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Reconciliation Action Plan 2013-2015

2013 Annual Progress Report

December 2013

Department of Environment Reconciliation Action Plan 2013-2015: 2013 Progress Report of 15

Relationships

The Department of Environment (the Department) has a unique role to protect Australia’s environment and heritage and to promote a sustainable way of life. The Department recognises the valuable and

significant contribution made by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through their connection with and responsibility for land, water and culture. Working together with a positive shared purpose

achieves both our business outcomes and fulfils Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples cultural aspirations.

Focus area: 2013 Progress

Action Responsibility Timeline

Measurable Target

Engage a Department Executive to

champion the RAP.

Executive Board 2013-15 A member of the Executive continues to champion the RAP to:

provide strategic direction, support and encouragement to the development and implementation of the RAP;

give high level commitment to the RAP and the Australian Government’s Closing the Gap initiative;

create awareness in mainstream programme areas of the needs and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples so that mainstream programmes are more relevant, accessible and responsive;

encourage staff involvement in the RAP and promote cultural events including NAIDOC and National Reconciliation Weeks; and

promote engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.

Dr Kimberley Dripps, Deputy Secretary is the RAP Champion.

All staff emails sent promoting RAP, NAIDOC and National Reconciliation Weeks.

Dr Dripps championed papers to the Executive Board, hosted the NAIDOC week launch event, promoted and launched the Department’s RAP 2013-2015, and co-presented the Caring for our Country award at the National NAIDOC Ball.

Dr Dripps also provides support to the Indigenous Staff Network and mentors the Canberra based Indigenous Staff Network Executive.

Dr Dripps will also promote the Indigenous Engagement Guidelines (IEG) for use by Departmental staff.

Convene and support the

Department’s RAP Steering

Committee (SC) and RAP Working

Group (WG) to promote the

development and implementation of

the RAP.

Both committees are comprised of

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

staff and non-Indigenous staff.

The RAP SC also provides an

ongoing forum for Indigenous policy

issues across the Department.

RAP SC and

Secretariat

2013-2015 The RAP SC:

will meet at least twice per year on the RAP development, implementation and provide timely reporting;

reports annually to the Department’s Executive Board; and

delivers an annual progress report on RAP achievements.

1. The RAP WG:

supports the operations of the RAP SC; and

will meet at least twice per year to undertake work under the direction of the RAP SC.

2.

Two RAP Steering Committee meetings held in 2013.

RAP Working Group meeting held July 2013.

RAP 2013 Annual progress report was developed by the RAP Working Group under the direction of the RAP Steering Committee.

Host and deliver National

Reconciliation Week events.

Hosting division (on

rotating basis)

assisted by

27 May–3 June

annually

The Department will host National Reconciliation Week events

organised by a host division on an annual rotating basis.

2013 National Reconciliation Week events held nationally.

Sustainability, Policy and Analysis Division and Environment Assessment and


National Reconciliation Week is a

week for all Australians to explore

reconciliation and learn about our

shared histories, cultures and

achievements.

Events will be hosted annually on a

rotating basis providing an opportunity

for mainstream areas to deepen their

understanding and commitment to

building mutually respectful

relationships.

Indigenous

Engagement Section

Indigenous Staff

Network and Public

Affairs

The host division develops and promotes a calendar of local

events to encourage employees to attend community National

Reconciliation Week events as well as Departmental events.

Allocate corporate funding of $25,000 per annum for NAIDOC

and National Reconciliation Week events. The Department

offices outside Canberra are allocated funding from this budget.

Compliance Division jointly hosted the 2013 events.

Tours organised to attend community National Reconciliation Week events.

Corporate funding provided for the 2013 events and activities.

Deliver and host NAIDOC week

events.

NAIDOC week is the key event of

significance for the celebration of


culture.

NAIDOC week is an opportunity for all

Australians to recognise the

contributions of Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander peoples in various

fields.

Department wide NAIDOC week

events will be hosted annually by

divisions on a rotating basis providing

an opportunity for mainstream areas

to deepen their understanding and

commitment to building mutually

respectful relationships.

Hosting division (on

rotating basis)

assisted by

Indigenous

Engagement

Section, Indigenous

Staff Network and

Public Affairs

Secretary’s Office

and Indigenous Staff

Network

Parks Australia

Division

Department

July annually

July 2013

The Department will host NAIDOC week events organised by a

host division on an annual rotating basis.

Allocate corporate funding of $25,000 per annum for NAIDOC

week and National Reconciliation Week events. The

Department’s offices outside Canberra are allocated funding from

the budget.

