innovate reconciliation action plan - cewa...joanne harris consultant religious education and faith...

Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan July 2019 -December 2021

INNOVATE

As a Christ-centred community committed to the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, we are called through our actions to promote justice, to seek truth and to serve the common good in our society.

The Bishops of Western Australia, in their Mandate for Catholic education, remind us that:

“The values of the Gospel lead to genuine peace and harmony. They make easier the promotions of reconciliation, justice, compassion and mercy.”

Inspired by the Gospel, and underpinned by a deep commitment to reconciliation with Aboriginal peoples, the second Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) for the office staff of Catholic Education Western Australia (CEWA) calls us to individually and collectively build upon the work achieved in our inaugural RAP over the past two years.

Encompassing staff from our Broome, Bunbury, Geraldton and Perth offices, important advances in the awareness and commitment of our staff to reconciliation are evident. Perhaps this is no more strikingly reflected than in the Aboriginal flag that now flies prominently outside our Leederville offices, reminding all staff and visitors

on a daily basis that we gather on Whadjuk Noongar Country.

I wish to thank and pay tribute to the committed staff who oversaw our first RAP. Let us now take this moment to reflect on the important progress that has been made, and seek to further the momentum on our journey of reconciliation together.

Dr Debra Sayce

Executive Director Catholic Education Western Australia

Message from Dr Debra Sayce, Executive Director

Acknowledgment

In the spirit of reconciliation, Catholic Education Western Australia acknowledges and pays respect to the Traditional Custodians and Elders, both past and present, of the lands on which Catholic Education Western Australia’s schools, offices and operations are located.

Noongar Elder Professor Len Collard welcomes CEWA office staff to Country

after the start of year Mass at the Catholic Education Centre in Leederville, 2019.

All photograph credits Jesse Roberts and Matt Biocich/CEWA

Catholic Education Western Australia Catholic Education Western Australia 32

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On behalf of Reconciliation Australia, I am delighted to see Catholic Education Western Australia continue its reconciliation journey and to formally endorse its second, Innovate RAP.

Through the development of an Innovate RAP Catholic Education Western Australia continues to play an important part in a community of over 1,000 dedicated corporate, government, and not-for-profit organisations that have formally committed to reconciliation through the RAP program since its inception in 2006. RAP organisations across Australia are turning good intentions into positive actions, helping to build higher trust, lower prejudice, and pride in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Reconciliation is no one single issue or agenda. Based on international research and benchmarking, Reconciliation Australia defines and measures reconciliation through five critical dimensions: race relations; equality and equity; institutional integrity; unity; and historical acceptance. All sections of the community—governments, civil society, the private sector, and Aboriginal and Strait Islander communities—have a role to play to progress these dimensions.

The RAP program provides a framework for organisations to advance reconciliation within their spheres of influence. This Innovate RAP provides Catholic Education Western Australia with the key steps to establish its own unique approach to reconciliation.

Through implementing an Innovate RAP, Catholic Education Western Australia will strengthen its approach to driving reconciliation through its business activities, services and programs, and develop mutually beneficial relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders.

We wish Catholic Education Western Australia well as it embeds and expands its own unique approach to reconciliation. We encourage Catholic Education Western Australia to embrace this journey with open hearts and minds, to grow from the challenges, and to build on its successes. As the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation reminded the nation in its final report:

“Reconciliation is hard work—it’s a long, winding and corrugated road, not a broad, paved highway. Determination and effort at all levels of government and in all sections of the community will be essential to make reconciliation a reality.”

On behalf of Reconciliation Australia, I commend Catholic Education Western Australia on its second RAP, and look forward to following its ongoing reconciliation journey.

Karen Mundine Chief Executive Officer Reconciliation Australia

CEO Statement

‘Nine Tutles’ by Bard Kija Nimarnburr Mungit woman Elaine Cox. Elaine paints about stories told by her old people relating to Country, animals and bush fruits, in order to pass on her heritage and culture to her children and grandchildren. She painted ‘Nine Turtles’ while living in Halls Creek in the late 1990s.

Catholic Education Western Australia Catholic Education Western Australia 54

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Bishop Donald Sproxton, Auxiliary Bishop in the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth (centre), with

retiring members of the Catholic Education Aboriginal Committee Maxine Brahim (left) and

Terri Golding (right) in 2018.

