The City of Greater Bendigo has developed a draft Reconciliation Plan 2021-2025 and is now seeking feedback from the community until August 18, 2020.
City of Greater Bendigo Manager Community Partnerships Steven Abbott said the draft plan was developed following an extensive community engagement process with Traditional Owners, the broader Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and City staff.
"The new draft Reconciliation Plan 2021-2025 provides a clear direction for the City to continue to advance reconciliation and support local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities," Mr Abbott said.
"The draft strategy articulates how the City and other partner organisations will engage in reconciliation over the next four years. It also includes the City's responsibilities under the Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung Recognition and Settlement Agreements.
"The draft plan aims to build on the progress of the City's first Reconciliation Plan 2016-2019 and outlines new actions and strategies to further advance reconciliation both internally within our organisation and externally with key partnerships."
New themes and actions featured in the draft 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.
"The City is keen to obtain community feedback on the draft Reconciliation Plan 2021-2025 which is available to view online at https://www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/Your-Say until August 18, 2020."
