Acknowledgement of Country
Wyndham City Council recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Custodians of the lands on which Australia was founded. Council acknowledges the Wadawurrung, Woiwurrung and Boonwurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners of the lands on which Wyndham City is being built. For tens of thousands of years, the Werribee River has been a significant meeting place for Aboriginal people to build community, exchange resources, and share responsibility for its lands. Council pays respect for the wisdom and diversity of past and present Elders. We share commitment to nurturing future generations of Elders in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Acknowledgement of the traditional owners:
We respectfully acknowledge the contributions of the Traditional Owner organisations that provided guidance and feedback in the development of our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and have contributed to Council strategies, projects and programs throughout its implementation.
Introduction
Wyndham City took a significant step forward on the journey to reconciliation, with Council adopting its first Reconciliation Action Plan at the Ordinary Council Meeting on Tuesday 5 December 2017.
This two year plan was developed to provide a framework for Council to realise its vision for Reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and has helped successfully drive a broad range of actions across the organisation to progress the three key areas of building relationships, showing respect and improving opportunities with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The development of our RAP included extensive consultation with staff and Wyndham’s Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Community and has been formally endorsed by Reconciliation Australia who are the lead body for reconciliation in the nation.
Overall, implementation of the RAP has been very successful, with tangible progress in practice and understanding seen across the organisation.
Wyndham’s RAP achievements report is available on the Wyndham City Website and provides an overview of RAP achievements to date.
This document is a snapshot of the personal journeys and impact of the work from a range of those involved. Many others have supported the work along the way, including Councillors, WRAC members, senior managers, staff and community.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the journey- those who’s reflections are featured in this document, and the many who’s work can be seen through the various achievements along the way.
Wyndham City’s Chief Executive Officer
Kelly Grigsby
Our vision for reconciliation has been built on Wyndham’s rich and vibrant Aboriginal history and is core to Wyndham’s Statement of Commitment (2015).
Building on this vision, I was excited to introduce Wyndham City Council’s first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in 2017. This significant step formalised a process of reconciliation between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people with an aim to redress injustices, increase equity and access to services to improve the wellbeing of the whole Wyndham community.
I am proud that over the course of this Reconciliation Action Plan, we have progressed on our commitments to reconciliation across the organisation and made many achievements along the way. We have led the way in developing processes and structures that pay respect to Aboriginal people, culture, lands and rights and provided opportunities that support economic development in Aboriginal households across Wyndham.
One of the key achievements has been the establishment of the Wunggurrwil Dhurrung Centre. This sits at the heart of the RAP, where partnership with the local Aboriginal community at every stage has been vital to Council’s journey towards Reconciliation.
The Wunggurrwil Dhurrung Centre, meaning “strong heart’ in Wadawurrung language, is a multi-purpose facility that includes a dedicated Aboriginal Community Centre.
Officially opened on 6 November 2019, the centre is the result of an innovative partnership between the Aboriginal community and Wyndham City. A key focus of the centre is for Aboriginal people to build local connections to country, culture and community.
Through extensive engagement and conversations with Aboriginal Community, the result is a unique centre that creates a reconciling space for all residents and Council.
I thank those who have contributed to taking us on this journey. Some of whose voices and stories are shared throughout this document, but many whose extensive contributions and commitment are seen through changed practice, increased opportunities and strengthened partnerships with our Aboriginal Community.
I look forward to continuing this journey as we pave the way for Wyndham’s next Reconciliation Action Plan and further embed reconciliation in our core business, ensuring Wyndham is an inclusive, welcoming City that celebrates our diverse heritage and cultures now and in the future.
Cr Henry Barlow (2016 -2020)
Co-chair Wyndham Reconciliation Action Committee (WRAC) 2016-2020
As co-chair of the WRAC, one of the biggest successes we have had as a group was developing greater understanding between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people living in Wyndham with the development of our RAP.
While this was just the beginning of the path to reconciliation, the group has shared ideas about how all people can thrive together in our society and had a solid plan to achieve this.
The second greatest achievement that came from this group was the completion of the Wunggurrwil Dhurrung Community Centre. The design and concept of this beautifully built centre was carefully thought out to ensure it was a culturally appropriate and safe space for everyone in our community to come together, meet people from different cultures and continue the process of reconciliation.
