Golden Plains Shire Council, Victoria, has endorsed a draft Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and a new Flag Policy that will see the Torres Strait Islander flag fly alongside the Australian and Aboriginal flags.
The Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) program provides a four-stage framework for organisations to support the national reconciliation movement.
The four types of RAP – Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate, are designed to suit an organisation at different stages of their reconciliation journey, with Golden Plains Shire Council at the first step: Reflect.
Council committed to developing a RAP in 2019, and the draft document was developed in consultation with the Wadawurrung Aboriginal Corporation and the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation.
The RAP provides a cohesive direction for Council’s reconciliation activities, which previously were undertaken by individual teams within Council’s organisation.
Committing to the ‘Reflect RAP’ allows Council to spend time scoping and developing relationships with its local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders, to set a vision for reconciliation and to explore its sphere of influence, before committing to more specific actions or initiatives.
Following its review by Reconciliation Australia, Council anticipates launching the finalised Reflect RAP during Reconciliation Week in June 2021.
Council’s Flag Policy was adopted following a Notice of Motion by Councillor Owen Sharkey in December 2020, seeking such a policy be developed.
The new policy says Council will fly the Australian National Flag, Aboriginal Flag and the Torres Strait Islander Flag at the Golden Plains Civic Centre in Bannockburn and The Well in Smythesdale requiring a third flag pole to be erected at each site.
Mayor, Helena Kirby said the endorsement of the draft RAP and Flag Policy was an indication of Council’s commitment to reconciliation and better engagement with its local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
“Council was very pleased to endorse the organisation’s first Reconciliation Action Plan and a commitment to fly the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags at our offices.
“Councillors and staff stand united to better engage with and celebrate our area’s indigenous history and ongoing culture, as we begin our reconciliation journey with our local Traditional Owners and Custodians.”
Golden Plains Shire is home to two Traditional Owner Groups, the Wadawurrung and Eastern Maar, who have lived within the region for more than 25,000 years.