Our Reconciliation Vision

The offices of Catholic Education Western Australia (CEWA) are committed to ensuring that our schools and workplaces are welcoming communities that embrace the diversity of our members. We strive to honour the importance of Aboriginal cultures in our society. The CEWA offices are committed to providing assistance to schools as we strive to offer a culturally responsive education for Aboriginal students. The CEWA offices seek to promote reconciliation through our work, and support schools in creating opportunities for all staff, students and families to learn about and engage with Aboriginal histories and cultures. The CEWA offices’ RAP and our Transforming Lives: Strategy 2025 document lay out achievable, measurable targets that will indicate our reconciliation vision is being fulfilled.

Our Organisation

The Bishops of Western Australia work with the Catholic Education Commission of Western Australia (CECWA) to develop policy and strategy supporting the continual improvement of Catholic schools across our State. CECWA works with an executive staff, consisting of the CEWA Executive Team and other staff members employed at offices in Broome, Bunbury, Geraldton and Perth. These offices employed a total of 347 people as of May 2019 across all roles, including 15 Aboriginal people, five of whom are employed as cadets.

Our Mission

The work of the CEWA offices is mandated by the Bishops of Western Australia, and guided by our Strategic Directions:

• Inspiring Christ-centred Leaders

• Catholic Schools of Excellence

• Catholic Pastoral Communities

• Accessible, Affordable and Sustainable System of Schools

We are dedicated to supporting Catholic schools to become accessible and welcoming environments that help all those involved in school life connect with Jesus and his teachings. Catholic school communities exist to assist both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students to live Gospel-inspired lives that enrich society. The Gospel priorities of love for God and neighbour direct the work of the CEWA offices towards reconciliation, while improving educational outcomes for Aboriginal students.

Our Reconciliation Action Plan

Our second CEWA office RAP was developed by the RAP Governance Group, consisting of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal CEWA office staff from across the State and a range of roles. It aims to build upon the focus of our inaugural RAP, with updated actions reflecting areas where progress was not made, and new actions created where the RAP Governance Group saw a need. Reflection on our first RAP journey has illustrated the need to ensure consistent and ongoing focus is given by both the RAP Governance Group and wider office community to ensure that efforts are maximised in order to meet the goals we have set in this new document.

This RAP sets out formal Terms of Reference for our RAP Governance Group for the first time. The Director Governance, Strategy, Communications and Digital Technology remains responsible for championing our RAP, with representation required from each Directorate, and at least two Aboriginal staff members.

Catholic Education Western Australia Catholic Education Western Australia

Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan | Jul 2019 - Dec 2021 |

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A copy of the CEWA Aboriginal Employment Strategy

2017-2018 at the Strategy’s launch event, held at La Salle College,

Swan Valley, 2017.

Our history in Aboriginal education dates back as far as 1847, with reconciliation emerging as a system focus more recently. Our second RAP is intended to strengthen our commitment to reconciliation across the State and formalise this commitment with a strategy for action.

Since introducing RAPs to our reconciliation journey formally in 2016, the RAP Governance Group has met to discuss progress made against our action areas. As a result of the creation of the first RAP, an Acknowledgement of Country is now commonplace at the beginning of meetings.

Aboriginal flags and artwork have been displayed at office locations. Different teams and directorates have also strengthened relationships

with Aboriginal suppliers and service providers, most notably including a large amount of stationary and office supply orders. In short, some advances have been made. However, The RAP Governance Group has also noted and discussed challenges around engaging all office staff and breaking through busy work schedules, with learnings applied to this second RAP.

Ambitious targets for cultural competency training, increased transparency in the RAP reporting process, and greater inclusion and involvement of the three CEWA office sites in Broome, Geraldton and Bunbury are features of this new RAP.

Dr Edward Simons Director Governance, Strategy and Digital Technology (Chair)

Eileen Climo Director Teaching and Learning

Jacqueline Reid Team Leader Special Projects

Norman Brahim Leadership Consultant

Sharon Davis Team Leader Aboriginal Education

Peter Higgins Consultant Religious Education and Faith Formation

Maureen Hart Executive Assistant

Jesse Roberts Senior Communications Officer

Joanne Harris Consultant Religious Education and Faith Formation

Dympna Forte Product Manager

Suzie Richards Capital Development Consultant

Maureen Tully Regional Officer - Bunbury

Leanne Hodge Regional Officer - Geraldton

Carol Geurts Regional Officer - Broome

Lynne Beckingham Project Manager Aboriginal Families as First Educators

Sophia Sabatier Literacy Consultant

Lesley Jolliffe Records and Information Management Coordinator

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community RAP Governance Group Members

Norman Brahim Leadership Consultant

Sharon Davis Team Leader Aboriginal Education

Our Reconciliation Journey

Our RAP Governance Group Members

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8 Catholic Education Western Australia

Action Deliverable Timeline Responsibility

1. Support the ongoing work of the RAP Governance Group (RGG) in actively monitoring RAP development, including implementation of actions, tracking progress and reporting

