Reconciliation Australia#"Recognise" campaign

The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, which published its final report in April 1991, had recommended the initiation of a process of reconciliation between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians.{{cite web| title=Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody: Inquiry| website=The Age of Enquiry| publisher=La Trobe University| date=13 January 2017| url=http://www.lib.latrobe.edu.au/research/ageofinquiry/biogs/E000178b.htm| access-date=7 June 2020| archive-date=7 June 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607103332/http://www.lib.latrobe.edu.au/research/ageofinquiry/biogs/E000178b.htm| url-status=dead}} On 2 September 1991,{{cite web | title=Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation Act 1991, Incorporating all amendments by legislation made to 18 April 1994| website=Federal Register of Legislation | url=https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2004C03089 | access-date=8 June 2020}} the Australian Parliament voted unanimously to establish the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (CAR) and a formal reconciliation process. Parliament had noted that there had been no formal process of reconciliation and that it was "most desirable that there be such a reconciliation" by the year 2001, marking the centenary of Federation.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} The Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation was established by Parliament, by the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation Act 1991, to be disbanded after 10 years.{{cite web | title=About Us | website=Reconciliation Australia | date=15 February 2019 | url=https://www.reconciliation.org.au/about-us/ | access-date=10 July 2021}}{{cite web | title=Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation Act 1991 [as amended] | website=Federal Register of Legislation | date=1 January 2001| url=https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2004C03090 | access-date=6 June 2020}}

The CAR's vision statement aimed for "A united Australia which respects this land of ours; values the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage; and provides justice and equity for all". Patrick Dodson was the first Chair of CAR.

Reconciliation Australia was established by the CAR in January 2001.{{cite news |url=http://theconversation.com/indigenous-reconciliation-in-australia-still-a-bridge-too-far-54336 |title=Indigenous reconciliation in Australia: still a bridge too far? |author1=Castan, Melissa |author2=Arabena, Kerry |work=The Conversation |publisher=The Conversation Media Trust |date=19 May 2016 |access-date=23 July 2017}} The Hon Fred Chaney AO was one of the founding co-chairs, and served for nearly 15 years on the Board until his retirement in November 2014.{{cite web|title=Founding Co-Chair retires from Reconciliation Australia Board| website=Reconciliation Australia | date=30 November 2014 | url=https://www.reconciliation.org.au/founding-co-chair-retires-from-reconciliation-australia-board/ | access-date=6 June 2020}} Jackie Huggins was a co-chair for some time.{{cite web|url=https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au/share-your-story/first-nations-people/first-nations-peoples-strategic-advisory-group/dr-jackie-huggins|title=Dr Jackie Huggins AM FAHA, Co-Chair Eminent Panel and Working Group, Pathway to Treaty QLD|website=Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability|access-date=14 August 2020|archive-date=12 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112161828/https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au/share-your-story/first-nations-people/first-nations-peoples-strategic-advisory-group/dr-jackie-huggins|url-status=dead}}

In 2012, Reconciliation Australia established the "Recognise" campaign, following recommendations of the Expert Panel on Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the Constitution,{{cite web | title=Recognise Campaign Successful in Raising Awareness | website=Reconciliation Australia | date=29 June 2018 | url=https://www.reconciliation.org.au/recognise-campaign-successful-in-raising-awareness/ | access-date=14 August 2020}} which was presented to the federal government under Julia Gillard in January 2012.{{cite web | title=Report of the Expert Panel on recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the Constitution | website=ANTaR | date=19 January 2012 | url=https://antar.org.au/reports/report-expert-panel-recognising-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-peoples-constitution | access-date=14 August 2020 | archive-date=7 July 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707222315/https://antar.org.au/reports/report-expert-panel-recognising-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-peoples-constitution | url-status=dead }} [https://antar.org.au/sites/default/files/expert_panel_report_.pdf Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the Constitution: Report of the Expert Panel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021155805/https://antar.org.au/sites/default/files/expert_panel_report_.pdf/ |date=21 October 2020 }} (303 pages){{cite journal |url=https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/ILB/2012/5.pdf|title=Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the Constitution: Report of the Expert Panel [Commentary and Recommendations only]|via=austlii| journal= Indigenous Law Bulletin| date= January–February 2012| volume =7| issue =28| pages=21–22}} The Recognise campaign focused specifically on raising awareness among all Australians of the need to change the Constitution, ahead of a referendum. In this it was successful: awareness of the issue rose from 30% to over 75% of the population.

