John Paul Janke holding the Reconciliation Action Plan.
AIATSIS has become the first Australian Government organisation to achieve the prestigious ‘Elevate’ status for its Reconciliation Action Plan - a classification seen as the new gold standard of RAP report benchmarking.
Today, the Institute’s Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan for 2014 – 2016 was officially launched by Senator the Hon. Scott Ryan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education in Canberra. AIATSIS Chairperson Professor Mick Dodson said the Institute’s Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan is aimed at delivering practical and lasting positive change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“This year we proudly celebrate our 50th Anniversary. Today the Institute is a leader in the field of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, preservation of our cultures and languages and a custodian of a significant collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander films, photos and stories that tell part of our national history,” Professor Dodson said.
Professor Dodson challenged all Government agencies to broaden their understanding of reconciliation.
“Our Reconciliation Action Plan is an integral component of the Institute’s approach to building cultural proficiency amongst our staff and sets the benchmark for other organisations in building strong relationships and respect. RAPs are an initiative to lead and drive cultural change and must be not only aspirational but pragmatic for organisations to bring about greater equality through pursuing new and creative opportunities with Indigenous Australians. And I am proud, that our small agency, in its 50th year, has achieved a great milestone, the first Australian Government organisation to receive the rare ‘Elevate’ status for its Reconciliation Action Plan.”
Today’s launch also was attended by Stephen Sedgwick (APS Commissioner), Melinda Cilento (Co-Chair of Reconciliation Australia), Glen Brennan (National Australia Bank), Chief Executive Officers, State and Commonwealth departmental officers, representatives from the Australian National University, University of Canberra, and Canberra Institute of Technology, community leaders and invited guests.
View the full AIATSIS Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan for 2014-2016.
Read the address at the launch of the AIATSIS Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan - Senator the Hon. Scott Ryan.
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