Host division develops and promotes a calendar of NAIDOC

week events across the department (including promoting

national, regional and local events).

Two NAIDOC Awards for staff contributions towards outcomes in

Indigenous programmes, policy or other initiatives that have

significantly benefited Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

peoples (including mainstream programmes).

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees in jointly

managed national parks are supported by their managers to

access entitlements to participate in NAIDOC ceremonies in their

communities as normal working duties.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff access their entitlement to

2013 NAIDOC week events held nationally.

Sustainability, Policy and Analysis Division and Environment Assessment and Compliance Division jointly hosted the 2013 events.

Corporate funding provided for the 2013 events and activities including regional events.

NAIDOC Awards presented.

Host division guidelines developed. Implemented and evaluated by the 2013 host divisions.

Deputy Secretary and Indigenous Advisory Committee Chair presented the Caring for our Country award at the 2013 National NAIDOC week Ball.

National, regional and local NAIDOC week events were organised including art competition, seminars, performances, tours, games and celebratory luncheon.

For the first time the Department jointly hosted the NAIDOC week launch with the Department of Finance and Deregulation.

NAIDOC week celebrations and activities undertaken on each park and in the Darwin office, very successful with large numbers of staff and park visitors participating

During NAIDOC week 2013, Australian Antarctic Division held a flag raising ceremony and indigenous presentation (by Tom Smith of the Department. Tom presented a painted canoe paddle for display in the expedition vessel ‘Aurora Australis’.

Darwin Office - SSD and Parks Darwin


Indigenous

Engagement Section

attend non-Departmental sponsored NAIDOC activities with the support of their delegate. Develop guidelines for host divisions to understand their roles and responsibilities in hosting NAIDOC week and National Reconciliation Week events.

hosted NAIDOC celebrations on site, including traditional art activity to create a ‘Celebrating NAIDOC week’ banner, bush tucker lunch, lunchtime short- movie screenings on aboriginal culture, exhibition of information on Wake Hill walk off and Koongarra hand back that are still displayed within the office environment.

Strengthen the relationship with the

Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC).

The IAC is a Ministerially appointed

group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander peoples. IAC members have

expertise in Indigenous land

management, conservation and

cultural heritage management.

The IAC advises the Minister and

Department on better access to and

engagement with our programmes for


peoples. The IAC’s key priority areas

are linked to the Department’s

commitment to the Australian

Government’s Closing the Gap

initiative.

The Indigenous Engagement Section

provides secretariat support for the

IAC.

Executive,

Secretariat and all

divisions

Public Affairs

Indigenous

Engagement Section

Annually

2013-15

December

annually

March 2013

2013-15

The department’s Executive meet with the IAC at their annual

committee meeting held in Canberra.

The IAC Secretariat coordinates meetings between divisions,

relevant policy and programme areas and IAC members to seek

advice on Indigenous issues as they relate to the role of the

Department.

The IAC was consulted in the development of this RAP and will

be provided a copy of the annual RAP progress report.

Raise the awareness about the IAC and its role through

publishing a fact sheet; and

regularly update the IAC webpage with information on the Committee’s work.

Continue to fund the IAC to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander communities to better inform the Minister and the

Department of Indigenous engagement and outcomes in regard

to issues within this portfolio.

The 26th Meeting of the IAC was held in Darwin on 24-25 May 2013. The IAC met with the Secretary and other departmental executive to discuss key policy issues and Indigenous engagement.

On 14 August 2013 the Secretariat coordinated a full day of meetings for the IAC Chair with the Secretary, departmental executive and line areas to progress key issues including improved Indigenous engagement under the EPBC Act and the Environmental Offsets Policy.

On 29 August 2013 the IAC Chair met with officers from Strategic Approaches Branch, Programme Delivery and Assessment Branch, Protected Species and Communities Branch, Indigenous Policy and Programmes Branch and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to discuss turtle and dugong protection.

On 18 September 2013 the IAC Secretariat facilitated a one day workshop in Canberra for an IAC working group to finalise a number of long standing policy issues.

The Bulletin from 26th IAC meeting is on the

IAC website.

The 27th IAC Meeting was held in Canberra on 26-27 November 2013.

IAC Chair is a member of the IEG package Steering Committee.

In consultation with the IAC, James Barker, AS, Regulatory Reform Branch (EACD) agreed to progress the development of guidelines for improved Indigenous engagement under the EPBC Act.

