We have developed the Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan in consultation with a Working Group comprising Traditional Owners, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members, representatives from Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative.
Process of developing the Reconciliation Action Plan
The working group met regularly and participated in a series of workshops facilitated by Tania Dalton, a local Aboriginal consultant.
Our Reconciliation Action Plan has been developed around four key deliverable themes including Relationships, Respect, Opportunities and Governance. It is based on priorities and aspirations identified through consultation with Traditional Owners, the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community and input from the Working Group members.
Our Reconciliation Action Plan builds on advancing a positive relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and non-Indigenous people, demonstrating respect and self-determination for local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples ensuring equality of opportunity and access in all dealings with the community.
Throughout the implementation of Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan, we will work on clarifying members and roles/responsibilities of the Reconciliation Action Plan working group to ensure strong governance and accountability mechanisms.
The working group to be established will follow the Reconciliation Action Plan working group requirements in accordance with the good practice guide.
Our journey to date
We have actively engaged with the Geelong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community for more than 20 years, working to identify key issues, aspirations and actions that Council can undertake, or for which it can advocate on behalf of the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
In 2014 we developed, with the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, the Karreenga Aboriginal Action Plan 2014–2017. This plan was underpinned by our Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management and Protection Development Planning Protocol adopted by Council in 2000, and the Indigenous Statement of Recognition and Commitment adopted by Council in 2009.
We undertook annual reporting on the Karreenga Aboriginal Action Plan completing over 130 actions with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community since 2014.
The Karreenga Action Plan included a signed Statement of Intent which demonstrated the intention of Council to work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and address key goals identified in the action plan. This Statement was signed by the City of Greater Geelong, Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative.
Karreenga is a Wadawurrung word which means ‘to grow’.
Our contributors
We thank the following Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Members and other stakeholders who contributed in developing our Reconciliation Action Plan development through sharing their knowledge.
* Denotes Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Person)
| * Tania Dalton – Aboriginal Consultant |
Vicky Grosser – Geelong One Fire Reconciliation Group |
| * Kaley Nicholson – Senior Lead Diversity and Inclusion, City of Greater Geelong |
Deb Kearney - Department Health and Human Services |
| * Corrina Eccles – Wadawurrung Traditional Owner representing the Corporation |
Councillor Sarah Mansfield – Portfolio Holder/Aboriginal Affairs, City of Greater Geelong |
| * Sharelle McGuirk - Department Health and Human Services |
Janice Lane – Manager Healthy Communities, City of Greater Geelong |
| * Jordyn Flagg – Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer Victoria Police |
Jane Wager – Co-ordinator Social Equity and Safety, City of Greater Geelong |
| * Kylie Clarke – Aboriginal Community Member |
Kevin Krastins – Community Development Officer, City of Greater Geelong |
| * Lisa Briggs – Interim CEO Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative |
Libby Lesock – Consultant |
| * Adam Muir – Healthy Communities, City of Greater Geelong |
Paul Davis – General Manager Wathaurung Aboriginal Corporation |
| * Jye Walker – Department of Justice |
Pirooz Jafari - Acting Co-ordinator Social Equity and Safety, City of Greater Geelong |
| * Shane Bell – Department of Premier and Cabinet |
Chantal Chauvet-Allen - Co-ordinator Health Equity and Planning, City of Greater Geelong |
| * Julie Jose – Department Health and Human Services |
Jessica Hurse - Manager Planning and Growth, City of Greater Geelong |
| * Renee Owen – Programs Manager, Aboriginal Health Unit, Barwon Health |
Travis Kirkwood - Manager Property, Procurement and Assets, City of Greater Geelong |
| * Mark Edwards - Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative |
Steve Singline – Public Art Officer, City of Greater Geelong |
| * Alana Bonanno - Business Administration Trainee, City of Greater Geelong |
Kimberley Walters – Communication and Marketing, City of Greater Geelong |
| * Sandra Brogden – Department of Education |
Maryanne Vagg – Marketing, Community Education and Sponsorship, City of Greater Geelong |
| * Stephanie Skinner – Wadawurrung Traditional Owner representing the Corporation |
Chris Walters -Community Inclusion, City of Greater Geelong |
| * Cormach Evans – Strong Brother Strong Sister |
Ashley Shaw – Senior Advisor Recruitment and Workforce Management, City of Greater Geelong |
| * Lowell Hunter – Aboriginal Community Member |
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Wadawurrung Country connects from our mountains, to freshwater country, Moorabool and Barwon rivers to our Saltwater Country at Barwon Heads into Corio Bay in the City of Greater Geelong boundary.
~ Wadawurrung woman - Corrina Eccles