In May, City of Clarence formally endorsed its first Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) from Reconciliation Australia—an important milestone timed to coincide with National Reconciliation Week (27 May – 3 June).
This achievement marks the culmination of four years of dedicated work, following Council’s 2019 decision to begin its RAP journey.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have experienced a long history of exclusion from Australian mainstream culture with settlement and dispossession underpinning the inequalities still experienced today.
The Reconciliation Action Plan is our commitment to a meaningful relationship with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and reflects our ongoing commitment to reconciliation, guided by the principles of relationships, respect, and opportunities.
Developed in partnership with Reconciliation Tasmania and local members of the Tasmanian Aboriginal community, the RAP has already led to meaningful outcomes such as Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Training, a new Welcome Plaque, and the award-winning takara limuna interpretation trail.
View the Reconciliation Action Plan (PDF)
RAP Artwork process
In January 2024, we launched an Expression of Interest process to commission a Tasmanian-based Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander artist to create a unique artwork for the cover and promotional materials of our first Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
Following a competitive shortlisting process, three talented artists were invited to submit concept designs. From these, Tasmanian Aboriginal artist Caleb Nichols-Mansell was selected, and the final plan is now proudly supported by his powerful and meaningful artwork.
Since beginning the project in 2021, we have worked with members of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Community on several important cultural heritage projects to highlight Tasmanian Aboriginal culture here in Clarence.
Some of the initiatives that have come out of these discussions are:
- Welcome Plaque
- takara limuna trail
- Council’s statement on 26 January and citizenship ceremonies
- Draft RAP and Expression of Interest process for artwork
By partnering with Reconciliation Australia, City of Clarence joins a network of more than 1,100 corporate, government, and not-for-profit organisations that have made a formal commitment to reconciliation through the RAP program.
There are four RAP types — Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate — which allow RAP partners to continuously develop and strengthen reconciliation commitments in new ways. This Reflect RAP will lay the foundations, priming the workplace for future RAPs and reconciliation initiatives.
The development of council’s RAP is driven by its RAP Working Group, which is made up of a combination of Elected Members, the Chief Executive Officer, and council officers from Children’s Services, Environment and Recreation, Community and Culture teams; as well as representation from the local community and Reconciliation Tasmania.
How can you get involved?
There are two ways you could get involved with the development of the plan. You could be part of a conversation to share your thoughts and ideas on what we can do. To do this please use the contact details below.
You could join the RAP Working Group to provide advice and support as we develop the plan.
If you would like to schedule a conversation, learn more about the working group or express your interest in joining, please contact Jane Menzies on 03 6217 9773 or email jmenzies@ccc.tas.gov.au