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Overview

We are committed to our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and acknowledge that Aboriginal people have a rich and continuous connection to the Bayside area.

We are embarking on our second Reconciliation Action Plan Innovate and we want your input.

Read the RAP document

Watch a video about Bayside's journey for reconciliation

We will develop the new Reconciliation Action Plan working in partnership with Bayside’s Reconciliation Advisory Committee made up of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members and an internal Reconciliation Working Group and overseen by Traditional Owners.

Bayside's Reconciliation Action Plan will focus on building three pillars of reconciliation:

  • Timeline item 1 - active

    Respect

  • Timeline item 2 - active

    Relationships

  • Timeline item 3 - active

    Opportunities

A Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) is a document that organisations develop to outline the actions and initiatives that they will take to contribute to reconciliation in Australia. The RAP framework is prearranged by Reconciliation Australia.

The Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) will help create a framework that will guide Council in achieving its vision for, and commitment to, reconciliation in Bayside and will be based on three core pillars: relationships, respect and opportunities.


We are proud to make a commitment to fully support reconciliation and we seek to understand and embrace reconciliation within our organisation and to encourage reconciliation across the wider Bayside community.

We launched our previous Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) during NAIDOC Week in July 2019. This process marked the start of Council’s journey towards Reconciliation. A key action of the RAP was to establish a Reconciliation Advisory Committee .

The Committee is made up of representatives from relevant Council departments, Indigenous people, Indigenous organisations and key stakeholders.

The group will actively monitor Innovate RAP development and implementation of actions, track progress and approve reporting.

What else is Bayside doing in the spirit of reconciliation?

  • Hired a Reconciliation Project Officer to support the development and delivery of the RAP.
  • Committed to Uluru Statement from the Heart
  • Conducts an annual awards program to honour the life of Torres Strait Elder and long-time Bayside resident Ellen Jose who passed away in 2017. The program asks primary and secondary students to interpret “What Reconciliation means through my eyes” through an artwork (primary students) or a piece of writing (secondary students).
  • Offer Community Grants targeted at Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander programs and activities
  • Updated our Acknowledgment of Country to acknowledges the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land, and we pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.
  • Promote and celebrate our Indigenous Heritage Trail - includes works of contemporary Indigenous artists and is based on stories authored by Boon Wurrung Elder Carolyn Briggs. The trail outlines the close relationship between Kulin Nations culture and the coastal environment. Bayside's rich coastal history and the significant local flora and fauna are also prominent.
  • Installed indigenous sculptures designed by indigenous sculptor Glen Romanis at Thomas Street Playground

We are inviting Bayside residents to have their say on the next phase of developing the draft Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

Over the last six months we have been working closely with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members, Traditional Owners and the wider community to develop the Innovate RAP.

We heard from a wide range of community members that contributed their ideas on how Council can build and strengthen relationships, show respect, and improve opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The ideas have been used to create a framework that will guide Council in achieving its vision for, and commitment to protecting and promoting Indigenous cultural heritage, and the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Bayside.

We have developed a list of key actions that we are proposing to make Bayside a diverse, healthy and liveable place for all.

Have a read of the draft RAP document and answer the questions under the feedback tab.

Or if you'd like to ask a question, click the 'ask a question' tab to speak to our Reconciliation Project Officer.

To find out more about what we heard during the first phase of engagement click through the link below and view the community contributions via the 'community ideas' tab.

Find out more

Now that we have completed the ideas gathering stage, we are ready to receive feedback on the draft document that includes 20 actions.

The strategy is the first phase of a longer term undertaking for Council to commit to building respectful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and to work together with the Bayside community to create a better future for all.

In May, we will collate the feedback that’s been gathered to ensure our plan is in line with community expectations. The Draft plan will be presented to Reconciliation Australia. Once we have gained their support the plan will be endorsed by Council in 2022 for it to be adopted as a working document.

Through the Innovate RAP, Council aims to plan and create opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to create a culturally safe and thriving community.

Reconciliation Action Plan

The Innovate RAP includes 20 actions. All actions align to the four pillars of reconciliation set by Reconciliation Australia: relationships, respect, opportunities, and governance. Key actions of the draft RAP include:

  • Relationships:
    • Host bi-monthly meetings with the external RAP Advisory Group comprising of local Aboriginal and Torres Islander people
    • Develop stronger relationships with the Registered Aboriginal Party – Bunurong Land Council and other Traditional Owner groups
    • Deliver the flag-raising ceremony and Ellen Jose Student Reconciliation Awards for Reconciliation Week
  • Respect:
    • Enhance and promote the Aboriginal Cultural Bay Trail
    • Conduct a review of cultural learning needs for staff
    • Partner to deliver the ‘Repairing Memory and Place’ ARC Linkage Grant with Monash University, Traditional Owners, Melbourne Water, Museums Vic and neighbouring Local Government Areas
    • Provide funding to community organisations to host NAIDOC week events
  • Opportunities:
    • Procurement of Aboriginal owned businesses
    • Provide funding to community groups to deliver Indigenous events and activities
    • Develop and implement an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander recruitment, retention and professional development strategy
    • Promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and culture.

Community ideas

Below are the ideas we received from the community during the first phase of engagement.

You can filter results by the three categories of respect, relationships and opportunities.

The comments, imagery, videos and other material posted by individuals do not necessarily reflect the views of Bayside City Council. This page will be moderated to ensure respectful participation. You can also contact the moderators at yoursay@bayside.vic.gov.au

Timeline

Timeline

  • Timeline item 1 - complete

    Phase 1: Community engagement

    17 November – 12 December 2021

    Big ideas on what Council can do to promote respect, relationships, and opportunities

    Find out more about how we're engaging with the community on this project.

  • Timeline item 2 - complete

    Phase 2: Draft plan developed and presented to Reconciliation Australia

    7 April - 1 May 2022

    Have your say and help us confirm the draft actions of the RAP. We will then take the final version to Reconciliation Australia to gain their support before the document is endorsed by Council.


  • Timeline item 3 - complete

    Phase 3: Finalise with Council

    Gain endorsement for the draft RAP Innovate

  • Timeline item 4 - active

    Phase 4: Implementation of actions

    June 2022

Find out more

If you’d like to submit your ideas by a hard copy survey or to learn more about this project, contact us via the details below. Anonymous submissions will also be accepted via any of the below methods.

Lauren Waycott

Community Wellbeing Coordinator

Phone: 9599 4686

Email: lwaycott@bayside.vic.gov.au

In writing: 76 Royal Avenue,

Sandringham, Victoria, 3191

or

PO Box 27 Sandringham 3091

Join to have your say

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Contact us

yoursay@bayside.vic.gov.au

(03) 9599 4444

www.bayside.vic.gov.au

Bayside City Council, 76 Royal Avenue

PO Box 27, Sandringham VIC 3191

For general enquiries to Bayside Council

bayside.vic.gov.au/contact-us

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