Canberra Community Law (CCL) Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan October 2017 to Canberra Community Law (CCL) Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan i
We Acknowledge Wiradjuri artist Leanne Pope for use of her artwork Fresh life after rain 2017 for our identifier, marketing and promotional materials. Fresh Life After Rain Often you will hear the Black and Yellow Crested Cockatoo call and fly over the cityscapes of Canberra just before it rains. The green gum leaves and gum nuts represent new life that blossoms around our City after the rain. Our Spiritual Ancestors dance with rain drops nourishing the country. This artwork was painted especially for Canberra Community Law to not only enrich the Dhurrawang Aboriginal Human Rights program but to give an insight to CIT students the making of an artwork to the design of a logo. Leanne Pope
Canberra Community Law acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we work in the ACT and surrounding region and pay our respect to the Ngunnawal elders past, present and future for they hold the stories, traditions, and the cultures of their people. We are grateful that we share this land and express our sorrow for the costs of this sharing to Australia s First Peoples. We will continue to acknowledge the legacy of our history and strive in our goals to empower our community through social justice. We hope that our efforts will contribute to a realisation of equity, justice and partnership with traditional custodians of this land. Our Business Canberra Community Law (CCL) is a community legal centre providing legal services to people on low incomes or facing disadvantage in the ACT and region. We employ 19 people including an Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander solicitor and an Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander law cadet. Our office is located in Canberra and we provide outreach services at a number of locations including the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, the Early Morning Centre, Munjuwa Aboriginal Corporation, One Link, St John s Care and West Belconnen Family and Community Centre. Our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) We are developing a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) because we want to contribute to the realization of equity, justice and partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT and region. We have been considering a RAP since 2014 to reflect our commitment to improving our service to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients. As this is the first CCL RAP it is a Reflect Plan for one year to enable us to review current practices and establish a baseline for future plans of longer duration. The RAP is being championed by a staff RAP Working and Aboriginal workers from the Women s Legal Centre. CCL thanks these workers for their support and contributions. CCL has also provided draft versions of the RAP to the following organisations for comment: ACTCOSS; Beryl Women s Refuge; Everyman; Gugan Gulwan; Reconciliation Australia and Winnunga Nimmityjah. Our Current Reconciliation Activities CCL staff have participated in developing our RAP since 2014; in the ACTCOSS Reconciliation Peer Network in 2016 and 2017; the National Reconciliation Week Bridge Walk in 2016 and 2017; cultural safety training in 2017; and established Dhurrawang Aboriginal Human Rights Program in 2017. CCL staff have also hosted NAIDOC week lunches in 2016 for Community Legal Centre Hub colleagues and in 2017 for members of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Canberra Community Law (CCL) Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan 1
Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Relationships CCL believes it is important to build lasting relationships with people and their communities. We see this as an important step in providing access to justice for all. RELATIONSHIPS ACTION Establish and sustain a RAP Working. Raise Internal Awareness of the RAP MEASURABLE TARGET / Form a RAP working group comprising staff from across CCL and Aboriginal workers to oversee the development, endorsement and launch of the RAP in conjunction with Reconciliation Australia RAP Working to provide a copy of the RAP to Reconciliation Australia for endorsement and approval RAP Working to meet quarterly to monitor and report on RAP implementation Develop and implement a plan to raise awareness among all CCL staff about our RAP commitments Develop and implement a plan to engage and inform key internal stakeholders of their responsibilities within our RAP Include a RAP update as a standing agenda item at Centre meetings and Board Meetings each quarter Include information about RAP in induction materials for all new Board members, employees, secondees, students and volunteers Executive Director / Principal Solicitor Street Law Program Manager Completed in October 2017 Completed in October 2017 Implemented in October 2017; to be implemented in February, June and Implemented in October 2017 Implemented in October 2017 Implemented in October 2017; to be implemented in February, June and Implemented in January 2018 2 Canberra Community Law (CCL) Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan
ACTION Build internal and external Relationships MEASURABLE TARGET / Develop a list of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and organisations within our local sphere of influence that we could approach to connect with on our reconciliation journey To be reviewed in Develop a list of RAP organisations and other likeminded organisations that we could approach to connect with on our reconciliation journey RELATIONSHIPS Participate in and celebrate National Reconciliation Week (NRW) Develop a list of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations in the ACT and surrounding regions and consult with them to: identify the legal and social needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within the Canberra region and to inform strategic planning and service delivery activities Encourage our staff to attend a NRW event Circulate Reconciliation Australia s NRW resources and reconciliation materials to staff Implemented in May 2017 and ongoing on an annual basis Ensure our RAP Working participates in an external event to recognise and celebrate NRW Canberra Community Law (CCL) Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan 3