• Ensure ongoing whole office engagement and implementation of the RAP• RGG to meet four times per year• RGG oversees the development, endorsement and launch of the RAP• Ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are represented on the RGG• Establish Terms of Reference for the RGG

June 2020; June 2021

Director Governance, Strategy and Digital Technology

2. Foster and sustain professional relationships with key stakeholders in order to demonstrate best practices in governance, communication, learning and engagement

• Generate relationships with key Aboriginal groups to facilitate achieving RAP actions at each office location

• Provide advice and support for RAP development and implementation to CEWA schools and external stakeholders

• Develop and implement a plan for non-Aboriginal staff to attend events

September 2019; March & September 2020; March & September 2021

Director Governance, Strategy and Digital Technology Director Leadership and Employee Services

3. Develop and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with Aboriginal peoples, communities and organisations to support positive outcomes

• Develop and implement an engagement plan to work with Aboriginal stakeholders• Meet with local Aboriginal organisations to develop guiding principles for future

engagement



4. Celebrate National Reconciliation Week by providing opportunities for non-Aboriginal employees to learn about the past and build relationships with all staff members

• Register National Reconciliation Week (NRW) events with Reconciliation Australia’s NRW website

• Support an external NRW event• Ensure RAP Governance Group participates in an external event to recognise and

celebrate NRW• Organise at least one internal event for NRW each year

27 May – 3 June annually


5. Raise awareness of the CEWA RAP to promote reconciliation across the CEWA system and education sector

• Develop and implement a strategy to communicate the RAP to all internal and external stakeholders

• Promote and monitor broad stakeholder engagement with the CEWA offices’ RAP in order to maximise the impact of its initiatives

• Promote reconciliation through ongoing active engagement with all stakeholders

June 2020 Director Governance, Strategy and Digital Technology

Noongar Elder and grandfather Brett Collard reads with students including his grandson (second from left) at a NAIDOC Week event at Santa Clara School in Saint James in 2017.

Relationships

The Bishops’ Mandate calls CEWA, as a Catholic organisation, to witness for Christ and to promote Gospel values leading to reconciliation and justice. Building strong relationships between all Australians is a necessary response to this call. It is therefore essential that non-Aboriginal CEWA office employees build and develop connections with Aboriginal peoples to ensure they demonstrate best practices in governance, communication, learning and engagement.

Catholic Education Western Australia


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Students at the Whadjuk Gift, a reconciliation-focused event hosted by Mater Dei College in Edgewater, 2019.


6. Deliver systematic cultural competency initiatives in all CEWA offices

• Ensure 75 percent of staff in CEWA offices complete online Cultural Competency program as part of the Cultural Competency Matrix (CCM)

• Develop and implement an Aboriginal cultural awareness training strategy for our staff which defines cultural learning needs of employees in all areas of our business and considers various ways cultural learning can be provided (online, face to face workshops or cultural immersion).

• Investigate opportunities to work with local Traditional Owners and/or Aboriginal consultants to develop cultural awareness training

• Ensure that office-based cultural learning initiatives such as start-of-year Welcome to Country, Kaartdijin Week, and Staff Development Day are cemented as ongoing practices with necessary support and resources

• Provide opportunities for RWG members, RAP champions, HR managers and other key leadership staff to participate in cultural training

January 2020 Director Governance, Strategy and Digital Technology

7. Enrich employee understanding of the protocols aroundAcknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country ceremonies to ensure there is shared meaning behind the ceremonies

• Develop and implement a protocol for Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country, display prominently in each meeting room, and promote availability through the intranet

• Apply CEWA offices’ meeting protocols for every formal internal and external meeting or presentation

• Invite a Traditional Owner to conduct a Welcome to Country at all new school openings and at the annual whole of staff development day

• Develop a list of key contacts for organising a Welcome to Country and maintaining respectful partnerships.


8. Build connections with Country and culture at all CEWA offices

• Display plaques and signs acknowledging local Traditional Owners• Secure, promote and display cultural art and icons• Research and share the extended history and heritage of CEWA office sites


Director Finance, Planning and School Resources

9. Recognise and mark Aboriginal people’s national days of significance to provide all staff with opportunities for learning and engagement

• Acknowledge and promote: □ National Reconciliation Week □ Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander Sunday

□ Sorry Day □ Kaartdijin Week (NAIDOC Week) □ Provide opportunities for all staff to

participate in events acknowledging these days/weeks



10. Ensure our offices visibly acknowledge and respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ connection to Country

• Display Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags and artworks, including artist names and story


11. Provide opportunities for CEWA offices’ Aboriginal employees to engage with their culture and community through NAIDOC Week events

• Review HR policies and procedures to ensure there are no barriers to Aboriginal staff participating in NAIDOC Week

• Provide opportunities for Aboriginal employees to participate in local NAIDOC Week events

First week in July annually

Director Leadership and Employee Services

Respect

Respect for human dignity is a fundamental teaching of the Catholic faith based on the belief that all are made in the image and likeness of God. The CEWA offices are committed to the understanding, appreciation and acknowledgement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories and cultures.



