Reconciliation Action Plan 2024-2026
Bridge Housing’s Reconciliation Action Plan 2024–2026, developed in consultation with the RAP Working Group, is our third plan to be endorsed by Reconciliation Australia Reconciliation Australia.
We have focussed on developing and strengthening relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, engaged staff and other stakeholders in reconciliation. We have built strategies that support our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island tenant community and provide safe and secure housing opportunities.
Reconciliation Action Plan 2020-2022
Bridge Housing’s Reconciliation Action Plan 2020-2022 developed in consultation with the RAP Working Group, is our second plan to be endorsed by Reconciliation Australia.
Over the last two years, we have focused on developing and strengthening relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, engaged staff and other stakeholders in reconciliation, and built strategies that support our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tenant community and provide safe and secure housing opportunities.
Key actions achieved
We continue to work on our RAP deliverables, as a part of our commitment to our reconciliation journey.
Highlights for 2021 and 2022 included:
- • Ran our Orbit! Family Fun Day in partnership with The Settlement, Redfern
• Successfully recruited one of our CareerTracker indigenous interns to a Housing Support officer role
• Developed a new Cultural Awareness Training Program for Board Directors
• Undertook Aboriginal Cultural Competency training delivered through CHIA NSW. - Held Reconciliation Week events with Bruce Pascoe talking about his book 'Dark Emu' and Leah Purcell holding a Q&A with staff and tenants after a screening of her award winning film, 'The Drover's Wife'
- Set up an Art Show during NAIDOC week curated by Blak Douglas with art from our tenants on display in Redfern.
We are now working on our next RAP in partnership with Reconciliation Australia and looking forward to continuing our hard work in support of reconciliation.
If you would like to become involved in the implementation of the next RAP and attend the next working group contact the Communities Team via email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Resources
Reconciliation Australia outlines the Welcome to Country Protocols and highlights their importance. Where meetings, events and gatherings have moved to online platforms, Reconciliation Australia also explains how to acknowledge Country virtually.
Bridge Housing has also developed location-specific Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country protocols. pdf Read our Welcome to Country Policy (202 KB) .
Share Our Pride is an online tool shared by Reconciliation Australia and provides people with an awareness raising journey of what life looks like from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective.
The Manual is a collection of practical resources and tools that people, both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous, can use to make a real difference in promoting positive mental health and social emotional wellbeing, and preventing suicide in our communities. The Manual is released by the Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention.
RAP 2017-2019 achievements
Bridge Housing achieved 94% of actions in our first Reconciliation Action Plan including:
- Increased the number of Aboriginal staff employed
- Cultural competency training for all staff
- Development of partnerships with Aboriginal organisations to support tenancy sustainment
- Supported the Flag Raising Ceremony during NAIDOC Week at the Redfern Community Centre each year
- Representation at NAIDOC Day celebrations and the Yabun festival
- Implemented a Welcome to Country Protocol Policy across the organisation
- Hosted the biennial exhibition showcasing talented artists in the tenant community, supported by the ATTAG
- Engaged with Aboriginal suppliers through our procurement processes.