RECONCILIATION ACTION PLANSacred Heart CollegeJune 2020 to June 2021

CONTENTS

Vision for Reconciliation

The Working Group

Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Actions

Relationships

Respect

Opportunities

VISION FOR RECONCILIATION

As a Catholic School faithful to the Gospel and the tradition of the Sisters of Our Lady of theMissions:

Sacred Heart College strives to develop their students to respond to Jesus by striving for personalexcellence, having the courage of their convictions and being active agents of change.

At Sacred Heart we are committed to building mutually respectful relationships between Aboriginaland Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians that allow us to work together tosolve problems and generate greater success. At Sacred Heart we aim to provide an equal andequitable learning environment that values Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The staff atSacred Heart believe that education is key to supporting health and well-being with respect, equalityand equity for all students to contribute.

Sacred Heart College is committed to raising awareness and knowledge of Aboriginal and TorresStrait Islander histories and cultures and to changing attitudes. Through understanding andacknowledging the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s cultures and knowledge,we will begin to work collaboratively and in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanderpeoples and their communities in a spirit of reconciliation.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

The Sacred Heart College community acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of this Land, theWadjuk Noongar people and pay our respects to Elders, past, present and emerging.

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RAP WORKING GROUP

Name Position

Trevor Lynch Principal / Director

Jodie Hunter Other

Chris Kan Other

Sandra Manning Other

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RELATIONSHIPS IN THE CLASSROOM

RAP ACTIONS COMMITMENT ASSIGNED TO DUE DATE

Aboriginal andTorres StraitIslander Peoplein the Classroom

We are committed to welcomingAboriginal and Torres Strait Islanderpeople into our classrooms as guests towork alongside our students and childrenin learning activities. Having anAboriginal and Torres Strait Islanderpresence in learning environments is vitalwhen teaching about Aboriginal andTorres Strait Islander histories andcultures.

Jodie H Ongoing

Opportunities forAboriginal andTorres StraitIslander Studentsand Children

We commit to providing opportunities forour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanderstudents to celebrate their culturalidentities. These opportunities positivelyimpact the well-being of Aboriginal andTorres Strait Islander students andchildren, and create shared pride forAboriginal and Torres Strait Islandercultures, contributions, identities andhistories in the wider school community.

Chris K Ongoing

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RELATIONSHIPS AROUND THE SCHOOL

RAP ACTIONS COMMITMENT ASSIGNED TO DUE DATE

Aboriginal andTorres StraitIslanderRepresentationon Committees

We commit to inviting Aboriginal andTorres Strait Islander staff, parents/carersand community members to be activerepresentatives on our school’scommittees. We commit to ensuringAboriginal and Torres Strait Islanderperspectives inform decision-makingprocesses by respecting the experiencesand knowledge that Aboriginal and TorresStrait Islander peoples can bring to ourcommittees.

Jodie H Ongoing

Elders andTraditionalOwners ShareHistories andCultures

We are committed to forging ameaningful and ongoing relationship withlocal Aboriginal and Torres Strait IslanderElders, and people recognised in theircommunity as Traditional Owners. Wehope this relationship can be of mutualbenefit, and that our local Elders andTraditional Owners will feel safe, andconfident, to share their historical andcultural knowledge with our staff,students and children.

Jodie H Ongoing

CulturalCompetence forStaff

We will reflect on our current level ofcultural competence and provide staffwith a range of opportunities to build andextend their knowledge andunderstanding of Aboriginal and TorresStrait Islander cultures. We also committo supporting staff to independently seekout and participate in a variety of culturalawareness experiences that assist themon their own journey of understanding.

Trevor L Ongoing

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RELATIONSHIPS AROUND THE SCHOOL

RAP ACTIONS COMMITMENT ASSIGNED TO DUE DATE

ReconciliationProjects

Our school will collaborate on projectsthat visibly and authentically embedAboriginal and Torres Strait Islanderhistories and cultures in learningprograms and the physical environment.Through this culture of collaborationacross the school and with thecommunity, we commit to creating anenvironment where young people, staffand community members acknowledge,respect and experience connection to theFirst Australians.

Sandra M Ongoing

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RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY

RAP ACTIONS COMMITMENT ASSIGNED TO DUE DATE

Welcome toCountry

Where appropriate, significant events atour school commence with a Welcome toCountry. Protocols for welcoming visitorsto Country have been a part of Aboriginaland Torres Strait Islander cultures forthousands of years. By incorporatingthese protocols into formal events andimportant occasions, we recogniseAboriginal and Torres Strait Islanderpeoples as the First Australians andCustodians of their Land.

Jodie H Ongoing

CelebrateNationalReconciliationWeek

Our school community celebratesNational Reconciliation Week (NRW)which is held from 27 May to 3 June eachyear by talking about reconciliation in theclassroom and around the school, andcelebrating with the community. NRW is atime for all Australians to learn about ourshared histories, cultures andachievements and to explore how each ofus can join the national reconciliationeffort.

Jodie H 27/05/2019- 03/06/2019

BuildRelationshipswith Community

We commit to building relationships withour local Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslander community that are built onmutual respect, trust and inclusiveness.We value these relationships and theirrole in helping to create opportunities forAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander andnon-Indigenous staff, students, childrenand community members.

