Purpose of reconciliation
Reconciliation is about coming together as a nation.
It promotes respect, trust and positive relationships between the wider Australian community and our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
It recognises the place of our First Peoples in our history, present and future.
Council is committed to working in partnership with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait community to progress reconciliation and recognition. It is important that we continue to provide a leadership role and partner with the ATSI community to address the inequities that impact health and wellbeing, cultural recognition and community life.
Our work towards reconciliation and empowerment has been supported by the community. For the past three years, Knox City Council has welcomed over 100 community participants to the annual Sorry Day event. Additionally, Knox City Council held a local Treaty Conversation with the wider community, as the first Council in the Eastern Metro Region to do so.
How Knox support reconciliation
The following policies, actions and events inform and guide our reconciliation work:
- the acknowledgement of the Traditional Custodians Policy
- the acknowledgement of Traditional Custodians at events
- flying the Aboriginal flag at the Knox Civic Centre at all times
- holding an annual Sorry Day flag raising ceremony on 26 May every year
- holding NAIDOC Week celebrations in the first week of July every year
- an Acknowledgement of Country on our gateway signage
- supporting various community art projects
- implementing the Knox Community Access and Equity Implementation Plan 2017 -2021
- supporting the Bush Tucker Yarning Circle Program
- participating in the Inner East Local Aboriginal Network
- the delivery of Aboriginal cultural competency training to our staff
- implementing Cultural Heritage Management Plans for significant locations.
Acknowledgement of Traditional Custodians
At Knox City Council, we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land.
We do this at the beginning of all:
- Council meetings
- civic events
- important Council documents.
We promote building awareness of our rich Aboriginal history and support ongoing reconciliation.
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