Sustainability Policy and Analysis Division, specifically the National Environmental Research Programme (NERP), has a standing agenda item on the IAC Meeting Agenda

The five NERP Hubs provided updates on Indigenous Engagement for the IAC May 2013 meeting.

Establish the Indigenous Water

Advisory Committee (IWAC).

Water Reform

Division

2013-2015 The IWAC is a new committee and will meet a minimum of twice

per year.

The IWAC was established by the Secretary in October 2012.

The IWAC has met three times since its establishment, twice in the 2013 calendar


The Water Reform Division (WRD) will

provide the secretariat for the IWAC.

The IWAC will provide advice to the Department and other

Commonwealth water portfolio agencies (as required) on

incorporating Indigenous views, beliefs and interests into the

development and implementation of Commonwealth water

policies and programmes.

year.

The IWAC Chair meets regularly with FAS Water Reform Division and members have provided advice out of session as requested, and has agreed a strategic list of issues for their input.

The IWAC has provided advice to areas throughout the Water Group and Commonwealth portfolio agencies including the National Water Commission and the Bureau of Meteorology.

The Australian Heritage Council

(AHC) is the principal adviser to the

Australian Government on heritage

matters. Its role is to promote

identification, assessment,

conservation and monitoring of

heritage.

Two members of the AHC are

Indigenous persons with substantial

experience or expertise concerning

Indigenous heritage.

Heritage and Wildlife Division

provides the secretariat for the AHC.

The AHC liaises with IAC on relevant

issues.

Heritage and Wildlife

Division

2013-2015 When making an assessment, if the AHC considers a place might

have Indigenous values it will take all practicable steps to identify

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons with rights or

interests in all or part of the place under assessment, will advise

them of its assessment and give them an opportunity to

comment.

The AHC will liaise with IAC at least once a year.

The AHC Secretariat will continue to build a relationship with the

IAC secretariat to improve communication on relevant issues.

This is a requirement under the EPBC Act (s324JH(5)).

Work is underway to establish a protocol for formal engagement between the Australian Heritage Committee and the IAC. This includes ensuring regular communication between the Secretariats. The protocol is expected to be concluded by late 2013.

Regular consultation and liaison is undertaken between IAC and AHC Secretariats.

Joint meeting of IAC and AHC provisionally scheduled for November 2013.

Strengthen existing connections with

Reconciliation Australia.

RAP Secretariat 2013-2015 The RAP Secretariat will continue to build a relationship with

Reconciliation Australia by:

consulting Reconciliation Australia on the development and reporting of the RAP;

participating in Reconciliation Australia’s Commonwealth departments RAP forums;

providing a link to the Reconciliation Australia website on the Department’s intranet; and

publish the Department’s RAP and the annual progress report on the Reconciliation Australia website.

Achieved.

Reconciliation Australia was invited to attend the Department’s NRW and NAIDOC week launch events.

Reconciliation Australia CEO, Leah Armstrong, spoke at the February 2013 RAP launch.

Secretariat staff attended the RAP forum and Showcase at Parliament House.

Meeting held during 2013 with RA.


Respect

Respecting and valuing the experiences, perspectives and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is fundamental to the Department building a diverse business and workplace culture. It

ensures the Department’s programmes and policies are relevant, and accessible, to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues and communities.


Action Responsibility Timeline Measurable Target

The Department will deliver an

‘Acknowledgement of Country’ at

significant meetings where a ‘Welcome

to Country’ ceremony is not undertaken

and develop an:

optional slide for presentations; and

optional tag line for staff emails.

Indigenous

Engagement Section

Executive and all

divisions

June 2013

reported in December

annually

Protocols for an ‘Acknowledgement of Country’ will be

developed as part of the Department’s Indigenous

Engagement Guidelines package.

An ‘Acknowledgement of Country’ will be delivered:

at significant external meeting and events when a ‘Welcome to Country’ ceremony is not undertaken; and

at significant internal meetings, including all-staff departmental meetings.

Acknowledgement of Country provided at:

Biodiversity Conservation Division meeting held 12 June 2013.

IAC meetings held in May and November 2013.

IWAC meetings held in February and August 2013.

Launch of the On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Programme 29 July 2013.

At all AHC meetings.

The Department will coordinate a

‘Welcome to Country’ at significant

internal and external forums and events.

Indigenous

Engagement Section

Executive, all divisions

and Indigenous

Engagement Section

June 2013


annually

Protocols for a ‘Welcome to Country’ will be developed as

part of the Department’s Indigenous Engagement

Guidelines package.

