they can contribute to reconciliation. May 2017 and President / CEO / People and Culture Increasing our engagement with our members who have active reconciliation action plans and activities in place and identifying joint areas of focus where we can work together to support opportunities for First Nations peoples and their communities. President / CEO / General Manager, and Design 5. Include other unique relationships actions and targets related to your core business and vision for reconciliation. Support Reconciliation Australia and Reconciliation Queensland Inc. Establish a First Nations Law Committee to consider, advocate for and communicate First Nations community and legal interests. Ongoing July 2017 President / CEO / Government relations principal advisor (Advocacy), CEO 2

3 Respect QLS acknowledges and respects Australia s First Peoples, their unique cultures, languages, countries and their rich history. We recognise our shared history and the remarkable contributions of Australia s First Peoples and we look forward to working together toward a strong and positive shared future focused on developing relationships, mutual respect and increased opportunities. Action Deliverable Timeline Responsibility 6. Engage employees in cultural learning opportunities to increase understanding and appreciation of First Nations cultures, histories and achievements. Develop and implement a cultural awareness training strategy for our staff which defines the cultural learning needs of employees in all areas of our business and considers various ways cultural learning can be provided. CEO / People and Culture Investigate opportunities to work with local Traditional Owners and/or First Nations consultants to develop cultural awareness training. CEO / People and Culture Provide opportunities for members, RAP champions, Human Resource (HR) managers and other key leadership staff to participate in cultural training. CEO / People and Culture Implement a strategy to include First Nations content and cultural awareness training in external continuing profession development and Symposia. October 2017, Ongoing with annual review General manager, Partnerships / L&PD Work with First Nations and other legal organisations to build a repository of culturally appropriate legal resources and facilitating partnerships for the development of resources. August 2017 and 3

4 7. Engage employees to promote understanding of the significance of First Nations cultural protocols, such as Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country, to ensure there is a shared meaning. Develop, implement and communicate a cultural protocol document for Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country. Develop a list of key contacts for organising a Welcome to Country and maintaining respectful partnerships. March 2018 November 2017, Corporate secretary / / CEO / president Invite a Traditional Owner to provide a Welcome to Country at least one significant event each year. March 2017, CEO / People and Culture / General manager, Partnerships / L&PD / Events Include Acknowledgement of Country at the commencement of important external and external meetings. Organise and display an Acknowledgment of Country plaque in our office/s or on our office building. Ongoing July 2017 CEO / president CEO / Corporate Services Display the Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag in both the foyer and meeting rooms. July 2017 CEO / Corporate Services Display First Nations artwork in our office July 2017 CEO / Corporate Services 8. Provide opportunities for First Nations staff to engage with their culture and communities Present a lunch and learn session to QLS staff and encourage staff awareness with social activities at least once a year. Review HR policies and procedures to ensure there are no barriers to staff participating in NAIDOC Week. July 2017, First week of July, People and Culture People and Culture 4

5 by celebrating NAIDOC Week. Provide opportunities for all First Nations staff to participate with their cultures and communities during NAIDOC Week. Involve stakeholders and staff in NAIDOC Week celebrations 9. Include other unique actions related to your core business and vision for reconciliation. Celebrate and recognise First Nations dates of significance. Ongoing People and Culture In the review of existing policies or the development of new policies, consideration to be given to the QLS RAP and other cultural responsibilities specific to First Nations peoples. July 2017 CEO / Corporate secretary / People and Culture 5

6 Opportunities QLS is committed to supporting, promoting and improving access for Queensland First Nations law students, lawyers and other professionals to undertake pathways in the law. As the profession s trusted adviser, QLS is committed to providing employment and professional development opportunities in recognition of the invaluable contribution and enrichment that First Nations people bring to the legal profession. As the peak organisation for solicitors in Queensland, QLS is also committed to encouraging lawyers and law firms to engage in reconciliation activities and events. Action Deliverable Timeline Responsibility 10. Investigate opportunities to improve and increase First Nations employment outcomes within our workplace Consider a First Nations employment strategy. CEO / Corporate secretary / People and Culture Support existing First Nations staff and engage with existing First Nations staff to consult on employment strategies, including professional development. Advertise vacancies utilising at least one First Nations recruitment agency. Collect information or identify QLS s current employment numbers for First Nations staff to inform future employment opportunities. Review HR and recruitment procedures and policies to support First Nations employees and future applicants participating in our workplace. Promoting, encouraging and supporting First Nations participation in QLS Certificate IV and Diplomas. November 2018, People and Culture 6