I was delighted that we created the Possum Skin Cloak and have it hanging at Wyndham City’s Civic Centre. It is a proud reminder of the Aboriginal cultural heritage of this city that guides our walking together as a community towards reconciliation.
I feel privileged to have worked so closely with a dedicated team.
Trisha Williams
Co-chair WRAC
As an Aboriginal member of the WRAC, it has been a privilege to be a part of this journey with Council and collaborating with other committee members to offer advice on an effective RAP strategy for council and staff.
We have taken positive steps towards reconciliation, such as the reconciliation walk from along the Werribee River with members of the Aboriginal community. Both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people helped create a stunning possum cloak artwork. Making this sparked discussions and deeper learnings of our Aboriginal culture in Wyndham. It is currently displayed at the foyer of Wyndham City’s Civic Centre.
I am most proud of the collaborative approach and partnership between our committee, the Kolinga Wada-Ngal committee, Council and the community to achieve the construction of the Wunggurrwil Dhurrung Community Centre, a place where the entire community can come together. This committee has given voice and recognition to Wyndham’s Aboriginal community.
Allison Kenwood
Director City Life
The lands and rivers on which this City is being built tell us about Wyndham’s rich and diverse Aboriginal cultural heritage. It is a place to build community, and our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) has been a successful framework to support Council in taking the right steps to continue building a city that is inclusive and equitable for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.
It is important for Council, as leaders of our community to understand how we can work together in partnership with the Aboriginal Community to shape our future and make a real difference in Wyndham.
As chair of the Reconciliation Action Plan Management Group, and Executive RAP Champion, I have been both proud and excited to be involved with such passionate leaders who continue to drive and embed reconciliation in our core business across the whole of Wyndham City Council.
As we pause to reflect on the learnings and achievements of Wyndham’s RAP, I am positive the actions and commitments in this plan provide a solid foundation on which we can build to take the next steps in our reconciliation journey as we embark on the next iteration of our RAP.
I would like to thank everyone involved in this journey, and I look forward to continuing to work in partnership with our staff across the organisation, and the Aboriginal community to conserve our Aboriginal heritage, and further develop actions and commitments that will have a positive impact on our Aboriginal and wider Wyndham community.
Rob Monohan
Proud Taungurung Man Leading Hand Arboriculture - Facilities and Open Space, RAP Management member, Aboriginal Staff Reference Group, Co-Chair of the Koling wada-ngal committee and WRAC member
It’s wonderful to see Council moving forward and embracing reconciliation and I feel Council has been genuinely listening to the Aboriginal community. The purpose of the WRAC is to give a voice to the Aboriginal community, and this has been achieved. We faced some difficult decisions, and these were all dealt with fairly.
Brian Campbell
WRAC member
"It was a successful journey; we came with nothing in our hands and achieved a lot. As long as we have the same level of commitment as the last group of people, we will keep this journey going."
Margaret Campbell
WRAC member
It has been a privilege to be a member of the WRAC and to share with Indigenous and non-Indigenous members our thoughts, experiences and recognition of the vast array of needs to be addressed and met in our community before we can finally achieve reconciliation.
I am pleased to see more Indigenous people acknowledging their identity. Council has offered more roles to Aboriginal people and I was pleased to see its employment advertisements placed in the Koorie Mail.
Kerry Deverell
WRAC member
The WRAC provides a stronger connection between both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community members with Council, and solidarity within its members. Council has a strong commitment towards working with the Aboriginal community to gain reconciliation. Respect is given when discussing culturally significant issues and ways of working within the Aboriginal community. It provides a united way to bring about reconciliation within the wider Wyndham community.
The committee made me feel welcomed and I did not feel intimidated by Council, like I may have expected. I have been given the opportunity to meet people from Council and non-Aboriginal people and I feel connected to them. It helps me to feel connected to the wider community. Also, we have implemented ways to support the Aboriginal community, such as the new Wunggurrwil Dhurrung Community Centre Centre.
Mary Dixon
WRAC member
The WRAC is a great way to meet, work, connect and get to know people from the Aboriginal community. The committee provided good advice on reconciliation and it was an opportunity for the community to comment on what the council was doing and to show the community what steps to reconciliation we have taken.
Gary Davidson
Proud Taungurung man and WRAC member
"I am pleased to be a part of the Reconciliation Advisory Committee, as I find joining in and meeting up with the other members, is so satisfying for me, as I feel that we are all connected and interested in moving forward with Reconciliation. We all work well together as a team, and we bounce off one another with great ideas, to make decisions to improve our Community."