Welcome to Country ceremonies will be performed at three

departmental events per year (at least):

NAIDOC week;

National Reconciliation Week; and

Annual Senior Executive Staff Conference.

A ‘Welcome to Country’ ceremony should also be

performed when hosting meetings with high-level

International delegations.

Welcome to Country held at:

NRW launch event

WIN conference

NAIDOC week event

SES conference

IAC meeting in Darwin

Indigenous Employees Conference April 2013

Darwin office – Supervising Scientist Division (SSD) NAIDOC week celebrations

Support staff to develop cultural

awareness of Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander issues and communities.

Corporate Strategies

Division in consultation

with the Indigenous

Engagement Section

and the Indigenous staff

network


June 2013

June 2013

Develop and agree to a definition of cultural competency.

Review and update the Department’s orientation

programme to include relevant information on commitments

under the RAP 2013-15; Indigenous Employment and

Capability Strategy 2012-14; and the Indigenous

Engagement Guidelines package.

Orientation programme is currently being updated with references and links to RAP and InDECS

Purchase of 40 Indigenous cultural competency online training licences for trial in various locations including the three joint managed parks.

Planning for procurement of between three to five Indigenous cultural competency workshops to commence in late 2013.


Division

Public Affairs

Annually

Dec 2014

March 2013

Deliver at least five cultural awareness training sessions

each year for staff.

The Department will participate in Jawun secondment programme (Jawun Indigenous Corporate Partnerships) through the Australian Public Service Commission.

Develop and maintain a fact sheet promoting the Department’s contribution to the Australian Government’s Closing the Gap initiative.

Jawun applicants sought but none received, most likely due to budget pressures.

SSD staff are required to complete an induction that provides information on working with local Traditional Owners and Aboriginal people in the Kakadu region. This includes an overview of the various associations in the region and their areas of responsibility.

SSD staff attend formal training courses (when available).

Diversity training was delivered to staff in Darwin in May 2013.

The Department will classify positions in

Indigenous program areas as ‘identified’

positions.

All divisions

December 2014

Selection criteria for positions in Indigenous policy and

programme teams to include ‘identified criteria’.

Managers to include ‘identified criteria’ in job descriptions as vacancies arise – the Recruitment Team assists.

Reminder to managers that identified positions are to be included on the job description template.

Indigenous Development Coordinator is currently reviewing the Identified Positions Policy.

All positions in jointly managed parks are ‘identified’. There are also 22 ‘specified’ positions for indigenous applicants only.

Increase the Department’s Executives’

cultural competency.

Executive, Public

Affairs and Indigenous

Policy Branch

January/ February

annually

Opportunities provided for our senior executive staff to

increase cultural competency through direct engagement

such as visits by Indigenous delegations and participating in

significant communication or cultural events.

Calendar of high level communication and cultural events to

be developed.

Executive staff advised of cultural awareness training dates

and to attend where possible.

RAP Champion, Deputy Secretary Kimberley Dripps, co-presented the Caring for our Country award at the National NAIDOC week ball.

The development of a communications and cultural events calendar is being developed to reflect machinery of government changes.

The Department recognise the value

that Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander peoples bring to the work of the

organisation.


Division

June 2013

The guidelines for the department’s Performance

Development Scheme (PDS) includes advice on inclusion

of outcomes for relevant roles relating to supporting the

Australian Government’s Closing the Gap initiative.

Performance Team will update PDS policy with Closing the Gap and InDECS included in resources.

Paper on outcomes of IEC 2013 currently with the Executive Board – one outcome is traditional ecoloical knowledge and skills to be recognised


Parks Australia Division

June 2013

Investigate the incorporation of traditional ecological

knowledge and skills as selection criteria in jointly managed

parks as appropriate.

and incorporated as a selection criterion.

Kevin McLeod Scholarship Application (submitted) to develop an approach to better recognise the traditional skills and knowledge in position descriptions, recruitment processes, performance review and against APS classifications and work level standards.

Historic information on this matter has been identified. Funding options to undertake a project to collate the information and implement traditional knowledge into park management activities is currently being investigated.

SSD’s Business Plan 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 commits to engage and train at least one indigenous trainee. In 2012 and 2013 SSD has one trainee and one school based apprentice.

The Department will develop and

promote a comprehensive Indigenous

Engagement Guidelines package to

complement FaHCSIA’s Engaging

Today, Building Tomorrow Framework

2011.

