1. Art and Diseño

Reconciliation
Action Plan
2014 -2015
Contents
From the Chief Executive
1
Our Vision for Reconciliation
3
Our Business
5
Our RAP
7
Relationships9
Respect11
Opportunities13
Tracking progress and reporting
© 2014 Government of South Australia
Department for Education and Child Development
Published February 2014
Cover artwork based on an original painting
by Cindy Bromley.
15
1
Department for Education
and Child Development
Reconciliation Action Plan 2014 - 2015
Our Reconciliation Action Plan is the statement
of the DECD commitment to reconciliation.
The RAP builds on the existing DECD Aboriginal
Strategy 2013 – 2016 and outlines the actions
the Department will take over the next two
years to support the building of relationships,
to acknowledge the valuable contribution of
Aboriginal people to Australian society, and
to maximize employment opportunities for
Aboriginal people to participate in the economy.
The DECD Reconciliation Action Plan identifies
actions across four domains:
Reconciliation is about the proper recognition of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and
•
Relationships
their contribution to Australian society both in
•
Respect
the past and in the present. It involves building
•
Opportunities
mutually respectful relationships between
•
Tracking progress and reporting
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
and communities, and all other Australians.
The Department commits to these actions to
Achieving reconciliation will require raising
achieve their best and realise their full potential.
the awareness and knowledge of Aboriginal
It is the job of the Department for Education
history and culture, and changing attitudes
and Child Development to actively demonstrate
that are often based upon myths and
reconciliation.
enable Aboriginal children and young people to
misunderstandings. Reconciliation is about
encouraging actions to bring about this
change to build better relationships between
all Australians and to improve outcomes for
Aboriginal people.
The Department for Education and Child
Development commits to reconciliation and
has a key role in making a positive difference
Tony Harrison
Chief Executive
in the lives of Aboriginal people. Our work
Department for Education and Child
with all families and communities is pivotal
Development
to building understanding and respect for
Aboriginal people, their culture and their values.
Reconciliation Action Plan 2014-2015
3
Our Vision for Reconciliation
The leadership and staff of the
Department for Education and Child
Development (DECD) will work together
through a strong cultural empathy to
create a culture of reconciliation that
will facilitate greater opportunities for
all Aboriginal people to achieve, excel
and reach their full potential.
•
interactions amongst and between
Aboriginal people and other Australians
in education sites and elsewhere, in person
and by other means
•
their status as traditional custodians of the
learning outcomes through literacy,
numeracy and learning technologies
•
digital, as well as relevant and appropriate
history relating to land, cultures, languages
locations
and families. Education has a critical role in
professional commitment to:
•
a shared future in which all people are
treated with respect and dignity
•
support and encourage educational
opportunities to consult local Aboriginal
communities, Elders and traditional
custodians
•
ensure that all learners in care and at all
stages of schooling undertake studies
to celebrate, value and learn from and
about Aboriginal peoples, including
diversity of histories, cultures, languages,
achievements and issues, both past
and present
•
•
incorporate Aboriginal perspectives
throughout the curriculum
Reconciliation Action Plan 2014-2015
actively identify opportunities for the
employment of Aboriginal people at
all levels
recognise our shared past, foster
understanding and work together for
promote the use of recommended
resources including print, audio and
land and recognises the impact of past
supporting reconciliation and so we make our
implement culturally appropriate strategies
for Aboriginal learners to achieve equitable
The Department acknowledges the strength,
courage and survival of Aboriginal peoples,
provide opportunities for positive
•
actively support and implement a range of
strategies that value human rights and that
counter institutional and personal racism
across all cultures and nationalities.
5
Our Business
The Department for Education
and Child Development (DECD) is
committed to improvement in the
education, safety and development
outcomes of all children and young
people, from birth through their
transition to adulthood. Children
and young people are at the centre
of everything we do.
•
Lead and manage South Australia’s
education system
DECD manages South Australia’s
public education system, with the goal
of delivering world-class primary and
secondary education in all areas of the
curriculum. At the local level, we want every
child to achieve their potential, and we see
families as our partners to ensure each and
every child leaves school with strong skills
The department’s core purpose is to provide
and a positive outlook. Public education
early childhood development and wellbeing,
will be there for every child, all of the time.
and public education services, including some
services previously delivered by Families SA
Every week day, more than 180 000 children
and SA Health via the women’s and children’s
and young people across our State attend
health network.
public schools or early childhood settings.
