Australian Institute of Family Studies

Reconciliation action plan 2012–14

The Australian Institute of Family Studies acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we work, travel and live.

We pay our respects to their Elders, their ancestors and future generations.

Message from the Director

I am pleased to present our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

While our RAP journey is near the beginning, I feel our plan represents an important milestone in the Institute’s long journey of research. For 30-plus years, the Australian Institute of Family Studies has conducted research and disseminated findings on family wellbeing. Much of our success can be attributed to our commitment to building positive relationships with our government stakeholders, research partners and participants, as well as with the broader community.

This plan formalises our commitment to working with and for a very important and significant group—Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. The actions set out here demonstrate our vision for recognising, respecting and valuing the histories, cultures and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. I am confident we will make an important contribution to reconciliation and look forward to the next steps in our journey as we walk together with the first peoples of this land.

Professor Alan Hayes, Director, Australian Institute of Family Studies

Our vision for reconciliation

The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) vision for reconciliation recognises, respects and values the histories, cultures and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We are committed to helping to turn around the disadvantages experienced by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We also want to help promote the cultural insights and positive achievements of the first Australians. To achieve this, we will:

promote understanding and respectful relationships by working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and agencies, and enhance organisational awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories;

support respectful and ethical practice when conducting research with and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities, including evaluations of relevant programs and services;

highlight positive practice in the delivery of programs and services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities; and

grow our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce.

Our business

AIFS is an Australian Government statutory agency in the portfolio of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Our role is to conduct rigorous and impartial research and to communicate research evidence to support the work of those who have a role in policy, advocacy and delivery of services in the best interests of families.

AIFS Directions 2012–15 specifies the Institute’s four areas of research focus and our strategic goals. Our four areas of research focus are:

family formation, development and diversity;

the social and economic participation and wellbeing of families;

safety for families; and

delivery of services to support and strengthen families.

Our Reconciliation Action Plan

Formed in 2010, the AIFS Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group developed this plan in consultation with the Executive and other AIFS staff. The working group includes representatives from the two broad areas of the Institute (that is, the Research and Corporate and Strategy areas) and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives external to AIFS. Reconciliation Australia and other members of the Reconciliation Action Plan community, including Australia Post and the Australian Government Solicitor, also supported the working group.

Relationships

Respectful relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians and non-Indigenous Australians are essential to our work. They enhance our knowledge, understanding and appreciation of issues affecting the first Australians and support our efforts to conduct research of benefit to our culturally diverse society.

Focus area: Build a network of relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and organisations

Action
Measurable target
Timeline/responsibility

Deliver resources internally to inform the conduct of respectful and ethical research with and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations

Maintain, expand and promote the collection of AIFS materials that specify guidelines and protocols for conducting respectful and ethical research with and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations

Maintain a web page on the intranet with information about this plan and links to other resources about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Review and update (as appropriate) the ethics guidelines to include references to procedures and protocols for conducting research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

July 2012
Library/Web team
Ethics Committee Secretariat (with support from the Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group)
All staff

Develop and maintain supportive working relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations

Identify organisations undertaking work that aligns with or complements AIFS research activities

Seek input (as appropriate) from identified organisations to assist in our research (including primary research, literature reviews, research dissemination or other associated activities) using the principles outlined in Engaging Today, Building Tomorrow: A Framework for Engaging With Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians

Explore and embrace opportunities to highlight research or co-author publications with members of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, where appropriate

Invite representatives from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations to review publications and join information exchange/research project advisory groups, where appropriate

August 2012
All research staff

Encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researcher, policy-maker and practitioner involvement in the AIFS biennial conference, LSAC–LSIC research conference and seminar series

Promote conferences/seminars (particularly calls for abstracts or presenters) through agencies working with and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Ensure conference/seminar programs incorporate research and information pertinent to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and organisations, as appropriate

Support the participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander professionals, who would be otherwise unable to attend, in major AIFS events, including the Institute’s biennial conference and LSAC–LSIC research conference

July 2012
Conference planning committee
External Relations
Executive

Continue to convene a working group, comprising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians, to support the development and implementation of our plan

Hold working group meetings at least bi-annually

July 2012
Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group

Provide opportunities for all employees to build relationships during National Reconciliation Week

Organise at least one internal event to celebrate National Reconciliation Week

Promote external National Reconciliation Week events on the intranet

May 2013
Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group

Respect

For AIFS, it is profoundly important to recognise, respect and value the histories, cultures, lands and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As such, AIFS will promote cultural awareness and diversity among staff to ensure a greater understanding of these areas in the workplace.