Chyree Mail
Partnerships and Centre Facilitator, Community Planning and Development, WRAC member
I’ve enjoyed getting to know Wyndham City through the RAP. It has opened up opportunities to get involved in my community and given purpose to work locally.
Kriss McKie
Manager Community Planning and Development, RAP Management Group member
The RAP sounds like a simple term but it has needed a deep process. We understood that the success of this RAP would rely on committing to the right range of actions across Council to make a real difference and provide opportunities for staff and community to grow in understanding and awareness. The possum skin cloak was a perfect example of this. Conceived as a living document of reconciliation, it was developed by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community members side by side. Pictures of the possum skin cloak literally wrap around the cover of the RAP document and bind it together. Its story raises understanding of culture, and its beauty continues to spark enquiry and reflection. As I look back, I have seen the commitment and passion of so many people – Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal staff and community members – in the delivery of the RAP. That gives me enormous hope for the continuation of this work. This RAP is only one small step in a much bigger journey. For me, I have been driven to ensure the practical actions have been delivered, but equally, at a personal level, I have a much richer understanding of what reconciliation means. I thank all of those who have contributed to that, particularly the Wyndham Reconciliation Action Committee (WRAC) members. I also want to acknowledge the staff in my department who helped facilitate this significant initiative on behalf of Council.
Eilis Hughes
Manager, Project Management Office, and RAP Management Group member
I was very happy to work on Council’s RAP because I believe so firmly in the goals of building respect, relationships and opportunities. But for me the best thing about working on this plan was having a physical project to work on, namely the Wunggurrwil Dhurrung Centre. Working on this new community centre in partnership with the Koling Wada-ngal committee, there were so many tangible ways to strengthen relationships between Council and Aboriginal communities. We were able to demonstrate respect for culture and country in the built form as well in the ways we worked, and to continually create and promote for opportunities for Aboriginal people to lead, to be employed and to supply us with goods and services. I learned a lot through the process and am glad to have been able to put my principles into practice.
Melissa Falkenberg
Manager City Transport and RAP Management Group member
Many significant and important actions have been delivered and will continue to be delivered from the Wyndham RAP. As a people leader, l honour and respect the role that l can play in ensuring awareness of the RAP, not only at a broader level with my team but also as we plan individual projects and initiatives with others.
Rhonda Rathjen
Manager Libraries and Community Learning, and RAP Management Group member
A highlight for me was being able to sit on the RAP Management Group. It was a privilege to help further the work that Wyndham as an organisation set out to do. Staff in the Libraries and Community Learning Department enthusiastically embraced the work we set out to do when the RAP was adopted. Staff participated in training and workshops to further their understanding of Aboriginal culture and were proud to host the launch of the Aboriginal Honour Roll at Manor Lakes Library, as well as organising and delivering many other events to celebrate Aboriginal culture.
A personal highlight was when the artwork commissioned by Deane Gilson was received, it was a truly emotional occasion when the original painting and copies were proudly hung in each Wyndham library branch to ensure that when Aboriginal visitors entered the space they could see a connection to their culture.
Fiona Reidy
Chief People Officer, People and Capability and RAP Management Group member
Seeing the commitment across the organisation of so many staff successfully complete the online Aboriginal Cultural Competency course was a real highlight for me. Part of why this was so impressive is the substantial time commitment from staff, who came together for workshops over lunch to share, explore and learn more about our Aboriginal History and Culture and how they could practically embed reconciliation into their daily work. The formation of the Aboriginal Staff Advisory Group in 2018 was also a significant step for the organisation in providing a safe network for Aboriginal staff to offer feedback and advice to the organisation on experiences, practices, awareness raising and learning activities. I look forward to strengthening and building on the opportunities across the organisation for our Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal staff to continue their reconciliation journeys.
Andrew Bishop
Principal Planner, Activity Centres, and Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Working Group member
It has been inspiring to see the advancements made by the organisation over the span of the first RAP. The online Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competence training allowed more than 100 colleagues and I to go on our own personal journeys in learning and reflecting on the culture and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. I've been proud to see an increase in awareness and valuing of Aboriginal cultural heritage among colleagues.
