Members of the local Kempsey community gathered in the Clyde Street office of annecto this week, as the organisation launch its Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (Reflect RAP).
“The launch of our Reflect RAP and the establishment of the Clyde Street office here in Kempsey, marks an important point on a long journey annecto has started with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples locally and across Australia,” explains annecto’s Chief Executive Office, Estelle Fyffe.
“The annecto Reflect RAP provides a clear plan to build and broaden annecto’s relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples of Australia,” said Estelle.
annecto is one of Australia’s leading community inclusion not-for-profit organisations. Operating from a social inclusion and human rights perspective, annecto assist all Australians with a disability, older people, their carers and families to engage and participate in the community, and continue to live healthy and happy lives in a home of their choice.
The Reflect RAP acknowledges and respects the cultural and historical heritage of Australia’s First Peoples. It aims to raise internal and external awareness and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural protocols and to ensure annecto works toward creating a culturally safe environment for staff, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people we support and their families, and stakeholders. It also aims to create sustainable and authentic opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within annecto and in the broader community.
“It’s not just a document, the Reflect RAP enables annecto to turn its good intentions into genuine actions that will cumulatively add to the overall reconciliation of Australia,” explains Ms Fyffe.
“We have a small and growing team of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and advisors who ensure we provide both culturally safe and appropriate support to people and a culturally safe place to work. Our work with organisations such as Babana Aboriginal Men’s Group Sydney and Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation over the past couple of years has given us the opportunity to open a meaningful dialogue with the community,” explains Ms Fyffe.
In continuing to build on the organisation’s relationships with Australia’s First Peoples, annecto has recently appointed Gamilaroi man and Babana Aboriginal Men’s Group Sydney member Uncle Lyall Dennison as the inaugural Cultural Advisor to the annecto Board. Uncle Lyall is well-respected by many Aboriginal communities across NSW and will provide insights and advice cultural matters and issues to the annecto Board.
You can download a copy of annecto’s Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan here.
If you require a printed copy, please call us on 1800 266 328.
Local Kempsey artist Richard Campbell produced the artwork on annecto’s Reflection RAP. Read about the artwork and its significance here.
Meet Aunty Sheraldyne, an annecto Support Worker in Mildura.
