Council: Reconciliation is "everybody's business"

LISMORE City Council is giving local councils, businesses and community organisations the chance to make reconciliation their business and develop a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

LISMORE City Council is giving local councils, businesses and community organisations the chance to make reconciliation their business and develop a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

Council is holding a free workshop with Reconciliation Australia on March 9, with representatives visiting Lismore to help people create practical action plans to advance Aboriginal equality.

In 2013, Lismore became the first council in the Northern Rivers to develop a RAP, created in consultation with Reconciliation Australia.

Since then, Council has established an Aboriginal Advisory Group, held community pride events, conducted cultural awareness training for staff and is in the process of employing nine new Aboriginal trainees.

One of the final components is a project called Embracing the RAP in the Region, with Council reaching out and giving other organisations the inspiration and the tools to create their own RAP.

The free workshop with Reconciliation Australia is a chance for business owners, neighbouring council workers and representatives from community groups to discover why RAPs are not only important, but also incredibly successful.

"Implementing our RAP has been an amazing experience and has given staff a real sense of pride about making a contribution to reconciliation in this country," Council's Manager Integrated Planning Annie McWilliam said.

"We want to share with others what we have achieved, the lessons we have learnt and support other organisations to go through their own process of creating and implementing a RAP.

"The impacts for the Aboriginal community are enormous - in terms of developing relationships, increasing respect and creating employment opportunities. Inevitably this also has positive benefits for the wider Lismore community. It has been a privilege to be part of such a journey."

"I see reconciliation as a social justice issue and we need active participation in order to create change."

"We encourage councils, businesses and the community to get on board and make the commitment to be part of that change. It doesn't matter how big or small your organisation is." 

"Reconciliation is everybody's business."

The introductory workshop with Reconciliation Australia will be held on Monday, March 9 at the Council Chambers in Goonellabah from 9am to 12pm.

Everyone is welcome. To register your attendance, phone [phone].