Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan

The RAP outlines the shared approach Council will take to progress reconciliation and work alongside First Nations people in all Council services.

The RAP has been updated taking into consideration feedback from Traditional Owners, the RAP Working Group and consultation findings.

The RAP was unanimously endorsed in principle at the 27 August Council Meeting. Final adoption is subject to feedback from the Wurrundjeri Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation before being submitted to Reconciliation Australia for review and approval

It is the first of four plans, helping Council to build strong foundations for reconciliation. It outlines Council’s vision and details the actions the organisation will implement over the next 12-18 months under the pillars of Relationships, Respect, Opportunities and Governance.

Explore the pillars for the draft RAP

The RAP document uses a template provided by Reconciliation Australia. It is written in a table that lists actions, deliverables and activities, these are broken into 4 pillars.

Phase 1 Engagement findings

The RAP Working Group are responsible for developing the RAP. They have used the template and guidelines from Reconciliation Australia. Reconciliation Australia is the national body who endorse and monitor all RAPs.

Activities within the RAP have been generated from feedback and ideas provided by:

  • Nillumbik community members
  • Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Traditional Owners
  • RAP Working Group
  • Councillors and Council staff

Council undertook extensive community consultation in March and April 2023. The focus of the consultation was on seeking ideas and suggestions from the Nillumbik community on what actions the community would like to see within the RAP. The ideas have been reviewed by the RAP Working Group, and incorporated into the draft RAP.

Some ideas received were beyond the scope of a Reflect RAP, they align more to an Innovate RAP. These ideas have been recorded in an Appendix at the end of the RAP. Council intends to re-visit these ideas and hopes to action them in future RAPs.

The draft RAP has also been shared with Councillors, they have had an opportunity to provide input and feedback.

You can read more about the community consultation in the Engagement Phase 1 Consultation Findings Report

Phase 2 Engagement findings

Round two of community engagement (conducted in May 2024) sought community feedback on the Draft RAP actions and RAP Vision.

You can read more about the community consultation in the Phase 2 Community Engagement Findings

RAP Vision

RAP Vision

The vision for reconciliation has been developed by the RAP Working Group.

At Nillumbik Shire Council we celebrate the living culture of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin Nation – the Traditional Custodians of the land, waters and sky where we live, work and play.

We honour our nation’s rich and long history and culture. We commit to learn and understand; to acknowledge past atrocities and trauma experienced by First Nations people; to create space for truth telling and listening, and a pathway forward for healing; to celebrate First Nations people’s spiritual connection to, and care for, the beautiful lands we all call our home.

Through connection and genuine partnerships we embed First Nations voices into our decision making. Through education, we enable change and growth while continuing our reconciliation journey.