After years of budget cuts, Australia's creative industries are celebrating the launch of Revive, a new cultural policy from the Federal Government. Jacqui Walter, our National Sales Leader, shares her thoughts on this encouraging development.
FCTG’S Reconciliation Action Plan
FCTG has always been about inclusivity - of and for the many wonderful people we have within our organisation. Our makeup is a wide diversity of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion and culture.
It was a natural progression for us to embark on a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) early last year. Our Innovate RAP covers 15 areas of action – which help towards delivering on many of Reconciliation Australia’s goals.
What is a RAP?
In 2006 Reconciliation Australia launched their Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) program. RAPs provide organisations with a framework to advance reconciliation.
RAPs must be developed in consultation with Aboriginal stakeholders and be measurable, action-oriented and publicly accountable.
“The most inspiring RAPs come from companies that have thought about what reconciliation means to them and how their organisation can make a unique and lasting difference.” Quote from Creative Spirits website.
There are four types of RAPs: Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate. Each type is designed to suit an organisation at different stages of their reconciliation journey. FCTG is currently implementing an Innovate RAP.
“An Innovate RAP focuses on developing and strengthening relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, engaging staff and stakeholders in reconciliation, and developing and piloting innovative strategies to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.” Reconciliation Australia.
Actions FCTG has taken so far
Our Innovate RAP has 15 different actions with 58 deliverable outcomes and we’ve made good inroads since starting in February last year.
Throughout 2022 we:
- Created a RAP working group,
- Held cultural awareness training for numerous leadership teams
- Delivered an L&D cultural awareness course
- Encouraged our stores to feature opening hours ‘Acknowledgement of Country’ signage
- Hosted a NRW panel discussion
- Shared communications to educate our people
- And more
We have created a First Nations Yarning Circle – an inclusivity group that brings together First Nations Flighties. We’re also continuing our Reconciliation Planning Group – aimed at forging more steps forward with our RAP journey. There are various other initiatives in the works such as looking into including plaques in every new store featuring Indigenous place names and engagement with First Nations-owned businesses through our Corporate brands.
We employed a First Nations Inclusion Leader, Lynne Mailata, to coordinate and further implement our RAP. Lynne is a proud First Nations woman who will help educate us about reconciliation, help create a culturally safe working environment for our First Nations people, assist with inclusion of First Nations businesses in our procurement practises, coordinate events and strengthen our relationships with communities and partnerships.
“I see my role as working alongside our staff to encourage an inclusive workplace and to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures of our country. I believe there is much we can learn from First Nations connection to kinship, community and Country.”
Throughout this year we will continue to build a culturally inclusive work environment by implementing even more strategies to engage our staff in reconciliation, both online and in person.
