Reconciliation Australia

Reconciliation Australia is an Australian non-government, not-for-profit organisation established in January 2001 to maintain a national focus on reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians. It emerged from the work of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, a body created by the Australian Parliament in 1991 to develop a framework for addressing the historical and continuing relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. The organisation operates primarily as a national convenor, advocate, programme administrator and source of research and practical guidance. Rather than selling consumer products, it works with businesses, governments, educational institutions, community organisations and individuals to encourage institutional and social change. Its activities include promoting respectful relationships, supporting Indigenous participation and opportunity, tracking public attitudes and national progress, and publishing material intended to help organisations turn reconciliation principles into workplace and community action. Two of its most visible areas of work are National Reconciliation Week and the Reconciliation Action Plan program. National Reconciliation Week provides an annual national platform for events, education and public discussion concerning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures, rights and relationships. The Reconciliation Action Plan program helps organisations create structured commitments and actions in the areas of relationships, respect and opportunities. Its four framework levels—Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate—are intended to match the maturity and ambition of participating organisations. The programme expanded substantially during the 2000s and 2010s, moving from a small initial group of organisations to hundreds of endorsed plans across Australian workplaces. Reconciliation Australia also established the Recognise campaign in 2012 following recommendations from the Expert Panel on Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the Constitution. The campaign sought public understanding and support for constitutional recognition before a proposed referendum. It used public advocacy, partnerships, community engagement and a nationwide tour to increase awareness. The campaign concluded in 2017 after the federal government ended its funding, having attracted support from more than 318,000 people and over 160 community and corporate partners, according to the organisation's reference material. The organisation is funded through government and corporate partnerships, philanthropic support and tax-deductible donations. A significant source of support has been associated with the BHP Foundation. Reconciliation Australia also works through an Australian Reconciliation Network of independently run state and territory reconciliation bodies. It has monitored Australia's progress toward reconciliation and has produced assessments and reports examining the country's historical conditions, current attitudes and future priorities. Its institutional history is linked to the 1991 parliamentary establishment of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, which followed recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. The council was intended to complete its work around the centenary of Australian Federation and was dissolved after a ten-year mandate. Reconciliation Australia was created as a continuing successor organisation in 2001. The organisation's public profile has included advocacy on constitutional recognition, workplace reconciliation and national observances. The available reference material states that it ceased strategic planning as of September 2017; this does not by itself establish that the organisation ceased operating. Karen Mundine has served as chief executive, and Tom Calma and Melinda Cilento were identified as co-chairs in a July 2021 governance listing.

The institutional origins of Reconciliation Australia lie in Australia's response to the findings of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. The commission's final report, released in April 1991, recommended a process of reconciliation between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians. On 2 September 1991, the Australian Parliament unanimously supported the creation of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and a formal national reconciliation process. The council was established under the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation Act 1991. Parliament gave it a ten-year mandate, with the objective that reconciliation should be advanced by 2001, the centenary of Australian Federation. Its stated vision described a united Australia that respected the land, valued Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage, and delivered justice and equity. Patrick Dodson was the council's first chair. The council's work created a national policy and civic framework that later informed the establishment of Reconciliation Australia. Reconciliation Australia was established by the council in January 2001 as a continuing organisation rather than a time-limited parliamentary council. Fred Chaney was one of its founding co-chairs and remained involved as a board member for almost fifteen years, retiring in November 2014. Jackie Huggins also served as a co-chair. The new organisation inherited the broad purpose of maintaining national attention on reconciliation while developing practical ways for organisations and communities to participate. A central part of this practical approach became the Reconciliation Action Plan program. The programme was launched in 2006 by Prime Minister John Howard and Professor Mick Dodson and was administered by Reconciliation Australia. Its early emphasis included reducing disparities in life expectancy and addressing disadvantage, but it developed into a broader organisational framework concerned with relationships, respect, cultural understanding, employment, procurement and opportunity. The four plan types—Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate—allow organisations to select a level suited to their experience and objectives. The programme grew from eight participating organisations in 2006 to more than 900 fully endorsed plans by 2017. Examples cited in reference material include plans developed by Griffith University, KPMG and Boral. In 2012, Reconciliation Australia created the Recognise campaign after the federal Expert Panel on Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the Constitution submitted its recommendations in January that year. Recognise focused on public education and mobilisation ahead of a possible constitutional referendum. Tanya Hosch became deputy director and a prominent public representative of the campaign. In 2013, the campaign undertook a nationwide engagement tour, combining public advocacy with partnerships and consultation, including work in remote Aboriginal communities. The campaign's route drew inspiration from the 2004 Long Walk associated with AFL player Michael Long. It ended in 2017 when federal funding was withdrawn. National Reconciliation Week became another major public-facing activity. Organised annually by Reconciliation Australia, it provides a recurring national period for events, dialogue, education and reflection. The organisation also works with independently operated state and territory bodies through the Australian Reconciliation Network, including organisations in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia. Reconciliation Australia's operating model combines partnerships, donations, research, monitoring and public communication. Its partners include governments, companies, community groups and educational institutions. Corporate and government partnerships, philanthropic contributions and tax-deductible individual donations support its work; the BHP Foundation has been identified as a significant funder in the available reference material. The organisation independently monitors progress toward reconciliation and has published reports such as The State of Reconciliation in Australia, which examines historical foundations, current conditions and future directions. The available reference material identifies Karen Mundine as chief executive and lists Tom Calma and Melinda Cilento as co-chairs in July 2021. It also states that Reconciliation Australia ceased strategic planning as of September 2017. That statement concerns strategic planning and does not establish that the organisation itself became defunct. Its continuing public programmes and organisational role should therefore be distinguished from the conclusion of the Recognise campaign and the reported change in strategic planning.

