Reconciliation Australia

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Reconciliation Australia
PredecessorCouncil for Aboriginal Reconciliation
FormationJanuary 2001; 20 years ago (2001-01)
TypeNon-government not-for-profit organisation
PurposeThe national expert body on reconciliation in Australia; with a vision to wake to a reconciled, just and equitable Australia
HeadquartersOld Parliament House
Location
Region
Australia
Co-Chairs
Professor Tom Calma AO
Melinda Cilento
CEO
Karen Mundine
Revenue (2016)
Decrease $10.9 million[1]
Websitereconciliation.org.au

Reconciliation Australia is a non-government, not-for-profit foundation established in January 2001 to promote a continuing national focus for reconciliation between Indigenous (i.e. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) and non-Indigenous Australians. It was established by the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (CAR) and subsequently superseded that body in 2001. It organises National Reconciliation Week each year.

The Australian Reconciliation Network comprises reconciliation organisations in the six states of Australia.

History[]

The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, which published its final report in April 1991, had recommended the initiation of a process of reconciliation between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians.[2] On 2 September 1991,[3] the Australian Parliament voted unanimously to establish the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and a formal reconciliation process. Parliament had noted that there had been no formal process of reconciliation and that it was “most desirable that there be such a reconciliation” by the year 2001, marking the centenary of Federation.[citation needed] The Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation was established by Parliament, by the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation Act 1991, to be disbanded after 10 years.[4][5]

The CAR’s vision statement aimed for "A united Australia which respects this land of ours; values the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage; and provides justice and equity for all". Patrick Dodson was the first Chair of CAR.[4]

Reconciliation Australia was established by the CAR in January 2001.[6] The Hon Fred Chaney AO was one of the founding co-chairs, and served for nearly 15 years on the Board until his retirement in November 2014.[7] Jackie Huggins was a co-chair for some time.[8]

Reconciliation Action Plans[]

In 2006 Prime Minister John Howard and Professor Mick Dodson launched the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) program, which was to be administered by Reconciliation Australia.[9] Through the program, organisations develop a business plan that documents the actions they will take to contribute to reconciliation in Australia. The practical steps outlined in the RAP aim to help to build strong relationships and enhanced respect between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Community programs, Indigenous employment, and procurement from certified Indigenous businesses are examples of the kinds of actions businesses can take in their RAP.[citation needed]

"Recognise" campaign[]

In 2012, Reconciliation Australia established the "Recognise" campaign, following recommendations of the Expert Panel on Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the Constitution,[10] which was presented to the federal government under Julia Gillard in January 2012.[11][12] The Recognise campaign focused specifically on raising awareness among all Australians of the need to change the Constitution, ahead of a referendum. In this it was successful: awareness of the issue rose from 30% to over 75% of the population.[10]

The campaign ended in 2017, when the federal government ceased to fund it, by which time it had attracted the support of more than 318,000 people, and more than 160 community and corporate partner organisations.[10]

Description[]

Reconciliation Australia is funded from corporate and government partnerships as well as tax-deductible donations from individual Australians. The organisation works with business, government and individual Australians to bring about change, identifying and promoting examples of reconciliation in action. Reconciliation Australia also independently monitors Australia's progress towards reconciliation.[citation needed]

Key people[]

Board[]

As of July 2021, board members of Reconciliation Australia are:[4]

Executive[]

  • Karen Mundine, Chief Executive Officer, Bundjalung woman with many years of experience in community engagement, public advocacy, and communications[4]

Australian Reconciliation Network[]

The Australian Reconciliation Network includes the following independently-run organisations, which organise activities and provide information:[13]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Annual Financial Report for the year ended 30 June 2016" (PDF). Reconcilliation Australia. 25 October 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  2. ^ "Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody: Inquiry". The Age of Enquiry. La Trobe University. 13 January 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation Act 1991, Incorporating all amendments by legislation made to 18 April 1994". Federal Register of Legislation. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "About Us". Reconciliation Australia. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation Act 1991 [as amended]". Federal Register of Legislation. 1 January 2001. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  6. ^ Castan, Melissa; Arabena, Kerry (19 May 2016). "Indigenous reconciliation in Australia: still a bridge too far?". The Conversation. The Conversation Media Trust. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  7. ^ "Founding Co-Chair retires from Reconciliation Australia Board". Reconciliation Australia. 30 November 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  8. ^ "Dr Jackie Huggins AM FAHA, Co-Chair Eminent Panel and Working Group, Pathway to Treaty QLD". Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  9. ^ Armstrong, Leah. "RAP About". Reconciliation Australia. Reconciliation Australia. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Recognise Campaign Successful in Raising Awareness". Reconciliation Australia. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  11. ^ "Report of the Expert Panel on recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the Constitution". ANTaR. 19 January 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2020. Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the Constitution: Report of the Expert Panel (303 pages)
  12. ^ "Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the Constitution: Report of the Expert Panel [Commentary and Recommendations only]" (PDF). Retrieved 14 August 2020 – via austlii. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  13. ^ "Get Involved". Reconciliation Australia. 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  14. ^ "Statements & Media Releases". Reconciliation NSW. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  15. ^ "Our vision and purpose". Reconciliation Queensland. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  16. ^ "About". Reconciliation SA. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  17. ^ "About Us". Reconciliation Tasmania. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  18. ^ "Our Story". Reconciliation Victoria. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  19. ^ "Home page". Reconciliation WA. Retrieved 10 July 2021.

Further reading[]

  • "Inquiry into constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples". Australian Human Rights Commission. 20 July 2018.
  • Reconciliation Australia (February 2016). The State of Reconciliation in Australia: Our History, Our Story, Our Future: Summary. ISBN 978-0-9945103-1-0. Twenty-five years after the establishment of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (CAR), this report examines the state of reconciliation in Australia today.

External links[]

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