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Football Australia Launches First Reconciliation Action Plan

Football Australia Reconciliation Action Plan Indigenous Australian Jade North

Football Australia Launches First Reconciliation Action Plan

Football Australia has announced the launch of its first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in an effort to commit to strengthening relationships with Indigenous Australian communities.

The RAP will focus on the three core pillars of Relationships, Respect, and Opportunities and will guide Football Australia’s approach to reconciliation awareness, growth, and change, according to Football Australia.

The RAP was developed with the help of the National Indigenous Advisory Group (NIAG), the Football Australia RAP Working Group and internal and external stakeholders, with Football Australia outlining its key commitments for reconciliation:

  • Building internal capacity for decision making through community-centred guidance from Football Australia’s National Indigenous Advisory Group
  • Establish and strengthen mutually beneficial relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders and organisations.
  • Implementing best practice strategies to showcase First Nations Football Community and the pioneers of the game.
  • Implement strategies that increase understanding, value and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, knowledge and rights through cultural learning. across Football Australia and supporting personnel.
  • Creating and implementing strategies to improve employment outcomes by increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander recruitment, retention and professional development.
  • Increase more opportunities for Indigenous procurement and partnerships.

NIAG co-chair, Jade North, said the outline of a roadmap of reconciliation goals is a good next step for the organisation.

“I am greatly encouraged by the decisive action Football Australia is taking towards meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous people,” North said.

“There are countless individuals and organisations who have commenced this work long before the national body and I wish to acknowledge this work as it has contributed to bring and keep our mob in the game.

“Now as Australian football are bringing full focus into this work, this action plan is just the first step of many to connect to community and embed equity into the delivery and function of football more broadly.

“Whilst foundational at a reflect stage, this strategy will be key in guiding the organisation to progress strongly and confidently under the leadership of the National Indigenous Advisory Group and more members of the community as the journey progresses,” he said.

Adding on to the focus for Football Australia’s RAP, Football Australia CEO, James Johnson, said: “Football Australia is incredibly proud to be launching our first Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan.”

“As Australia’s largest club-based participation sport, with two million participants and over 200 different cultures, Australian football understands and welcomes the integral role we can play in our nation’s reconciliation journey.

“Through the process of developing this Reflect RAP, we have had an opportunity to reflect on the significant contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to our game and Australian society more broadly.

“We are going beyond reflection alone and have pledged to undertake measurable tasks that directly and indirectly contribute positively to address disparities between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians.

“As with the XI Principles, this RAP will be embedded into the core of our sport and business to ensure the recognition, cultural safety and advancement of the participation of First Nations people in football,” Johnson said.

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