• 2019

  Receives UN Day Honour

  [1]Reconciliation Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  Reconciliation Australia receives an honour recognising its contribution to human rights, social justice and related United Nations objectives.

• 2017

  Recognise campaign ends

  [1]Reconciliation Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  The campaign concludes after federal funding ceases; reference material records more than 318,000 supporters and over 160 partners.

• 2012

  Recognise campaign begins

  [1]Reconciliation Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  Reconciliation Australia establishes a public campaign supporting awareness and constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

• 2006

  Reconciliation Action Plan program launches

  [1]Reconciliation Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  The Reconciliation Action Plan program is launched and administered by Reconciliation Australia to help organisations make structured commitments relating to relationships, respect and opportunities.

• 2001

  Reconciliation Australia is established

  [1]Reconciliation Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  The Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation establishes Reconciliation Australia as a continuing national organisation at the end of the council's ten-year reconciliation process.

• 1991

  Parliament establishes the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation

  [1]Reconciliation Australiaen.wikipedia.org

  Following recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, Parliament unanimously creates the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and a formal reconciliation process.

A national reconciliation authority and convening organisation that translates Indigenous rights, cultural recognition and relationship-building goals into public education, organisational programmes, research and advocacy.

• Organisational change programme · 2006

  Reconciliation Action Plans

  A structured programme through which businesses, governments, universities and community organisations set practical commitments to reconciliation. Plans address relationships, respect and opportunities, and may include cultural learning, Indigenous employment, supplier diversity, community engagement and procurement from certified Indigenous businesses. The four framework levels—Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate—are intended to correspond to different stages of organisational development.

• National awareness programme

  National Reconciliation Week

  An annual national programme organised by Reconciliation Australia that supports public events, education, dialogue and reflection about the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians. It provides a common platform for schools, workplaces, governments, cultural organisations and community groups.

• Public advocacy campaign · 2012

  Recognise

  A campaign established to increase public understanding and support for constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It combined national communications, community consultation, partnerships and a nationwide engagement tour. The campaign ended in 2017 after the federal government stopped funding it.

• Research and reporting

  State of Reconciliation research

  Research and reporting that assesses Australia's reconciliation journey, including its historical foundations, public attitudes, institutional relationships and future priorities. These publications support advocacy, public education and organisational planning.

• 2012Recognise

  Australia

  A national campaign to raise awareness of the proposed constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It built public and organisational support through advocacy, partnerships, community consultation and public events, including a nationwide tour in 2013.

  Outcome. Awareness reportedly increased from about 30 percent to more than 75 percent. The campaign ended in 2017 after federal funding was withdrawn and had attracted more than 318,000 supporters and over 160 community and corporate partners.

  Source
• National Reconciliation Week

  Australia

  An annual public programme encouraging events, education and discussion focused on reconciliation and the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

  Outcome. It became one of Reconciliation Australia's principal recurring national engagement platforms.

  Source

• 2012

  Launch the Recognise campaignStrategy

  Background

  An expert panel had recommended constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, creating a need for public education before a possible referendum.

  Action taken

  Reconciliation Australia established a national advocacy campaign focused on awareness, public support, partnerships and consultation.

  Aftermath

  The campaign reported substantial growth in public awareness and ended in 2017 after federal funding ceased.

  Source

• 2006

  Create the Reconciliation Action Plan programStrategy

  Background

  Reconciliation Australia sought to move reconciliation from a general national aspiration toward measurable organisational action.

  Action taken

  It began administering a structured programme through which organisations could develop plans addressing relationships, respect and opportunities.

  Aftermath

  The programme expanded from eight organisations at launch to more than 900 fully endorsed plans by 2017.

  Source

1. 1Reconciliation Australiaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Reconciliation Australia official websitereconciliation.org.au