13Catholic Education Western Australia


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An Aboriginal Teaching Assistant and students at St Lawrence’s Primary School in Bluff Point, 2018.


12. Promote opportunities within our organisation to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment

• Establish and implement firm targets as part of our Aboriginal Employment Strategy• Identify and mentor suitable Aboriginal candidates for teaching and leadership

positions• Engage with existing Aboriginal staff to consult on employment strategies,

including professional development• Review HR and recruitment procedures and policies to ensure there are no barriers

to Aboriginal employees and future applicants participating in the workplace• Explicitly invite applications from Aboriginal people in job advertisements• Place job advertisements in Aboriginal publications and media• Collect information on our current Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff to

inform future employment opportunities.



13. Enact opportunities within our organisation to support schools to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student enrolment, attendance and learning outcomes

• Develop, communicate and implement the Transforming Lives: Strategy 2025 (see policy link)

• Provide ongoing support to the Aboriginal Families as First Educators (AFaFE) program

• Consider ongoing partnership opportunities with the Stronger Smarter Institute


Executive DirectorDirector Teaching and LearningDirector Leadership and Employee Services

14. Support Aboriginal businesses • Initiate contracts with Supply Nation accredited suppliers• Become an accredited member of Supply Nation• Encourage schools to enact supplier diversity• Educate staff about using Aboriginal businesses• Develop at least one commercial relationship with an Aboriginal business• Review and update procurement policies and procedures to ensure there are no

barriers for procuring goods and services from Aboriginal businesses• Develop and communicate to staff a list of Aboriginal businesses that can be used

to procure goods and services


Director Finance, Planning and School Resources

15. Host workplace traineeships and cadetships in all CEWA offices

• All CEWA offices teams will offer to host opportunities such as:• Cadetships, traineeships and internships• School and university student placements



16. Promote Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Education to staff and external stakeholders.

• Encourage all staff to engage with the professional learning (including webinar) resources available via Reconciliation Australia’s Narragunnawali: Reconciliation Education online platform

• Encourage all staff/all early learning services in our network to sign up to the Narragunnawali News mailing list

• Host appropriate links to Reconciliation Australia’s Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Education platform on our website

• Nominate schools/early learning services within our network who have shown exceptional commitment to reconciliation for a 2021 Narragunnawali Award


Opportunities

CEWA is called to provide preferential treatment for the marginalised in our society. We acknowledge that this can be achieved by CEWA staff through demonstrating ongoing awareness and engagement with reconciliation in our work.





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CEWA staff members take part in a collaborative art project during Kaartdijin Week (‘Knowledge Week’ in Noongar) at the Catholic Education Centre in Leederville, 2016.


17. Report achievements, challenges and learnings to Reconciliation Australia for inclusion in the Annual Impact Measurement Report

• Complete and submit the RAP Impact Measurement Questionnaire to Reconciliation Australia annually

• Report progress to CEWA office staff• Investigate participating in the RAP Barometer

September 2019, 2020, 2021 Chair, RAP Governance Group

18. Include Executive Director and Directors in each RAP Governance Group meeting

• Member of Executive to attend each RAP Governance Group meeting

March, June, September and December annually

Executive Director

19. RAP Governance Group to report regularly to Executive Team, and group members to report back on RAP responsibilities and developments to their teams

• Reports delivered on regular and ongoing basis to Executive Team

• Office Teams formally recognise the contribution of their work to the RAP targets in review processes

• Publicaly report our RAP achievements, challenges and learnings


Chair, RAP Governance Group

20. Review, refresh and update RAP • Liaise with Reconciliation Australia to develop a new RAP based on learnings, challenges and achievements

• Send draft RAP to Reconciliation Australia for review and feedback

• Submit draft RAP to Reconciliation Australia for formal endorsement

June 2021 Chair, RAP Governance Group

Tracking Progress and Reporting

Catholic Education Western Australia 17Catholic Education Western Australia16


1847Benedictines

established mission at New Norcia and opened a school at New Norcia for Aboriginal boys

1890 Beagle Bay mission

established by Trappist Fathers

1904 Teresian Sisters

arrived from Spain to teach and care for Aboriginal girls in the New Norcia Diocese