Tanya Hosch was deputy director and also the public face of the campaign, after addressing the National Press Club in February 2013. In May 2013, her team toured Australia aiming to inform and involve people in the bid to get Indigenous people recognised in the constitution. This included public advocacy, building support and partnerships behind the scenes, and consulting Aboriginal people in remote areas. Beginning in Melbourne and finishing at Nhulunbuy in the Northern Territory, the trail was inspired by the "Long Walk" from Melbourne to Canberra undertaken in 2004 by AFL footballer Michael Long.{{cite web | last=Murphy | first=Katharine | title=Tanya Hosch: adoption, dislocation and the fight for recognition | website=The Guardian | date=26 May 2013 | url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/26/tanya-hosch-indigenous-australians-constitution | access-date=20 April 2023}}

The campaign ended in 2017, when the federal government ceased to fund it, by which time it had attracted the support of more than 318,000 people, and more than 160 community and corporate partner organisations.

Reconciliation Australia is funded from corporate and government partnerships as well as tax-deductible donations from individual Australians. The organisation works with business, government and individual Australians to bring about change, identifying and promoting examples of reconciliation in action. Reconciliation Australia also independently monitors Australia's progress towards reconciliation.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

A significant amount of funding for Reconciliation Australia comes from the BHP Foundation, the philanthropic branch of the mining giant BHP Group Limited.{{Cite web |title=BHP Foundation Australia program |url=https://www.bhp-foundation.org/en/programs-projects/australia-country-program/ |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=www.bhp-foundation.org |language=en}}

{{As of|July 2021}}, board members of Reconciliation Australia were:

• Tom Calma (co-chair)
• Melinda Cilento (co-chair), independent director of Woodside Petroleum
• Kenny Bedford, lives on and represents the remote island of Darnley Island on the Torres Strait Regional Authority
• Bill Lawson, retired engineer and advocate for reconciliation, founder of the Beacon Foundation
• Kirstie Parker, a Yuwallarai person in NSW, and co-chair of the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples
• Joy Thomas, served as an adviser and chief of staff to Ministers in the Howard government
• Sharon Davis, Bardi and Kija person, chief executive officer at the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation and co-founder of Goorlil Consulting{{cite web|url=https://goorlilconsulting.com.au/about-us|title=About Us|publisher=Goorlil Consulting|access-date=2023-08-10}}
• Doug Ferguson, partner with KPMG

• Karen Mundine, chief executive officer, Bundjalung person with many years of experience in community engagement, public advocacy, and communications

In 2019, Reconciliation Australia was the recipient of the UN Day Honour award, which recognises "individuals or organisations in Australia that have made a significant contribution to the aims and objectives of the UN, for example in promoting peace, respect for human rights, equal opportunities, social justice and environmental sustainability".{{cite web | title=Media Release | website=Landcare Australia | date=22 October 2021 | url=https://landcareaustralia.org.au/project/landcare-australia-receives-2021-united-nations-day-honour/ | access-date=3 April 2024}}

National Reconciliation Week was organised each year by Reconciliation Australia.{{cite web |title=NRW2025 Theme: Bridging Now to Next |website=Reconciliation Australia |url=https://www.reconciliation.org.au/our-work/national-reconciliation-week/ |access-date=9 January 2025|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20241218033439/https://www.reconciliation.org.au/our-work/national-reconciliation-week/|archive-date =18 Dec 2024 |url-status =live }}

In 2006 Prime Minister John Howard and Professor Mick Dodson launched the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) program, which was to be administered by Reconciliation Australia.{{cite web|last1=Armstrong|first1=Leah|title=RAP About|url=http://www.reconciliation.org.au/raphub/about/|website=Reconciliation Australia|access-date=16 June 2014}} The initial focus was aimed at closing the gap in life expectancy between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the rest of the Australian population, and took in all sectors, ages, demographics and areas across the nation, but over the following decade it evolved into a "more holistic approach to empower and support positive outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people". The RAP program had been trademarked, and was administered by Reconciliation Australia, which worked collaboratively with organisations of all kinds to

develop their RAPs optimistically to progress 'reconciliation' in the workplace.{{cite book| url=https://www.reconciliation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/ra_rap-2017_v6_final.pdf| publisher= Reconciliation Australia| date=2017| author=Reconciliation Australia Stretch|title= RAP July 2017 – July 2020| access-date=4 October 2021}}

RAPs consisted of practical and structured plans for action within a workplace, based on relationships, respect and opportunities. They help people in the workplace to understand important issues relating to Indigenous Australians, and further meaningful engagement among groups. They also aim to increase equality in the workplace, and help to create sustainable employment opportunities. Four types of RAPS are available, depending on the how it best suits the organisation, known as Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate. The program helps to drive change within the organisation as well as providing further opportunities to collaborate with the RAP networks such as Reconciliation Industry Network Groups.