A highlight for me has also been the completion and opening of the beautiful award-winning Wunggurrwil Dhurrung Centre. As well as being a fantastic facility, it is a statement of Wyndham City's commitment to and respect for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. It makes me proud to work at Wyndham City. We have worked hard to increase visibility of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander cultures across Wyndham, including the placing of plaques across all Community Centres, Youth Resource Centre and Civic Centre.
Tana Parker
Category Management Partner, Procurement and RAP Management Group member
Over the past three years I have had the honour to be a member of the RAP committee. It has been a journey of truth telling, engagement and commitment. Working in the procurement space at Council, in collaboration with my colleagues, we achieved the RAP Aboriginal and Economic Development objectives. The RAP has been both a powerful tool and framework in ensuring we embraced the road map and delivered some realistic and meaningful objectives. I have had the privilege to pilot and champion some initiatives that have resulted in increased spend with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island businesses, negotiating contracts ensuring social and economic benefits for both individual, and new Aboriginal and Torres Straight Island fledging businesses.
As the RAP journey continues, I am passionate about delivering future opportunities and greater social economic outcomes within my remit and seeing Council’s commitment to first nation peoples grow and develop. We must continue as a Council and community to yarn, ensure healing, strengthen and nurture our relationships while respecting country.
Charlotte Morrison
Continuous Improvement Advisor, Procurement
Over the last 18 months I have been privileged to be able to work to support my colleagues in procurement to ensure we are creating tools and resources to achieve the economic development requirements set out in our RAP.
In reflecting on my experience over the last two years, it has been humbling to learn of our history with our First Nations people and it has brought a deep commitment to work towards true reconciliation. A key highlight has been meeting and interacting with the WRAC where I have seen true reconciliation in action.
Also visiting and touring at the end of last year, the Wunggurrwil Dhurrung Centre has made a lasting impact upon me. Learning the history of the land where it is built and hearing about how this wonderful resource will be used to bring communities together for shared learning and celebration.
We have a long way to go, but I’m excited to continue the work and I feel that we are heading in the right direction towards reconciliation.
Karnene Vidinopoulos
Business Support Officer, Facilities and Open Space, Aboriginal Staff Reference Group member
I am a proud Mutti Mutti woman and have been employed at Wyndham since late 2009. In my time here I have been able to reconnect with my culture by participating in many wonderful workshops and projects Council has to offer. It is a pleasure to be part of an organisation that values diversity and inclusivity. The Aboriginal Employee Advisory Group is developing an Aboriginal Employment Strategy, led by Alexius Pepper. It is an honour for me to be able to contribute my ideas to enhance employment pathways and opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples here at Council, which may be added to their business plans. I want to acknowledge four individuals here at Wyndham, that have made me feel inclusive, have provided a safer work environment and encouraged me to acknowledge my heritage and be proud of whom I am with no judgement. Without their support, encouragement and belief in me I would still be silent. Kerrie Godbold, Robert Monohan, Alexius Pepper and Lisa Whyte have given me acceptance, validated me, heard my voice and have supported me in my journey and presented me with many cultural experiences enriching my work life. I will always be grateful to these wonderful people for showing me that being Aboriginal is nothing to be ashamed of, instead it should be proudly embraced.
Kerrie Godbold
Community Development Officer, Community Planning and Development
Aboriginal people had no say in the founding of this city and their livelihoods were lost. This plan for reconciliation action signified our readiness to recognise a place of Aboriginal people in local government. It opened a respectful conversation between Council and the community. Together, we have learned about the past we all inherit, deliberated over present challenges and opportunities, and determined a future in which all can thrive.
For me, the most significant change brought about by this RAP is in our relationships. The right of Aboriginal people to build the social and economic life of this city is now recognised. Throughout the years of this RAP, Aboriginal people increasingly gathered in civic spaces, expressed truth in creative and constructive ways. They joined congress to share a vision to shape our city; added their voices to Council policies; collaborated in delivery of events and programs and asserted their place in the workforce of Council. I have seen and heard Aboriginal people have a say in this city.
Megan Evans
Visual Arts Curator, Vibrant City Centres
Working with Maree Clarke and the late Len Tregonning on the RAP Possum Skin Cloak project was a highlight for me. Documenting the community members who came to participate wrapped in Len’s cloak brings tears to my eyes still. Len’s generosity in providing this experience for non-Indigenous and Indigenous people alike, using his own cloak, which he was later buried in, was deeply significant. Filming people’s responses for the videos was also very moving and returned my hope for true reconciliation one day.
