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The Warrnambool Reconciliation Strategy and Action Plan will be officially launched on Wednesday, June 3 at the Civic Green.
The Strategy was developed in partnership with Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation and the Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative with guidance from Aboriginal family-owned Mifsud Consulting and Advisory.
“This is an important milestone for Council,’ Mayor Cr Ben Blain said.
“It provides a roadmap for how Council will work alongside Traditional Owners and Aboriginal communities to celebrate culture, embed cultural safety, and create shared opportunities for growth and wellbeing.
“To celebrate and build awareness of the Strategy, we’re inviting the community to an official launch at the Civic Green on Wednesday, June 3, from 2pm to 4pm.
“People will be able hear from Council and from Aboriginal leaders about what the Strategy will achieve.
“We’ll also unveil a special art work commissioned as part of the process and it will be displayed prominently in a location where everyone will have an opportunity to view it.”
The Strategy contains messages from Eastern Maar CEO Marcus Clarke and Gunditjmara CEO Jackson Chatfield.
Mr Clarke wrote that the “Strategy commits Council to building its own cultural capability and strengthening how it operates internally across training, engagement, planning and procurement. It creates clearer pathways for Aboriginal participation across economic, environmental and governance activity, and improves how and when engagement with Traditional Owners occurs.”
Mr Chatfield stated that the Strategy was the “beginning of a shared journey – one where culture is valued, voices are heard and future generations of our entire community have the opportunity to thrive.”
The Strategy has four focus areas to enable self-determination:
1. Empower First Nations people to thrive – strengthening health, wellbeing, inclusion and cultural safety.
2. Strengthen economic empowerment and opportunity for First Nations people.
3. First Nations people and culture are valued as a regional strength, with self-determination advanced through genuine partnership and shared decision-making.
4. Embed caring for Country at the heart of a sustainable Warrnambool.
Note: in the event of inclement weather the launch will relocate to the Lighthouse Theatre.