The Indigenous Engagement Guidelines

package will build upon and improve

consistency and coordination of

engagement across the Department. It

will include principles, policies,

procedures and practices.

Indigenous

Engagement Section

Public Affairs

June 2013

Indigenous Engagement Guidelines package will be

developed to enable and encourage staff to embed

effective engagement as an integral part of day to day

business. The package will include:

an overarching set of principles;

context setting of the work of the Department;

legislative responsibilities for engagement and consultation;

policy for ‘Welcome to Country’ and ‘Acknowledgement of Country’;

cultural competency training package;

use of Indigenous Interpreters and Translators policy;

cultural Protocols when visiting communities; and

cultural capability framework.

Develop a communications plan to support the

implementation of the Indigenous Engagement Guidelines

package.

Provide a link to the Indigenous Engagement Guidelines

package through the Department’s project management

documentation.

Advertise programmes and grant funding rounds, including

mainstream programmes, to Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander peoples communities through appropriate

Indigenous media.

The IEG package will provide broad and practical information in an easily accessible online format. Included in the package will be an outline of the principles of good engagement, practical theme based fact sheets, frequently asked questions, tips, tools and contacts. The package will be rolled out incrementally and is expected to be fully available online by February 2014.

An implementation working group has been established to refine the package to maximise its relevance to the work of the Department. The working group is comprised of 15 members from across the Department which allows the implementation of the IEG Package to be finalised and tested as it is delivered.

Parks Australia is supporting ten staff to participate in and evaluate the new Departmental ‘Developing Cultural Competency’ Programme

The IEG were incorporated into the Nimmie-Caira Project Heads of Agreement and the executed Funding Agreement. All NSW engagement with the local Indigenous communities is to be consistent with the IEG.

As part of joint NSW and Australian Governments’ studies into potential changes to the Menindee Lakes, the local Aboriginal community was consulted and a cultural heritage (archaeological) survey was undertaken on some of the lake beds.

The 2013-2014 Project Agreement for


Review and update Ask First: A guide to

respecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander peoples’ heritage places and

values publication to provide a practical

guide for industry/external consultation

and negotiation with Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander stakeholders.

Corporate

All divisions

Heritage and Wildlife

Division

June 2013

June 2013

2013-15

Dec 2013

Ask First: A guide to respecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander peoples’ heritage places and values promoted

internally and externally as a best practice industry guide

for dealing with Indigenous heritage issues.

the detailed planning of a Menindee Lakes project includes the scoping of a “keeping place” for significant cultural heritage artefacts, and the development of a consultation strategy with key stakeholders, including the Aboriginal community. The Department will seek to ensure that consultation strategy is consistent with the RAP IEGs.

A Communications Plan to support the implementation of the IEG package was developed by Public Affairs in collaboration with the Indigenous Engagement Section.

Cultural competency remains a Departmental commitment and is in part being addressed through the implementation of the IEG package.

The IEG package is a Departmental initiative and will remain a commitment of the Department after machinery of government changes.

Continue to promote Ask First internally and externally as a best practice industry guide across the Department for Indigenous heritage issues.

Departmental offices in Canberra,

Darwin, Hobart and jointly managed

parks are to display the Australian flag,

Aboriginal flag and Torres Strait Islander

flag during National Reconciliation

Week, NAIDOC week and at special

events to promote respect for Aboriginal

and Torres Strait Islander peoples.


Division and regional

offices


annually

The Department offices in Canberra, Darwin, Hobart and

jointly managed parks to have an Australian flag, Aboriginal

flag and Torres Strait Islander flag and display poles. The

flags are to be displayed during National Reconciliation

Week, NAIDOC week and other special events.

The Australian flag, Aboriginal flag and Torres Strait Islander flag with display poles were purchased for Canberra, Darwin, Hobart offices and Uluru and Kakadu National parks.

Develop an Indigenous portal on

environment.gov.au and implement the

Indigenous Communications framework.

Public Affairs

December 2014

An Indigenous portal on environment.gov.au is developed

to bring together in one place summary information on the

Department’s initiatives relating to Indigenous communities.

Develop and maintain an Indigenous Communications

Framework to guide public affairs and programme areas in

An Indigenous portal has not yet been established on the Environment.gov.au site. This is due largely to timing issues around whole of Department web redevelopments.

Links to www.indigenous.gov.au where added to the Departments Indigenous programme pages enabling viewers to find information relating to indigenous

http://www.indigenous.gov.au/


June 2012

the development of Indigenous communications initiatives

for the Department’s programmes and contribution to the

Australian Government’s Closing the Gap initiative.