An example of what may be in an organisation's RAP was to develop a procurement strategy that aimed to source goods and services from

certified Indigenous businesses, through Supply Nation.{{cite web | title=Supply Nation in your Reconciliation Action Plan | website=Supply Nation | url=https://supplynation.org.au/benefits/corporate/rap/ | access-date=4 October 2021}}

The RAP program grew from eight organisations in 2006 to over 900 fully endorsed RAP programs by 2017. A 2013 survey which included more than 350 Australian organisations that then had a RAP found that 71% of workers in these organisations trusted each other, compared with 13% in the wider population. Around 77% of the RAP-organisation employees pride in Indigenous cultures, compared to 51% of the wider population. Co-chair Tom Calma said that said RAPs were changing workplace culture and attitudes, and were providing a basis for significant economic and social improvements.{{cite web | title=Lack of trust impedes reconciliation | website=news | date=4 February 2013 | url=https://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/lack-of-trust-impedes-reconciliation/news-story/f4a6f918209f0cb3f59f46ce20cda6a1 | access-date=4 October 2021}}

As examples of large corporations with RAPs, KPMG put its first one into place in 2017 and is {{as of|2021|lc=yes}} working off its second one, on the "Elevate" model;{{cite web | title=Reconciliation Action Plan | website=KPMG | url=https://home.kpmg/au/en/home/about/citizenship/reconciliation-with-indigenous-australia/reconciliation-action-plan.html | access-date=4 October 2021}} while BORAL adopted their first plan in 2019, on the "Innovate" model.{{cite web | title=Committed to reconciliation | website=Boral | url=http://www.boral.com/innovate-rap | access-date=4 October 2021}} Griffith University in Queensland adopted its first RAP in 2010.{{cite web | title=Reconciliation | website=Griffith University | url=https://www.griffith.edu.au/about-griffith/first-peoples/reconciliation | access-date=4 October 2021}}

The Australian Reconciliation Network included the following independently-run organisations, which organised activities and provided information:{{cite web | title=Get Involved | website=Reconciliation Australia | date=2020 | url=https://www.reconciliation.org.au/get-involved/ | access-date=10 July 2021}}

• New South Wales – Reconciliation NSW (formerly NSW Reconciliation Council){{cite web | title=Statements & Media Releases | website=Reconciliation NSW | date=27 May 2021 | url=https://reconciliationnsw.org.au/statements-media-releases/ | access-date=10 July 2021}}
• Queensland – Reconciliation Queensland{{cite web | title=Our vision and purpose | website=Reconciliation Queensland | url=https://www.rqi.org.au/our-purpose/ | access-date=10 July 2021}}
• South Australia – Reconciliation SA{{cite web | title=About | website=Reconciliation SA | url=https://reconciliationsa.org.au/about/ | access-date=10 July 2021}}
• Tasmania – Reconciliation Tasmania{{cite web | title=About Us | website=Reconciliation Tasmania | url=https://rectas.com.au/about-us-1 | access-date=10 July 2021}}
• Victoria – Reconciliation Victoria{{cite web | title=Our Story | website=Reconciliation Victoria | url=http://www.reconciliationvic.org.au/our-history | access-date=10 July 2021}}
• Western Australia – Reconciliation WA{{cite web | title=Home page| website=Reconciliation WA | url=https://www.recwa.org.au/ | access-date=10 July 2021}}

• National Sorry Day

{{reflist}}

• {{cite web | title=Inquiry into constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples | website=Australian Human Rights Commission | date=20 July 2018 | url=https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/legal/submission/inquiry-constitutional-recognition-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander }}
• {{cite book|title=The State of Reconciliation in Australia: Our History, Our Story, Our Future: Summary|isbn =978-0-9945103-1-0|quote=Twenty-five years after the establishment of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (CAR), this report examines the state of reconciliation in Australia today.|date=February 2016|author=Reconciliation Australia}}

• {{official website|https://www.reconciliation.org.au/}}

{{Indigenous Australians}}

Category:Indigenous Australian politics

Category:Organisations serving Indigenous Australians

Category:2001 establishments in Australia