Jodie H Ongoing

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RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY

RAP ACTIONS COMMITMENT ASSIGNED TO DUE DATE

CulturalCompetence forStudents andChildren

We will develop our everyday program toensure it provides children and studentswith explicit opportunities to build theirknowledge and understanding ofAboriginal and Torres Strait Islandercultures, within and beyond theclassroom. This commitment extends tothe inclusion of cultural competenceprinciples, fostered in teachers andeducators, in the ethos of our classroomsand across our school.

Chris K Ongoing

Family andCommunityRoom

We commit to establishing a space in ourschool for Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslander families and communitymembers to catch up and have a cup oftea, meet with staff, students andchildren, hold meetings or get togetherwith other community members.

Jodie H Ongoing

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RESPECT IN THE CLASSROOM

RAP ACTIONS COMMITMENT ASSIGNED TO DUE DATE

Teach aboutReconciliation

Our school community is committed tolearning about reconciliation in Australia.Having an understanding of the concept,history and progress of reconciliation isan important part of continuing thereconciliation journey. This understandingalso helps to strengthen engagementwith our school’s RAP by positioning itwithin the broader story of reconciliationin Australia.

Chris K Ongoing

Explore CurrentAffairs andIssues

We are committed to raising awarenessof current affairs and issues in the publicdomain that are of particular significanceto Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanderpeoples and the process of reconciliation.This will be done through curriculumdelivery, policies and procedures, and willbe integrated into the ethos of our school.

Sandra M Ongoing

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RESPECT AROUND THE SCHOOL

RAP ACTIONS COMMITMENT ASSIGNED TO DUE DATE

Acknowledgementof Country

Our school recognises the continuingconnection of Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslander peoples to the Country on whichwe live, work, learn and grow. All staffand students have the opportunity toshow respect to Traditional Owners andCustodians by regularly conducting anAcknowledgement of Country atmeetings and events throughout the year.

Sandra M Ongoing

VisiblyDemonstrateRespect forAboriginal andTorres StraitIslander Cultures

We commit to demonstrating our respectfor Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanderhistories and cultures in the physicalenvironment of our school. Weunderstand that making our respectvisible in the learning environmentthrough the incorporation of meaningful,relevant and culturally appropriate art,artefacts and symbolism reinforces ourwork toward reconciliation. It also makesour intentions and actions clear to ourstudents, parents and the broadercommunity.

Trevor L Ongoing

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RESPECT WITH THE COMMUNITY

RAP ACTIONS COMMITMENT ASSIGNED TO DUE DATE

Aboriginal andTorres StraitIslander Flags

Our school flies or displays the Aboriginaland Torres Strait Islander flag as ademonstration of our pride and respectfor the histories, cultures andcontributions of Australia’s First Peoples.Flying or displaying the flags promotes asense of community partnership and acommitment toward reconciliation.

Trevor L Ongoing

PhysicalAcknowledgementof Country

Our school proudly commits to displayinga physical Acknowledgement of Countryas a way of showing awareness of, andrespect for, the Aboriginal or Torres StraitIslander Traditional Owners andCustodians of the land on which ourschool is located.

Trevor L Ongoing

Take ActionAgainst Racism

Racism can have serious negativeconsequences for the people whoexperience it, for those who witness it,and for wider society. When racism isproperly understood it is easier toovercome. We commit to buildingawareness of what racism is, the impactsof racism and how to respond effectivelywhen it occurs through an anti-racismstrategy tailored to the needs of ourschool.

Trevor L Ongoing

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OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CLASSROOM

RAP ACTIONS COMMITMENT ASSIGNED TO DUE DATE

CurriculumPlanning

Embedding Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslander histories and cultures incurriculum planning, development andevaluation processes is a key andongoing consideration across all yearlevels and learning areas. Curriculumdocuments have or will be audited toidentify the extent to which Aboriginal andTorres Strait Islander histories, culturesand contributions are already embedded,and to identify opportunities forstrengthening the representation of thiscontent in the curriculum.

Sandra M Ongoing

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OPPORTUNITIES AROUND THE SCHOOL

RAP ACTIONS COMMITMENT ASSIGNED TO DUE DATE

Inclusive Policies All staff in our school are aware ofpolicies that refer specifically to improvingeducational outcomes for Aboriginal andTorres Strait Islander people andincreasing knowledge of, and respect for,Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanderhistories and cultures in Australia. Wehave a plan in place to ensure all staffcomply with these policies in their dailypractice. Our internal policies have been,or will be, amended to ensure they arealso inclusive of Aboriginal and TorresStrait Islander people and increaseknowledge of Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslander histories and cultures inAustralia.

Trevor L Ongoing

StaffEngagement withRAP

Commitment to the Reconciliation ActionPlan (RAP) from all staff is essential fordeveloping a RAP that is implemented ina meaningful and sustainable way. Allstaff will be involved in the ongoingdevelopment and implementation of ourRAP through staff developmentopportunities facilitated by the RAPWorking Group.

Trevor L Ongoing

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OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE COMMUNITY

RAP ACTIONS COMMITMENT ASSIGNED TO DUE DATE

Celebrate RAPProgress

We are committed to reflecting on theprogress made in the growth ofknowledge and pride in Aboriginal andTorres Strait Islander histories, culturesand contributions in our school. We willtrack the progress of our RAP, continuallyrevisit our commitments, and celebrateour achievements, while generating newideas to develop and sustain our RAPinto the future.

Jodie H Ongoing

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