Reconciliation Australia

Reconciliation Australia is a non-government, not-for-profit foundation established in January 2001 to promote a continuing national focus for reconciliation between Indigenous (i.e. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) and non-Indigenous Australians. It was established by the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (CAR) and subsequently superseded that body in 2001.

Reconciliation Australia
PredecessorCouncil for Aboriginal Reconciliation
FormationJanuary 2001 (2001-01)
TypeNon-government not-for-profit organisation
PurposeThe national expert body on reconciliation in Australia; with a vision to wake to a reconciled, just and equitable Australia
HeadquartersOld Parliament House
Location
Region
Australia
Co-Chairs
Professor Tom Calma AO
Melinda Cilento
CEO
Karen Mundine
Revenue (2016)
 $10.9 million[1]
Websitereconciliation.org.au

History

The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, which published its final report in April 1991, had recommended the initiation of a process reconciliation between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians.[2] On 2 September 1991,[3] the Australian Parliament voted unanimously to establish the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and a formal reconciliation process. Parliament had noted that there had been no formal process of reconciliation and that it was “most desirable that there be such a reconciliation” by the year 2001, marking the centenary of Federation. The Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation was established by Parliament, by the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation Act 1991, to be disbanded after 10 years.[4] [5]

The CAR’s vision statement aimed for “A united Australia which respects this land of ours; values the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage; and provides justice and equity for all”. Patrick Dodson was the first Chair of CAR.[4]

Reconciliation Australia was established by the CAR in January 2001.[6] The Hon Fred Chaney AO was one of the founding co-chairs, and served for nearly 15 years on the Board until his retirement in November 2014.[7]

Reconciliation Action Plans

In 2006 Prime Minister John Howard and Professor Mick Dodson launched the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) program, which was to be administered by Reconciliation Australia.[8] Through the program, organisations develop a business plan that documents the actions they will take to contribute to reconciliation in Australia. The practical steps outlined in the RAP aim to help to build strong relationships and enhanced respect between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Community programs, Indigenous employment, and procurement from certified Indigenous businesses are examples of the kinds of actions businesses can take in their RAP.

Description

Reconciliation Australia is funded from corporate and government partnerships as well as tax-deductible donations from individual Australians. The organisation works with business, government and individual Australians to bring about change, identifying and promoting examples of reconciliation in action. Reconciliation Australia also independently monitors Australia's progress towards reconciliation.

Key people

Board

As of June 2020, board members are:[4]

  • Professor Tom Calma AO (Co-Chair), Chancellor of the University of Canberra and the National Coordinator for Tackling Indigenous Smoking. Since his appointment on 30 October 2019 as co-chair on the Senior Advisory Group of the "Indigenous voice to government", convened by Ken Wyatt, along with by Professor Marcia Langton AM,[9][10] Calma is on year's leave of absence to undertake his new role.[11]
  • Melinda Cilento (Co-Chair), independent director of Woodside Petroleum
  • Kenny Bedford, lives on and represents the remote island of Erub (Darnley) on the Torres Strait Regional Authority
  • Glen Kelly (Acting Co-Chair), sits on a number of committees and statutory authorities at a State and Commonwealth level.
  • Bill Lawson AM, retired engineer and advocate for reconciliation, founder of the Beacon Foundation
  • Djapirri Mununggirritj, Yolngu elder from North East Arnhem Land, ex-officio member of the Yothu Yindi Foundation Board
  • Peter Nash, Australian Chairman of KPMG and holds positions on KPMG's Global and Asia Pacific boards
  • Kirstie Parker, an Aboriginal woman of the Yuwallarai people in NSW, and Co-Chair of the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples
  • Joy Thomas, served as an adviser and chief of staff to Ministers in the Howard Government
  • Sharon Davis, Bardi and Kija woman, Team Leader for Aboriginal Education at Catholic Education Western Australia, and Trustee of the Roberta Sykes Indigenous Education Foundation.

Executive
  • Karen Mundine, Chief Executive Officer, on the Boards of the Mary Mackillop Foundation and the Gondwana Children's Choirs which includes the Gondwana Indigenous Children's Choir.

See also

References
  1. "Annual Financial Report for the year ended 30 June 2016" (PDF). Reconcilliation Australia. 25 October 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  2. "Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody: Inquiry". The Age of Enquiry. La Trobe University. 13 January 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  3. "Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation Act 1991, Incorporating all amendments by legislation made to 18 April 1994". Federal Register of Legislation. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  4. "About Us". Reconciliation Australia. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  5. "Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation Act 1991 [as amended]". Federal Register of Legislation. 1 January 2001. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  6. Castan, Melissa; Arabena, Kerry (19 May 2016). "Indigenous reconciliation in Australia: still a bridge too far?". The Conversation. The Conversation Media Trust. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  7. "Founding Co-Chair retires from Reconciliation Australia Board". Reconciliation Australia. 30 November 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  8. Armstrong, Leah. "RAP About". Reconciliation Australia. Reconciliation Australia. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  9. "A voice for Indigenous Australians". Ministers Media Centre. 30 October 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  10. "Indigenous Voice". Indigenous.gov.au. 6 November 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  11. Australia, Reconciliation (26 November 2019). "Reconciliation Australia Co-Chair Update". Reconciliation Australia. Retrieved 6 June 2020.

Further reading
  • "Inquiry into constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples". Australian Human Rights Commission. 20 July 2018.
  • Reconciliation Australia (February 2016). The State of Reconciliation in Australia: Our History, Our Story, Our Future: Summary. ISBN 978-0-9945103-1-0. Twenty-five years after the establishment of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (CAR), this report examines the state of reconciliation in Australia today.
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