Cr Fiona Stitfold will join as Council's representative in the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Advisory Group.
The RAP Advisory Group was established in October 2019 following Council endorsing a formal commitment to reconciliation with Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Council has now voted to include a Council representative in the Group, who will be re-appointed annually. Eight community members were appointed to the committee for a three-year term.
Cr Stitfold said the changes would enable the RAP Advisory Group to have a greater impact in raising awareness and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture within our wider community.
"The Reconciliation Action Plan remains an essential step towards reconciliation with our First Nations communities," said Cr Stitfold.
"Bayside has already benefited greatly from the RAP Advisory Group's input and these changes will ensure we can build on that work as we take further steps to reconciliation."
"I'm honoured to be appointed in this role and I'm committed to being an active listener during these important discussions."
Minutes of the RAP Advisory Group meeting will now be recorded, providing Council with greater oversight on the implementation of the RAP and other related issues.
Having a Council representative will ensure the RAP Advisory Group has a pathway to highlight issues or formally recommend suggestions to Council.
Sharing the word on the voice
NAIDOC Week, which runs from 2 July to 9 July, is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations histories and cultures and participate in celebrations of one of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.
The 2023 theme is For Our Elders. The theme pays respects to the Elders lost and to those who continue to fight for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across all Nations. Elders are cultural knowledge holders, trailblazers, teachers, leaders and nurturers in the Indigenous community.
In its March meeting, Council resolved to support a First Nations Voice to Parliament enshrined in the constitution.
This follows Council's unanimous support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart in August 2021 and commitment to acting locally via our Reconciliation Action Plan.
A Voice to Parliament will give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities a route to help inform policy and legal decisions that impact their lives.
Bayside is supporting the Voice while also respecting everyone's right to choose how to vote in the upcoming referendum.
We recognise that there is not uniformity of opinion within the community in relation to the Voice and respect everyone's right to make their own decision on the issue.
Council will seek to play an educative role by sharing Australian Government information to assist our community to make informed decisions.
If you would like to learn more about the Voice, please access the following resources:
- Australian Government - https://voice.gov.au/
- Reconciliation Australia -https://www.reconciliation.org.au/reconciliation/support-a-voice-to-parliament/