Convene an Indigenous Communications Working Group to

meet bi-annually.

initiatives, programmes and issue across the whole of Government.

The link also provides information about the Closing the Gap initiative.

Reviews and updates are expected following machinery of government changes to the Departmental Indigenous portal and the Indigenous Communications Framework

An Indigenous Communication Framework was developed in February 2012 as a guide for public affairs and programme areas.

A working group was established to oversee the implementation of the IEG package including the communications activities. The Working group met twice this year and will meet regularly until the full release of the Package in January 2014.

Working groups will be reviewed in line with Departmental changes. If appropriate the group may be re-directed to act as an Indigenous Communications Working Group.


Opportunities

The Department is committed to increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ employment opportunities and focusing on making our mainstream programmes and policies more relevant to

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.


Action Responsibility Timeline Measurable Target

The International Indigenous Peoples

and Local Communities Land and Sea

Managers Network and inaugural

conference.

This measure was announced at the

United Nations conference on

Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in

Rio De Janeiro on 20 June 2012. The

network aims to enable Indigenous

peoples and local communities across

the world to share their experiences in

using cultural and traditional

knowledge to better manage natural

systems and environments in ways

that support sustainable livelihoods.

The inaugural conference will

establish a framework for the network.

It is envisaged that the network will

include an exchange component and

web based information sharing.

Indigenous

Engagement Section

mid 2013 An international conference convened from 27-31 May

2013 for indigenous peoples and local communities to

share and exchange information on land and sea

management and to develop a more detailed framework for

the ongoing network

Delivery of four pilot exchanges prior to the conference for

Indigenous representatives to share ideas and experiences

and to incorporate lessons learnt in a future ongoing

exchange programme.

The delivery of a website to enable the exchange of ideas

and information between Indigenous peoples and local

community land and sea managers.

Inaugural World Indigenous Network (WIN) conference successfully held in Darwin from 26 to 29 May 2013.

Approximately 1,200 delegates from around 50 countries participated in more than 70 presentations, workshops and plenary addresses. Delegates also made a contribution towards building an enduring network.

Six international exchanges between Indigenous peoples and local community land and sea managers were held in the lead up to the conference.

A website (worldindigenousnetwork.net) provided a virtual meeting place to share traditional knowledge and experiences. During the conference, there were more than 19,000 page views from 79 countries viewing live streaming of key sessions.

Hosting of the WIN was transitioned to the United Nations Development Programme Equator Initiative July 2013.

Increase the representation of

ongoing Indigenous staff to

4.5 percent.

As at June 2012 this would mean an

increase from 88 ongoing Aboriginal

and Torres Strait Islander staff to 108

or 20 new employees. Progress is

reported annually to Workforce

Management Committee and the

Executive Board. All divisions are

responsible to contribute towards this

outcome


Division

June 2014

December annually

Increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment

to 4.5 percent of staff by 30 June 2014. Progress is

reported annually to Workforce Management Committee

and the Executive Board.

Integrate and further develop entry-level employment

initiatives into a flexibly delivered Indigenous Entry Level

Pathways Programme mapped to ongoing employment

opportunities where possible.

Develop and support individual career plans between

managers and Indigenous staff members that reflect

Investigating gaps in SAP reporting

Investigating means of capturing reasons for Indigenous staff ending employment with the Department.

Two graduates, two cadets and two trainees participated in the 2014 APSC Indigenous Pathways and Indigenous Australian Government Development programmes.

Hosted four Indigenous students for the DEEWR 2013 Indigenous Work Exposure Programme

Indigenous Employees Conference 2013 included a session on career planning with emphasis on 5-10 year plans

Lack of promotion opportunities was raised as an outcome from the IEC 2013 and included in Executive Board paper. The

http://www.worldindigenousnetwork.net/


To support the employment target of

4.5 percent, all divisions are to review

their recruitment processes with a

view to encouraging Indigenous

people to apply for positions.


Division and all

divisions

December annually

2013-2015

2013-2015

December annually

capability development needs related to current jobs,

career aspirations and personal development.

Continue the current practice of including the statement

‘Indigenous Australians are encouraged to apply’ in every

job advertisement placed in the print media.

Advertise identified staff vacancies in appropriate

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander media (such as

National Indigenous Times and Koori Mail).

Divisions are to report through the annual progress report

on recruitment actions undertaken to encourage

Indigenous applicants and the outcomes of such actions.

issue is currently under consideration.

Print media for APS Jobs vacancies includes appropriate wording.

