Council reinforces reconciliation efforts with First Nations

By Murray Silby

Jul 3, 2023

**Proud of the plan:** Yorta Yorta man and Greater Shepparton City councillor Greg James says he’s so proud of the muncipality’s Reconciliation Action Plan that he skites about it. Photo by Megan Fisher

The City of Greater Shepparton has moved to reinforce its commitment to reconciliation with the municipality’s First Nations people.

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At its monthly meeting on June 20, councillors unanimously adopted the Greater Shepparton Reconciliation Action Plan Innovate July 2023 to July 2025 to replace the “Reflect” plan of 2019-2020.

“I skite about that plan wherever I go and I think that that is a strong indication, it’s a strong indication of our community and how well they work together and it’s a very strong and cohesive community vision on where we want to get to for our future and for our children,” Cr Greg James, who is a Yorta Yorta man and who moved the plan be adopted, told the meeting.

“I think this RAP plan will act as a guide and a shining light for our community to move forward as well with some great outcomes.”

Cr James told the meeting that a target in the first RAP of 2 per cent council staff being First Nations People by 2020 was achieved by July 2020 with a 5 per cent target included in the new RAP well on the way to being achieved.

“That 2 per cent was achieved early in the stage and we are working, and if not (there), we are heading close to that 5 per cent employment mark already,” Cr James said.

The plan was prepared after a two-phase consultation process from September 2021 to September 2022 with more than 380 community members providing feedback.

More than 10 organisations, both First Nations and non-First Nations, provided feedback during the consultation period.

Reconciliation Australia is the lead body for reconciliation in Australia and provided the advice to council during the plan’s development.