7 11. Investigate opportunities to incorporate First Nations supplier diversity within our organisation. Review procurement policies and procedures to identify barriers to First Nations businesses to supply our organisation with goods and services. July 2018, General manager Corporate Services / CEO / Investigate First Nations businesses that can be used to procure goods and services. Develop one commercial relationship with an First Nations -owned business. Investigate Supply Nation membership. Investigate opportunities to partner with the Queensland First Nations Chamber of Commerce. Select at least one First Nations business as one of QLS s community partnerships on an annual basis. Supporting at least one First Nations charity on an annual basis 12. Unique opportunities for students Work together with QLS s Equalising Opportunities in the Law Committee to further develop the Lawlink program. To develop partnerships with relevant education and training organisations to provide and support initiatives designed to increase the numbers of First Nations students enrolling in legal education Develop/partner with a First Nations professional mentoring network Ongoing / EOL / Events February, January 2018 General manager, and Design / QLS Ethics Centre / CEO Support scholarships for First Nations students to celebrate the academic success of First Nations law students and provide financial support to sponsor First Nations students to the National First Nations Legal Conference. January 2018, CEO / General manager, Partnerships 7

8 To support leadership of First Nations people by promoting and supporting the National Indigenous Legal Professional of the Year and National Indigenous Law Student of the Year awards. October 2017, CEO / General manager, Partnerships Investigate the establishment of a state-based prize similar to the National First Nations Lawyer Prize and Law Student Prize. CEO / General manager, Partnerships Investigate entry barriers which may create challenges for First Nations students to transition from study into the profession. January 2018, Investigate further student initiatives (both tertiary and high school) and evaluate effectiveness of current initiatives offered by the QLS that can be further developed. Ongoing President / CEO / / General manager, Partnerships 13. Unique opportunities for the profession. Publish articles and information to educate the profession regarding matters of First Nations Peoples importance and significance on a quarterly basis. March 2017, June 2017, September 2017, December 2017, / Advocacy / General manager, and Design / president / CEO Investigate updating Aboriginal English and the Law publication and rolling out continuing professional development throughout Queensland. June 2018, / Advocacy / General manager, and Design / QLS Ethics Centre / L&PD / Events 8

9 Develop and implement retention strategies for First Nations people in the legal profession June 2018, Ongoing / CEO / president / QLS Ethics Centre Investigate executive mentoring of First Nations lawyers June 2018, / President / CEO / QLS Ethics Centre / L&PD / Events Develop seminars to assist small practices and sole practitioners throughout Queensland to engage and support First Nations communities. February 2018, / Advocacy / General manager, and Design / QLS Ethics Centre / L&PD / Events 14. Unique opportunities for internal staff and the wider Queensland community. Develop a cultural mentoring network for existing staff and managers. February 2018, / People and Culture QLS Ethics Centre Develop and foster understanding and cultural awareness within QLS and continue to evolve our internal diversity and inclusion practices to ensure our RAP goals and actions are supported and realised. Develop publications to assist the community members on areas of legal practice., July 2018, CEO/ People and Culture / Advocacy / General manager, and Design 9

10 Investigate opportunities to increase pro bono activities for First Nations peoples. July 2018, Ongoing / Advocacy / General manager, and Design / president / CEO / QLS Ethics Centre Advocate for more funding and improved court resources and services both for the Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Court and all courthouses throughout Queensland. July 2017, / Advocacy / CEO / president Raise awareness, consider law reform and advocate on reducing the over-representation of First Nations people in the justice system. July 2017, / Advocacy / CEO / president 10

11 Tracking progress and reporting Action Deliverable Timeline Responsibility 15. Report RAP achievements, challenges and learnings to Reconciliation Australia. Complete and submit the RAP Impact Measurement Questionnaire to Reconciliation Australia. 30 September, CEO / president / Investigate participating in the RAP Barometer. Biennially Develop and implement systems and capability needs to track, measure and report on RAP activities. 16. Report RAP achievements, challenges and learnings internally and externally. Publically report our RAP achievements, challenges and learnings. September, CEO / 17. Review, refresh and update RAP. Review, refresh and update RAP based on learnings, challenges and achievements. October 2018, Send draft RAP to Reconciliation Australia for formal feedback and endorsement. Biennially CEO / president 18. Include other actions related to tracking progress and reporting. Prepare and publish an annual report card on progress and achievements October 2018, CEO / president Contact details Include contact details (job title, phone and ) for public enquiries about your RAP Name: Louise Pennisi Position: Governance Executive Phone: (07) l.pennisi@qls.com.au 11