Identified positions granted exemption from print media restrictions and are placed in appropriate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander media.

Australian Antarctic Division has a flag in the Antarctic Online Application programme which is used for recording applicant details for those applying for Antarctic expedition positions to allow them to self declare their Indigenous origins.

SSD currently have employed indigenous staff :

one on-going

two irregular and intermittent

two trainees (through a Host) Employer arrangement) .

Support increased use of Aboriginal

and Torres Strait Islander suppliers in

line with whole-of-government

commitments.

Procurement December 2014 The Department to promote the list of the suppliers on the

Australian Indigenous Minority Supply Council (AIMSC) to

all staff in the Department. The AIMSC list will also be

promoted in the Indigenous Engagement Guidelines

package. Procurement documentation and templates will

also encourage staff to seek quotes and approach the

Indigenous market regarding procured services.

Renamed Supply Nation.

A fact sheet ‘procuring goods and services from Indigenous organisations’ will be available on the Indigenous portal of the intranet with links to the procurement site.

The Department is working on options to rejoin Supply Nation.

Improve career development

opportunities for Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander staff and

continue to offer annual Kevin

McLeod awards.


Division and all

divisions

2013-2015

June 2014

Indigenous Development Coordinator to increase

leadership development opportunities for Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander staff appointed to executive positions

in the National Indigenous Staff Network.

Indigenous Development Coordinator to coordinate

establishing a working party to investigate possible

workplace language and literacy issues. Key issues and

initiatives identified and reported to the Workforce

Management Committee.

Continue to:

develop and support Individual career plans;

provide at least four employees the opportunity to

Indigenous Staff Network executive members met in April and undertook half day leadership training and goal setting activities.

Deputy Secretary Kimberley Dripps is mentor for the leadership group of the Canberra Indigenous Staff Network.

Indigenous Staff Network executive members advocating the establishment of a National network

Indigenous Staff Network executive presented at Indigenous Employee Conference 2013

The APSC has not delivered the Career trek suite of programmes. Support under the Department’s Indigenous Employment and Capability Strategy has instead been focused on attendance at the World Indigenous Network Conference by Parks


2013-2015

May 2013-15

attend the APSC’s Indigenous APS careers workshops at the APS 1-4 employees each year;

provide at least two employees the opportunity to attend the APSC’s Driving your career workshop for APS 5-6 employees each year;

continue the Indigenous secondment programme for at least two employees to participate each year;

provide information to staff on appropriate external development opportunities;

encourage Indigenous executive level staff to undertake the Department’s leadership programme;

offer two Kevin McLeod awards annually during National Reconciliation Week. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and non Indigenous staff are encouraged to apply for these awards.

and Departmental staff as a development opportunity.

Two Indigenous officers participated in the Pilot Departmental EL Programme for ‘Building Executive Leadership’.

Kevin McLeod Awards promoted across the Department at National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC functions, Intranet, Indigenous Staff Network and Indigenous staff.

All Departmental, divisional and

business plans to include the

Australian Government’s Closing the

Gap initiative objectives.


Division and all

divisions

December 2014

Australian Government’s Closing the Gap initiative

objectives included in all Departmental business planning

documents including the Department’s Annual Report,

Strategic Plan, Operational Plan, Workforce Plan and all

Divisional Plans.

Develop a fact sheet on the relationship of the Australian

Government’s Closing the Gap initiative to work of the

Department.

The Department has addressed its commitment and obligation to the whole of government policy agenda on Closing the Gap in Indigenous disadvantage as an identified priority outcome of the Department’s Strategic Plan 2012-15 Outcome 1.

Biodiversity Conservation Divisional (BCD) Plan key priorities include:

Implementing the Reconciliation Action Plan 2013-15 and the IEG package

Embedding Indigenous engagement across BCD business including uptake in the division’s mainstream programmes.

The EACD includes the RAP as a key strategic document in the division’s business plan.

Parks Australia Divisional Plan Objectives include:

Indigenous communities benefit from and play a lead role in the Australian Government’s protected area management programme.

Our activities and investments contribute to meeting Closing the Gap targets.

Parks Australia Divisional Plan key priorities include:

assistance to traditional owners in recording and maintaining living cultural traditions

assisting in the facilitation of on-country activities to encourage intergenerational transfer of knowledge

effective participation of traditional owners and Indigenous communities


in park management

engaging Indigenous staff and/or contractors in providing park services

providing opportunities for the establishment of Indigenous owned enterprises, including those which provide an Indigenous cultural experience to visitors

working together with boards of management, land councils and service delivery agencies to assist in meeting Closing the Gap targets.

