The 1,100 organisations contributing to Reconciliation Australia’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) program procured over $2 billion worth of goods and services from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses, and provided a further $50 million worth of pro bono services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, organisations or communities, a new report shows.
The latest RAP Impact Report combines data collected from the compulsory reporting required of RAP organisations with the results of the Workplace RAP Barometer survey, showing the tangible, positive and sustained effect the RAP program has had on advancing reconciliation in 2019-20.
Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine said the RAP program is making a difference by markedly changing the way people think and feel about reconciliation, colonisation, and the relationship between non-Indigenous and First Nations peoples in Australia.
“Our program is large and diverse—there is no such thing as a ‘generic RAP’. All RAPs are unique and tailored to the business, industry, and context of the particular partner.”
“Using a business plan with strong, reportable targets, RAPs turn goodwill into action, embedding reconciliation into an organisation’s work and sphere of influence.”
“After 15 years and with more organisations than ever before engaging in the RAP program, the Report shows the program is creating tangible benefits and real momentum for reconciliation.”
Key to the combined story of 2019-20 is:
- Close to 3 million Australians now work or study within an organisation that has an active RAP and close to another 3 million are members of organisations which have RAPs, such as sporting clubs.
- $49,155,196 donated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations
- 300,000 RAP employees participated in cultural learning
- 63,973 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff are employed in RAP organisations
- $2,086,255,726 procured from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses
But it’s not all about big figures.
The Workplace RAP Barometer shows employees within RAP organisations are consistently more aware of the reality and impacts of racism, of the consequences of European colonisation and government policies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today, and support truth-telling in regards to that history.
There is still work to be done
The RAP Impact Report also shows where we need to go next and some of the pressing work we still need to do, especially in the realm of leadership and awareness.
“In this same period, partners have broken trust and breached relationships and in each case Reconciliation Australia demanded they take ownership and responsibility for their actions”, said Ms Mundine.
“It’s important to remember that RAPs are not the sole solution to 250 years of colonisation.”
“Rather, they are a useful and accessible starting point for organisations—and the individuals within them—to consider and address systemic inequalities and leverage their collective influence for a more just and equitable society.”
“Every RAP is assessed by Reconciliation Australia and requires RAP partners to annually report, and regularly redevelop their commitments to reconciliation, in ways that stretch and challenge them, as they move from safe to brave actions.”
“This is why each RAP is different and each tells a different story.”
