Sutherland Shire Family Services (SSFS) launched its Reconciliation Action Plan this week, to expand support it offers to the Aboriginal community.
The family support organisation has received official endorsement from Reconciliation Australia on its Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), which was launched on Thursday at Doltone House.
The family service has employed Aboriginal family support workers for many years, working Aboriginal Families who require assistance. It has also developed several successful programs specifically for Indigenous clients, including Koori Kids Playgroup and Little Koori Thinkers Homework Support Group, to enhance the cultural identity of Aboriginal children, and support confidence in their schooling.
The plan aims to improve staff knowledge, acknowedge the history and actively work to reconciliation within the workplace. With improved understanding, staff are able to ensure respect, safety and trauma informed practice.
The first RAP - called 'reflect', supports the organisation's strategic plan and drives contribution towards reconciliation.
"We want this document to come from our hearts, to reflect what it means to be an Aboriginal person in today's society, for the history to be acknowledged and accepted; and for the oldest living culture in the world to be recognised and appreciated," Board secretary Julie West, who leads the RAP project for the organisation, said.
"Working with Reconciliation Australia gave us a formal structure to embed Reconciliation values in our organisation. It's an important part of who we are and what we offer the community."
Aboriginal Services Co-ordinator Danielle De Costa says as an Aboriginal woman, and long time SSFS employee, she is proud that the organisation has taken these steps to formalise their commitment to the Aboriginal Community through the Reconciliation Action Plan process.
Staff have already made Acknowledgement of Country a standard part of all meetings, undertaken cultural awareness training, participated in significant events including National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week.