These preschools, children’s centres, primary
Our key functions are to:
•
Oversee early childhood care and
services for South Australian families
DECD works with all families early in their
journey to support parents and ensure the
individual needs of each child are met.
schools, secondary schools, area schools
and special schools are located in the city
and metropolitan areas, as well as in rural
and remote areas. Collectively these education
and care settings are known as ‘sites’ – there
are about 1 000 sites in the State.
We partner with the Australian Government
There are around 13 500 teachers and
as well as the community sector and local
early childhood educators employed by the
government to integrate all services, with
department to guide learning and development.
a relentless focus on providing high quality
teaching and learning.
Curriculum describes the core knowledge,
understanding, skills and capabilities students
•
Provide services that benefit children
should learn as they progress through school.
and families
Educators use curriculum to plan student
DECD oversees the provision of local family
learning, monitor and assess student progress,
day care, preschool education, children’s
report student progress to parents and support
centres, out of school hours care programs
student wellbeing.
plus health and wellbeing services
for families.
Reconciliation Action Plan 2014-2015
South Australian schools use the South
Australian Curriculum, Standards and
Accountability Framework (SACSA) and are
progressively implementing the Australian
Curriculum which is a national curriculum that
sets out the core knowledge, understanding,
skills and general capabilities important for
all Australian students.
By working together more closely with families,
we know we can provide better support to
families so that every child can grow, learn
and develop, and lead rich fulfilling and
productive lives.
We have a special focus on ensuring our
most vulnerable children and young people
are supported to stay engaged as learners.
“I migrated from India in 2008 and
whilst completing my year 12 research
topic ‘the educational rates of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
students’ I came across many things
about the outcomes for Aboriginal
students that surprised me. The one
clear message that came out of my
research was RECONCILIATION.
If we are to close the gap between
non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal students
we must first reconcile with each other
and understand each individual person
and their culture. My message to all
Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students
is that improvement can be made if
we first begin to understand each
other properly and respect all cultures.
Reconciliation is the key.”
In 2013 Namrata Suthar, a Year 12 student at
Roma Mitchell Secondary College wrote to the
Hon. Jennifer Rankine, Minister for Education
and Child Development, seeking information
about education outcomes for Aboriginal
children and young people.
Reconciliation Action Plan 2014-2015
7
Our RAP
There is a positive role that each and
every DECD employee can play to
contribute toward reconciliation. There
is also a positive role for the Department
in supporting the wider community
to develop their understanding of the
unique role of Aboriginal Australians
in the history of this country and in
contemporary society, and to build
support for reconciliation.
Our RAP builds on the DECD Strategic Plan
The Department for Education and Child
Development is committed to helping improve
the lives of Aboriginal South Australians through
care, education and training. The disparity
in educational and life outcomes currently
experienced by Aboriginal South Australians
is well recognised.
Quality teaching and learning is vital to
This Reconciliation Action Plan focuses on
the steps the department will take over the
next two years to deliver the government’s
policies and programs to better engage with
Aboriginal Australians, and brings together the
key initiatives the department will undertake to
actively support reconciliation as a means of
improving the outcomes of Aboriginal people.
The Department recognises that true
reconciliation will only exist when every
Aboriginal child or young person, and every
Aboriginal employee has the opportunity to
reach their full potential and enjoy the same
opportunities and quality of life that all South
Australians expect.
The RAP aims to help to build trust, effective
relationships and a sense of belonging and
identity for Aboriginal people. It also aims
to foster and express respect for the role of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditional
owners and their cultures.
Reconciliation Action Plan 2014-2015
2012 – 2015 which entails four strategic
directions:
•
Every child achieves their potential
Children and young people are at the
centre of all that we do and we will work
to ensure positive outcomes for all young
South Australians.
•
Excellence in education and care
the success of our young people, and we
recognise the expertise of our professionals
in the field.
•
Connect with communities
High performing schools engage with
families and the wider community to build
local care and education communities
where parents have a say in the education
of their children.
•
A successful and sustainable
organisation
An effective education and care system that
is responsive to the needs of students and
the workforce.
The RAP incorporates the Families SA vision
of a future where children, young people and
families are safe, supported and connected to
the future.