Focus area: Develop and cultivate a workplace culture that acknowledges and respects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures

Action
Measurable target
Timeline/responsibility

Develop guidelines for event planning to ensure that AIFS events include, where appropriate:

welcome to country

acknowledgement of traditional owners

involvement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in event planning and delivery

Develop event planning guidelines and publish on the intranet

Induct staff involved in organising/coordinating public events (including conferences, workshops and seminars) in how to implement the guidelines

Ensure the appropriate implementation of the event planning guidelines at the AIFS biennial conference and other events (such as the LSAC–LSIC research conference and AIFS seminar series)

July 2012
Executive
Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group
External Relations
Conference planning committees

Raise staff awareness, knowledge and respect of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures by:

promoting NAIDOC week celebrations

investing in the ongoing development of cultural awareness in our staff through training and learning opportunities

Include this plan in the induction program for new employees

Provide cultural awareness training for all staff and relevant project-specific training, as appropriate

Celebrate NAIDOC Week by displaying posters and promoting appropriate activities on the intranet

Acknowledge the traditional owners (through appropriate signage/text) in office entrances and on the Institute website

August 2012
Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group
Human Resources
Web team
All staff

Opportunities

AIFS is committed to creating opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our workplace to enhance the knowledge and skills of our workforce.

Focus area: Enhance existing recruitment, retention and development programs to grow our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce.

Action
Measurable target
Timeline/responsibility

Encourage and support recruitment and retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians (in line with Council of Australian Government targets of 2.7% Indigenous employees by 2015) through:

identifying an internal champion to lead efforts to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation in the workforce

including wording in job advertisements and on the employment page of the website to encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

including wording in recruitment approval documentation to encourage consideration of advertising jobs in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander media and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation on selection panels

considering participation in APS-wide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs

Staff recruitment documents updated to:

encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants

encourage managers to use Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander media

encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation on selection panels

Investigate, on an annual basis, APS-wide programs designed to promote the employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff in order to identify opportunities for AIFS participation

Make AIFS staff available (as appropriate) to mentor Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees

August 2012
Human Resources

Investigate training and development opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander recruits

Identify training and development opportunities and incorporate into the induction program and highlight on the intranet; possible additions may include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community networks, regular conferences and/or specific training initiatives

October 2012
Human Resources

Support economic development by promoting products, services and initiatives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and businesses

Identify and promote relevant products, services and initiatives (including catering and training organisations) on the intranet

Continue to acquire and display Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art from recognised ethical art traders (such as the Art Bank)

August 2012
Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group
Executive

Focus area: Work collaboratively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers and organisations to conduct research and communicate findings that affect family wellbeing.

Action
Measurable target
Timeline/responsibility

Ensure that issues of relevance and meaning to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families are considered in the development of major strategic initiatives (including AIFS Research Directions 2012–15)

Establish pathways (such as advisory groups or workshops) for staff and relevant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations (such as SNAICC and VACCA) to contribute to Institute policy/strategies to ensure they appropriately consider the research priorities and information needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

July 2012
Executive

Tracking progress and reporting

Action
Measurable target
Timeline/responsibility

Report progress to AIFS Executive

Meet regularly (at least every six months) to monitor the achievement of targets

Document six-monthly progress in a brief report, which will be submitted to the AIFS Executive for comment

Post progress updates and achievements on the intranet for all staff

January 2013
Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group

Report to Reconciliation Australia

Update compliance calendar to reflect reporting commitment for the plan

May 2013
Contracts and compliance area

Submit annual report on the progress of our plan to Reconciliation Australia

July 2014
Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group

Contact details

Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group
Australian Institute of Family Studies
Level 20, 485 La Trobe Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Email: rapwg@aifs.gov.au
Ph: (03) 9214 7888 | Fax: (03) 9214 7839

© Commonwealth of Australia 2012

With the exception of AIFS branding, the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, content provided by third parties, and any material protected by a trademark, all textual material presented in this publication is provided under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia licence (CC BY 3.0) <creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au>. You may copy, distribute and build upon this work for commercial and non-commercial purposes; however, you must attribute the Commonwealth of Australia as the copyright holder of the work. Content that is copyrighted by a third party is subject to the licensing arrangements of the original owner.

ISBN 978-1-922038-02-9

Views expressed in this publication are those of individual authors and may not reflect those of the Australian Government or the Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Australian Institute of Family Studies, Level 20, 485 La Trobe Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia. <www.aifs.gov.au>

Reconciliation Australia logo © Reconciliation Australia.

Cover photo: ©iStockphoto/pamspix