Knox Council has adopted its first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) to strengthen relationships between the First Nations and wider community through meaningful steps to advance reconciliation.
Council’s two-year plan was developed with the local First Nations community and Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong Elders. Knox has the second largest First Nations population in Melbourne’s east.
Knox Mayor, Councillor Marcia Timmers-Leitch said the plan outlines actions that will deliver real outcomes for local First Nations people.
“As the level of government closest to the community, Council is well‐placed to lead and influence positive changes to strengthen relationships that will benefit everyone.
“Reconciliation is about respecting and valuing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritages and people, and aims to achieve equality in life expectancy, education, employment and other areas of disadvantage,” she said.
The RAP identifies six focus areas: health and wellbeing, recognition and respect, employment and economic development, civic participation, cultural heritage and voice and governance.
“For the First Nations community, it is important that Council commits to moving forward and walking together,” Cr Timmers-Leitch said.
“This is Council’s first Reconciliation Action Plan, enabling us to take meaningful action to advance and champion reconciliation and truth telling in Knox.
“There can’t be reconciliation without truth telling. Acknowledging our history and approaching it with openness and honesty is the only way to create a more positive future together.
“Our Reconciliation Action Plan contains specific steps to embed the principles of reconciliation in everything we do. It will provide tangible and substantive benefits for the First Nations and broader community,” she said.