The RAP was developed through consultation
with the South Australian Aboriginal Advisory
Committee through a process determined by the
South Australian Government Chief Executives
Group on Aboriginal Affairs.
9
Relationships
The outcomes for Aboriginal children and young people are greatly improved when
schools, preschools and care settings establish partnerships and connections with
Aboriginal families and communities. There are strong links between the academic
success of Aboriginal children and young people, positive cultural identity and
culturally supportive school environments.
Action
Responsibility
Timeline
Target
Increased emphasis
on positive
communication
between preschools,
schools and
families to celebrate
achievement and
success and build
confidence in
both students and
families.
Office for Children
and Young People
Executive Director
June 2014
Establish Aboriginal Community Voice forums
September
2014, March
2015 &
September 2015
Aboriginal Community Voice forums to be held
at least twice per year
DECD sites plan
a series of events
across the year to
actively support
reconciliation,
with a celebration
of those events
occurring during
Reconciliation
Week.
Office for
Education Schools
and Preschools
Chief Education
Officer
February 2014 &
February 2015
A calendar of reconciliation events is prepared
and communicated to all staff.
May 27 to July 3
2014 & 2015
National Reconciliation Week is celebrated in
DECD schools, preschools and care settings
A DECD RAP
Committee will
be established
Senior Executive
Group
April 2014
The DECD RAP Committee is established with
Terms of Reference developed that identify
connections to key stakeholders, including
the DPC SA Aboriginal Advisory Committee,
the SA Aboriginal Education and Training
Consultative Body and Reconciliation SA.
DECD schools and
early childhood
settings are
encouraged
to develop a
RAP using the
Reconciliation
Australia School
RAP template.
Office for
Education Schools
and Pre schools
Chief Education
Officer
From 27 May
2014 onwards
The RAP outlines the actions and the
respective responsibilities of each party and
the ways in which they will work together to
support reconciliation and to build a culture
of mutual respect, and has been developed
through negotiation with the school community,
the Aboriginal community and the wider
community.
Student,
Aboriginal and
Family Services
Executive Director
DECD RAP
Committee
At least one internal event is held at DECD
offices to celebrate National Reconciliation
Week
School and early childhood RAPs inform
individual site improvement plans and are
published on school websites.
Reconciliation Action Plan 2014-2015
Aboriginal children
and young people,
employees and
communities
are empowered
through the
promotion of their
identity, culture
and leadership in
curriculum delivery
Office for
Education Schools
and Preschools
Chief Education
Officer
Reconciliation
School Activities
and Forums
Office for
Education Schools
and Preschools
Chief Education
Officer
By December
2014 &
December 2015
December 2015
Schools work with Aboriginal communities and
wider school communities to identify ways in
which schools can support, value and promote
Aboriginal cultures, histories and identity,
including the teaching of Aboriginal histories
and language.
DECD contribution to South Australian
Strategic Plan reporting against Target 27 is
completed and information included in the
DECD Annual report
By December
2014 &
December 2015
DECD schools and preschools engage in
activities and forums throughout the year to
promote, progress and celebrate reconciliation
including participation in national Reconciliation
Week activities and the Reconciliation SA
Schools’ Congress.
Reconciliation Action Plan 2014-2015
11
Respect
Strong cultural and linguistic identity, and the active recognition and validation of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and languages underpin
reconciliation.
Action
Responsibility
Timeline
Performance indicator
Aboriginal people
are involved in the
design and delivery
of Aboriginal Cultural
Studies in the
curriculum
Office for Children
and Young
People Student,
Aboriginal and
Family Services
Executive Director
By December
2015
Employment of Aboriginal Culture and
Language Instructors to support Aboriginal
people’s participation in the design and
delivery of the Aboriginal Cultural Studies
R-10 resource.
Embed protocols
regarding Welcome
to Country and
Acknowledgement of
Country across DECD
DECD Senior
Executive Group
June 2014
Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement
of Country protocols provided to all DECD
staff, available on DECD website.
DECD is committed
to a quality public
education system
which supports
Reconciliation,
fosters cultural and
linguistic diversity
and is free of all forms
of racial prejudice,
discrimination
and harassment
Office of Strategy
and Performance
Executive Director
Aboriginal
perspectives are
embedded in
curriculum delivery
throughout the year
Office for
Education
Teaching and
Learning Services
Executive Director
By December
2015
Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement
of Country protocols is practiced by
DECD sites.
