Reconciliation Action Plan
The University of New England’s inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) has received final endorsement by Reconciliation Australia.
This ‘Reflect’ RAP outlines UNE’s vision for reconciliation and an action plan for partnership between the University and its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, staff and community members to create equitable opportunities in higher education, regardless of location and circumstance. It signals the University’s commitment to pursue its mission of teaching and learning, research and service in a spirit of true reconciliation, by creating an educational environment that is genuinely inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People’s perspectives and experiences.
The RAP is the culmination of a drafting process which began in 2018. A Working Group, comprised of internal and external representatives of the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, provided assistance with the drafting, consultation, and internal approval process.
Over the next 12 months UNE will deepen its understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, knowledges and cultures. The implementation process will scope UNE’s capacity for participation in reconciliation activities, across the three pillars of Relationships, Respect and Opportunity. Achievement of the actions and deliverables in this RAP will provide a blueprint for the university’s initiatives in successive RAPs, which will help to produce future RAPs that are meaningful, mutually beneficial and sustainable for the University.
National Reconciliation in Education Awards: Entries open now!
Reconciliation Australia is proud to launch the third Narragunnawali Awards recognising exceptional commitment to reconciliation in education.
The Narragunnawali Awards are Australia's first and only national reconciliation in education awards for schools and early learning services.
Cash prizes of $10,000 as well as media and promotional opportunities are on offer to the winning school and early learning service that displays exceptional commitment to reconciliation.
Reconciliation Australia CEO, Karen Mundine said the recently released 2021 State of Reconciliation in Australia Report consistently asserts the role of education as a driving force in the reconciliation movement.
"Education is critical to how we understand and think about the world and about reconciliation; the earlier we have these conversations the better," said Ms Mundine.
"These awards will showcase the huge amount of substantive work occurring in schools and early learning services, not only through teaching about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures in the classroom, but also through building relationships across education settings and their local communities.
To learn more about the Awards and to apply visit the Narragunnawali Awards website.