SSD Business Plans includes reference to Closing the Gap initiative .

Public Affairs have not yet developed a Closing the Gap fact sheet, however links to Closing the Gap information have been made available on the environment.gov.au site.

Our commitment to reconciliation and

the Australian Government’s Closing

the Gap initiative is included in our

Senior Executive job advertisements

and conferences.

Secretary’s Office December 2014 A cultural message is included in the Senior Executive Staff

candidate information pack.

Departmental commitment to reconciliation and the

Australian Government’s ’Closing the Gap’ initiative

discussed at the annual Senior Executive Staff Conference.

Support Indigenous Tour Operators in

Commonwealth Reserves through

new commercial tour operator

licensing arrangements.

Parks Australia April 2014 Commercial tour operator licence selection criteria for

Parks aims to encourage the employment and training of

relevant Traditional Owners in new tourism

products/activities as well as the development of

businesses in partnership with established tourism

operators and Indigenous communities.

Additional Indigenous tourism businesses in Parks.

Approval of a new tourism experience in Kakadu National Park run by Gagudju Dreaming, an Indigenous owned business. The Algohgarrng Experience (Yellow Water Night Time Cruise) has been approved as a new commercial licence activity.

Ongoing discussions in Kakadu and Uluru – Kata Tjuta National Parks about development of Indigenous businesses and tourism experiences in the parks.

Support development of Indigenous

Tourism Product in National

Landscapes, Indigenous Protected

Areas and Parks.

Parks Australia 2013-2015 Indigenous culture is positively promoted throughout

Australia’s National Landscapes as tourism can provide

economic benefits to the Indigenous communities within

relevant landscapes.

Parks Australia will work with the National Landscapes

Steering Committee to encourage development of unique,

authentic experiences that increase knowledge of

Indigenous culture and connection to country for the

‘Experience Seeker’ (tourists who seek a cultural

experience).

Each landscape to include an Indigenous

Ongoing engagement of indigenous stakeholders (in all of the national landscapes) is one of the programmes priorities.

The National Landscape Reference Committee has an expert indigenous consultant and Steering Committees are strongly encouraged to include Indigenous representation on the landscape steering committees - eight currently include Indigenous representatives.

Programme managers work on a lead through success model and take every opportunity to highlight opportunities and successes in developing indigenous tourism product.

The last two National Landscape Forums


representative on their steering committee.

have included workshops on indigenous engagement and case studies demonstrating successful indigenous products developed in the landscapes.

There are synergies between the National Landcare Programme and both the Indigenous Tourism Group (comprised of Commonwealth Government Stakeholders) and the Tourism Australia Indigenous Champions Programme (programme managers are involved in both forums). Learnings help inform the actions of the committees and activities in the landscapes.

There are a number of Indigenous products being developed in the regions under the programme – Camping with Custodians project in the Kimberley and the Indigenous Tourism Development Programme.

Aboriginal Cultural Experience Guide and Gundungurra Ancestral Pathways Walks in the Greater Blue Mountains.

Encourage Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander organisations to apply

for Biodiversity Fund grants and

participate in projects that receive

funding.

Biodiversity Fund

Delivery Section

Land and Coasts

Division

2013-2015 Report annually on the number of Biodiversity Fund

projects that are being led by or involve Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander peoples to the Land Sector Carbon

and Biodiversity Board by end 2013.

Report annually on the amount of funding allocated to

Biodiversity Fund projects that are being led by or involve

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to the Land

Sector Carbon and Biodiversity Board by end 2013.

Sixty six Biodiversity Fund grants that are led by or involve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are funded with a total value of over $115.8 million.

A further $44 million from the Biodiversity Fund appropriation is used to supplement eight Working on Country grants.

Tracking progress and reporting

Action Responsibility Timeline Measurable Target 2013 Progress

Annual Progress Report.

RAP SC December 2013-15 Complete an annual RAP Impact Measurement

Questionnaire and submitted to Reconciliation Australia.

2013 RAP Impact Measurement Questionnaire developed by the RAP SC and RAP WG.

RAP Steering Committee and RAP

Working Group meetings.

RAP SC annually The RAP SC meets at least twice per year.

The RAP WG meets at least twice per year.

RAP SC met 21 May 2013 and 23 October 2013

RAP WG met 16 July 2013

2013 annual progress report - department of the environment€¦ · raise the awareness about the...

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