Respect CCL wishes to pay respect to peoples and their communities. We see this as an important step in honouring their contribution to our community. RESPECT ACTION Investigate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural learning and development Demonstrate respect for the unique position Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have in our nation Provide information relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to employees, secondees, students and volunteers MEASURABLE TARGET / Develop a business case for increasing awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories and achievements within CCL Capture data and measure our staff s current level of knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories and achievements Conduct a review of cultural awareness training needs within our organisation Provide cultural awareness/safety training for our staff Encourage Board members to attend cultural awareness/ safety training Purchase and display Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flags in CCL reception area and Community Legal Centre Hub Conference Room Organise and display appropriate imagery such as posters, artworks and maps in CCL offices and Community Legal Centre Hub Conference Room Update information relating to peoples on the CCL Library Intranet at least annually and include relevant resources such as the Community Legal Centres NSW Aboriginal Cultural Safety Workbook in the CCL Library RAP Working Social Worker Cultural awareness training was provided to all staff in 2017 and board members were encouraged to attend. Cultural awareness training will be organized again for 2018 and delivered by June 2018. These are ongoing deliverables and will be reviewed in. Completed in October 2017 To be reviewed in 4 Canberra Community Law (CCL) Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan
ACTION Celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural events Participate in and celebrate NAIDOC Week MEASURABLE TARGET / Distribute a calendar of important community events to staff annually and identify an activity to attend or hold each quarter Raise awareness and share information amongst our staff of the meaning of NAIDOC week which includes information about the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities Calendar to be distributed in October 2017 and quarterly activity to be implemented in October 2017; February, June and To be implemented in July 2018 Introduce our staff to NAIDOC week by promoting community events in our local area Ensure our RAP Working participates in an external NAIDOC week event RESPECT Raise internal understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural protocols Explore who the Traditional Custodians are of the lands and waters in our local area Scope and develop a list of local Traditional Custodians of the lands and waters within CCL s sphere of influence Develop and implement a plan to raise awareness and understanding of the meaning and significance behind Acknowledgment of Country and Welcome to Country Protocols including any local cultural protocols Chair, RAP working group Items 3-5 were completed in October 2017. Items 1& 2 are ongoing to be reviewed in. Develop and implement a protocol document outlining when and how Traditional Custodians of the land are to be acknowledged and when a Welcome to Country will be provided Ensure an acknowledgement of country is included on outgoing communications including emails, letters, faxes, brochures and website Canberra Community Law (CCL) Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan 5
Opportunities CCL believes it is important to create opportunities for s within our organisation. ACTION MEASURABLE TARGET / OPPORTUNITIES Improve service delivery to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients Investigate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment Adopt relevant best practice guidelines for providing legal services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients and include them in induction materials for employees, secondees, students and volunteers Continue to provide outreach services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients and adapt Home Visit Policy to specifically refer to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients Provide staff training on improving data collection in relation to clients and provide quarterly reports to centre and Board meetings Engage with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community legal sector to encourage people to stand for election to the CCL Board Develop a business case for employment within CCL Identify current Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff to inform future employment and development opportunities Chair, RAP Working and Dhurrawang Solicitor Executive Director / Principal Solicitor Guidelines, Home Visit Policy adaptation and data collection training to be completed by. Quarterly data reports to be provided in October 2017; February, June and October 2018. Engagement with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal sector to be reviewed in. Completed in October 2017 and ongoing Include a statement in all job descriptions and advertisements that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply and explore funding opportunities for identified positions at CCL 6 Canberra Community Law (CCL) Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan
ACTION MEASURABLE TARGET / Investigate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander supplier diversity Develop an understanding of the mutual benefits of procurement from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned businesses Develop a business case for procurement from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned businesses Office Manager To be reviewed in Develop a list of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander providers of services used by CCL OPPORTUNITIES Provide educational opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander law students Consider supplier diversity when selecting new suppliers for CCL Liaise with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student centres at ACT based tertiary institutions offering law courses and encourage applications for the ANU Community Law Clinical Law Program and for CCL s administrative intern program and Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice placements from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students Executive Director / Principal Solicitor Completed in October 2017 and ongoing. In 2017 we developed a paid Indigenous cadetship role within Dhurrawang Aboriginal Human Rights Program. We recruited an Indigenous cadet from the University of Canberra and she commenced work with CCL in February 2018. Canberra Community Law (CCL) Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan 7
Governance and Tracking Progress ACTION Build support for the RAP MEASURABLE TARGET / Define resource needs for RAP development and implementation Executive Director / Principal Solicitor To be completed by Define systems and capability needs to track, measure and report on RAP activities PROGRESS AND REPORTING Review and refresh RAP Complete the annual RAP Impact Measurement Questionnaire and submit to Reconciliation Australia Include a copy of the RAP on CCL s website Distribute an electronic copy of the RAP to partner organisations, stakeholders and funding bodies Liaise with Reconciliation Australia to develop a new RAP based on learnings, challenges and achievements Submit draft of new RAP to Reconciliation Australia for review Executive Director/ Principal Solicitor To be implemented by July 2018 Submit draft of new RAP to Reconciliation Australia for formal endorsement Include update on RAP Implementation in CCL s Annual Report 8 Canberra Community Law (CCL) Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan
Contact details for public enquiries about our RAP Parastou Hatami Supervising Solicitor/ Program Manager, Dhurrawang Aboriginal Human Rights Program 02 6218 7935 phatami@canberracommunitylaw.org.au