1908Sisters of St John of

God (Broome) opened St Mary’s School,

Broome1913 - Sisters of St

John of God opened Christ the King School

in Lombadina

1928Christian Brothers opened St Mary’s

Agriculture School, Tardun

1942Presentation Sisters

opened St Cecilia’s Primary

School, Port Hedland

1944St Francis Xavier Native

Mission opened for Aboriginal children at

Wandering1948 - The

Presentation Sisters opened a school at Tardun-Wandalgu

1953Sisters of St John of

God (Broome) opened Holy Rosary School,

Derby

1954Pallottine Fathers opened a Catholic

school at Balgo Hills Mission

1956Pallottine Training Centre boys hostel

opened at Rossmoyne for Aboriginal youth attending secondary schools in the metro-

politan area or training as apprentices. Later a girls’ hostel was added

1963Pallottine Fathers took charge of the

Wyndham and Halls Creek schools

1964 - Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred

Heart opened St Joseph’s School,

Wyndham

1967Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart opened St Joseph’s School, Kununurra

1971 - Creation of the Catholic Education

Commission of Western Australia (CECWA).

Opening of Nulungu College, Broome

1974The Aboriginal

Teaching Assistant (ATA) positon was first created in Holy Rosary

School, Derby1974 - Creation of an Aboriginal Education

Program

1979Sisters of Mercy opened junior

schools at Mulan and Billiluna Aboriginal

communities1979 - Two Sisters of

St Joseph of the Sacred Heart established Ngalangangpum School, Warmun

1981St John’s Adult Education and Training Centre

was established in conjunction with the Sisters of St John of

God (Broome) at the Balgo Community

1985Two Sisters of St

Joseph of the Sacred Heart founded the Birlirr Ngawiyiwu

School at Yaruman/Ringer Soak.

1986 - Clontarf Aboriginal College, Waterford opened

1987Warlawurru Catholic

School, Red Hill at Halls Creek opened and staffed by the

Canossian Daughters of Charity

1988Regional Aboriginal Education Advisory

Committees established

1991Gibb River Catholic

Primary School opened; it is now

known as Wanalirri Catholic School

1994CECWA Aboriginal Education Policy

for Catholic schools is developed and

implemented

1995The state Catholic

Education Aboriginal Committee was

established by CECWA1995 - St Mary’s College,

Broome created by amalgamation of St

Mary’s Primary School and Nulungu Catholic

Secondary School

1998Aboriginal Secondary Scholarship/Bursary

Program commences2001 - The

inaugural Awards of Excellence in Catholic Aboriginal Education

commenced

2011GECKOS website

launched

2011ATA Upskilling

Program commenced

2014Re-build of

Ngalangangpum School, Warmun after

devastating floods

2014Aboriginal School

Leadership Program launched

2015Transforming Lives:

Strategy 2025 launched

2016Inaugural

Reconciliation Action Plan launched

2017Aboriginal

Employment Strategy launched

2019Second CEWA office Reconciliation Action

Plan launched

Students at the Whadjuk Gift, a reconciliation-focused event hosted by Mater Dei College in Edgewater, 2019.

Catholic education shares a history of almost 200 years with Aboriginal communities in Western Australia. We acknowledge that Catholic schools and educators were involved in actions and systems that damaged and disrupted Aboriginal families, languages and cultures. It is in this spirit of truth-telling that we aim to take ownership of the past and work towards justice with this Reconciliation Action Plan.

God of all creation,as we journey together in this Great Southern Land,we pray for healing, forgiveness and unity,creating a path of good will, with justice and compassion.Jesus, through the power of your love,you have given us the courage, wisdom and strengthto share our gifts and talents in humility.In peace and understanding we reconcile with each other.Creator Spirit, we come together in prayer and thanksgiving for the many blessings we have received.Allow your Spirit to wash over us and give us strengthto walk together as one.

Our history with Aboriginal education

Prayer forReconciliation

Prayer sourced from National Centre for Evangelisation





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http://nce.catholic.org.au/about/acknowledgement-of-country]

Sincere thanks are extended to all staff from CEWA offices across the State for their contribution, in particular to the Reconciliation Action Plan Governance Group. Thanks also to Reconciliation Australia and Reconciliation Western Australia for their support.

For further information on this RAP please

contact CEWA by email: communications@

cewa.edu.au or phone (08) 6380 5200

Reconciliation Action Plan 2019-JR_WEbsite cover delete.pdfReconciliation Action Plan 2019-WEBSITE.pdfReconciliation Action Plan 2019-JR_WEbsite cover delete

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