Willoughby City Council's first Reconciliation Action Plan has been formally endorsed by the peak national reconciliation body, Reconciliation Australia, paving the way for its implementation and further work in future.
The views of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and local residents from across the Willoughby local government area were sought during a year-long consultation process with community groups and staff, resulting in a set of recommendations that will strengthen relationships and work towards reconciliation.
The plan serves as a strategic document to guide the Council's reconciliation initiatives, with a range of proposed actions including:
- Establishing a Yarning Circle at an appropriate location as a way to build respectful relationships and preserve and pass on cultural knowledge
- The inclusion of Aboriginal cultural awareness training in the induction process for all Council staff and Councillors, with recruitment processes overhauled to increase the diversity of the applicant pool
- The inclusion of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags on the Council website, email signatures and other materials including official documents
- An assessment of opportunities to increase procurement from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned businesses
Willoughby City Mayor Tanya Taylor said:
"Reconciliation Australia's endorsement of our plan is a credit to the hard work of the Council staff who helped put it together, but the real work starts now. The plan represents our deep and ongoing commitment to reconciliation and strengthening relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and I look forward to working collaboratively with stakeholders to transform words into action in the coming months. My sincere hope is that effective implementation of the plan will help us shape and deliver a better future for our community and all Australians."
