The Greater Bendigo City Council has adopted a new Reconciliation Plan 2021-2025 for the next four years which will be formally launched during NAIDOC Week which will take place this year from November 8 to 15, 2020.
City of Greater Bendigo Mayor Cr Margaret O'Rourke said the Reconciliation Plan was developed following an extensive community engagement process with Traditional Owners, the broader Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, City staff and the general public.
"Council is strongly committed to reconciliation and the new plan provides a clear direction for the City to continue to advance reconciliation and support local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities for the next four years," Cr O'Rourke said.
"The plan articulates how the City and other partner organisations will engage in reconciliation and includes the City's responsibilities under the Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung Recognition and Settlement Agreements.
"It builds on the progress of the City's first Reconciliation Plan 2016-2019 and sets out actions and strategies to further advance reconciliation both internally and externally with key partnerships."
New themes and actions featured in the Reconciliation Plan include:
- Improving Aboriginal employment and economic outcomes by setting Aboriginal procurement and employment targets for the City to achieve over the next four years.
- Increasing the visibility of Aboriginal culture, history and landscapes across Greater Bendigo through public art, interpretative signage, public performances, open space works and initiatives.
- Working with Traditional Owners to promote Aboriginal place naming and the use of Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung language in public spaces across the municipality.
- Working with Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative to improve organisational cultural safety and to ensure the City's direct service provision is culturally responsive.
- Actions that focus on youth leadership, employment and training pathways related to Aboriginal young people.
- Improving the City's delivery of the Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung Recognition and Settlement Agreements under the Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010 and improving engagement with the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation and the Taungurung Land and Waters Council.
- Seeking opportunities to celebrate the role and contribution of local Elders and older Aboriginal people to the Greater Bendigo community.
- Providing further support to First Nations artists, performers and productions.
