CEO Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand signs the Reconciliation Action Plan on behalf of all Good Shepherd agencies
On the anniversary of the Kevin Rudd apology in the Australian Parliament in 2008, Rhonda Cumberland, Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand’s CEO, on behalf of all seven Good Shepherd agencies, signed a commitment to develop the Reconciliation Action Plan.
The action plan, to be finalised by December 10 2013, will provide ways to act on the good intentions of working respectfully and meaningfully with Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders.
The project is overseen by a Steering Committee of Good Shepherd CEOs and staff, while the Reconciliation Action Plan will be developed by a working party in consultation with staff.
The working party is co-chaired by Bob Maguire, from Good Shepherd Microfinance, and Jason Eades, Aboriginal advisor.
So far, the working party has articulated the goals of the RAP, which are to:
- Demonstrate the commitment of the Good Shepherd network to reconciliation;
- Engage staff and stakeholders in the development of the Reconciliation Action Plan;
- Work from the Good Shepherd mission and vision;
- Increase access to, and use of, community finance services and products and other Good Shepherd services, by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities that are under-serviced; and
- Explore opportunities to build mutually beneficial partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander professionals, organisations and communities.
The RAP working party will continue to provide updates on how Good Shepherd as a network is progressing towards launching its Reconciliation Action Plan – click to view the commitment.
For more information, please contact Bob Maguire: bmaguire@gsmicrofinance.org.au