However, it is its people that have been working hard on building strong and active reconciliation partnerships and relationships in innovative and collective ways.

Since 2019 organisations and community groups connected through Country, community, and their commitment to reconciliation in their region, decided to see how they could work more effectively together to build trust and increase the collective impact in their communities.

It was a smart move that meant pooling resources, ideas and influence – and leveraging the strength of their individual Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs).

Importantly, it was also an opportunity for the organisations to show First Peoples living on the Bass Coast, on Bunurong Country, their commitment to a respectful and authentic partnership. It was more than just knowing the calendar of important events, the dates to turn up, it was to grow together and become stronger so that sharing through reconciliation was now everyone’s responsibility.

The Bass Coast Reconciliation Network (BCRN)’s aim is to be publicly accountable to show the tangible results of their combined efforts, and to measure their shared impact against a range of common RAP commitments within the RAP pillars of Relationships, Respect, and Opportunities.

Put simply they want to be a regional reconciliation role model in a reportable framework, and to develop a reputation for facilitating quality, meaningful events promoting reconciliation initiatives across the Bass Coast.

The Bass Coast team

The network comprises Bunurong Land Council (the Registered Aboriginal Party for and on behalf of the Bunurong of the Kulin Nation), Bass Coast Shire Council, Bass Coast Health, Westernport Water, Myli (My Community Libraries), Phillip Island Nature Parks, Bass Coast and South Gippsland Reconciliation Group, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Elders and Respected Peoples, South Gippsland Water, and West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority.

It has a total of seven completed RAPs to its name − with one underway and two in draft − and the organisations are on various stages of their RAP journeys: from first RAPs in draft, to organisations on their third (Westernport Water) and fourth (Phillip Island Nature Parks) RAPs.

The diversity of the network spans from an organisation that supplies essential water services to more than 23,000 customers, to the local reconciliation groups that have been around since the early 2000’s, to driven community members like Patrice Mahoney OAM who was a key instigator and founding member of the BCRN.

The spark

After moving to the area more than 20 years ago from her Anaiwan Country in the Northern Tablelands of NSW, Aunty Patrice realised that the Bass Coast community had minimal knowledge or understanding of Aboriginal history, and limited opportunities or will to learn about − let alone celebrate − local Aboriginal achievements across its communities. There is also the reality of the relatively low known number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (around 500) living in the region.

She first took on the battle of getting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander f lags displayed alongside the Australian f lag at the Bass Coast Shire Council (BCSC) offices, something many communities across the country now take for granted. She encountered fierce opposition and racism in the process, but she succeeded in the end.

Aunty Patrice has worked with Phillip Island Nature Parks for over a decade, and with Bass Coast Health and Westernport Water to establish and implement their Reconciliation Action Plans. She contributes to boards and committees for Aboriginal health, education, and justice organisations while also advancing her own arts practice.

Aunty Patrice emphasises everyone has a role in the development of building trust, friendship and respect.

‘When that happens is when we can create a landscape for shared stories, learning and culture. RAPs then become the notes for the successful implementation and process of a good relationship,’ she said.

How they work together

Aside from steering their own workplace RAPs, the network meets regularly to check they are on track with their broader commitments to advancing reconciliation and recognition, focussing on the core pillars of relationships, respect and opportunities.

They work collectively on targets like employment and events, but they’ve also learned that some of that can be too hard or cumbersome to do collectively, and they must be smart and realistic about their spheres of influence and what they can achieve.

Strengthening knowledge and relationships through events, cultural respect and activities are some areas where they can leverage their impact by working together.

BCRN Co-chair, Geoff Russell from Westernport Water said the RAP framework provides the scaffolding for the network.

‘We use our local knowledge and connections to keep the network strong and relevant locally, and we use the Reconciliation Action Plan framework to guide and measure our work both as individual organisations and as a network,’ he said.

As of July this year, the network’s impact boasted: 21 complete sets of flags f lown across the region; 49 community events related to days of significance (eg NAIDOC, National Reconciliation Week), 47 workplace events and initiatives, and around 1500 employees have engaged in cultural learning.

BCRN organisations have contributed $62,000 in pro bono activities and spent $1.465 million with certified First Nations suppliers.

And there’s more. However, the BCRN is not about big noting itself. Above all they want to show that − with the will to work together and to form strong relationships − this is the kind of impact that can be achieved within, and supported by, the RAP framework.

Think about what you could do in your area.