By March 2014
June 2014
The DECD Countering Racism Policy and
Guidelines is reviewed to incorporate the
objectives of the National Anti-Racism
Strategy.
A communication strategy to all employees
and school and preschool communities
provides information about the DECD
Countering Racism Policy.
By December
2014 &
December 2015
Sustained, high-quality professional
development for leaders, teachers and
other relevant staff in the implementation
of the Early years learning framework
and Australian Curriculum, with a focus
on respect for the diversity of Aboriginal
histories and cultures, both traditional and
contemporary, in South Australia.
Office for Children
and Young People
Chief Executive
Reconciliation
Awards.
Office of the Chief
Executive
National
Reconciliation
Week 2014 &
2015 (27 May
to 3 June)
The two highest ATAR achieving Aboriginal
students are presented with the CE
Reconciliation awards.
Promotion of the
Australian Institute
of Teaching &
School Leadership
professional
learning units.
Office for
Education
Teaching and
Learning Services
Executive Director
By December
2015
Promote the content for professional
learning units to support teachers in
meeting focus areas 1.4 and 2.4 of the
Australian professional Standards for
teachers, developed by AITSL.
Reconciliation Action Plan 2014-2015
DECD employees are
encouraged to access
targeted cultural
competence training
as identified in the SA
Government’s Cultural
Inclusion Policy.
DECD sites and
employees are
provided the
opportunity to engage
with Aboriginal culture
and communities to
celebrate NAIDOC
Week.
Office for Children
and Young People
Student,
Aboriginal and
Family Services
Executive Director
By December
2014 &
December 2015
Education providers participating in
professional learning to teachers to
ensure high levels of cultural and linguistic
understanding and competencies to inform
curriculum delivery.
Principals and teachers undertake
professional development in Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander education including
culture and language training.
June 2014 &
June 2015
NAIDOC Week activities are promoted to
DECD employees and sites
NAIDOC Week
2014 (6 – 13
July) & 2015
(5 -12 July)
Aboriginal employees of DECD are able to
attend NAIDOC Week activities
Reconciliation Action Plan 2014-2015
13
Opportunities
By providing employment opportunities and pathways for Aboriginal people, DECD
can develop a greater understanding of Aboriginal peoples and cultures whilst
building the diversity of our workforce
Action
Responsibility
Timeline
Measurement
Attract, retain and
support the career
aspirations of Aboriginal
employees to make
progress towards
achieving at least 2%
representation across
all classifications,
consistent with Target
53 of South Australia’s
Strategic Plan.
Office for
Resources,
Operations and
Assurance –
Human Resources
and Workforce
Development
Executive Director
By December
2014 &
December 2015
The SA Strategic Plan Target 53 of 2%
representation across all classifications
is achieved by DECD.
Providing personalised
support, quality
career advice and role
modeling for Aboriginal
young people to
promote the full range of
career pathways in the
department
Office for
Resources,
Operations and
Assurance –
Human Resources
and Workforce
Development
Executive Director
By December
2014 &
December 2015
DECD teaching scholarships, traineeships
and career pathways are promoted to
Aboriginal secondary students and their
families, and to Aboriginal undergraduates
and TAFE students considering a career
in education and result in Aboriginal
young people entering education, training
and employment opportunities in DECD.
Support the career
aspirations of Aboriginal
community education
officers and Aboriginal
early childhood workers,
school services officers
and Public Sector Act
employees.
Office for
Resources,
Operations and
Assurance –
Human Resources
and Workforce
Development
Executive Director
By December
2014 &
December 2015
Existing Aboriginal employees are
encouraged and supported to access
pathways to undertake higher education
or vocational studies to support their
career aspirations.
Facilitate access to
leadership opportunities
for Aboriginal
employees, including
the provision of and two
leadership scholarships
annually to release
Aboriginal teachers to
work with outstanding
leaders in preschools
and schools.
Office of
Resources,
Operations and
Assurance –
Human Resources
and Workforce
Development
Executive Director
By December
2014 &
December 2015
Information is provided to Aboriginal
employees about access to promotional
opportunities through the leadership
register.
Reconciliation Action Plan 2014-2015
By December
2014 &
December 2015
June 2014 &
June 2015
Aboriginal community education officers
progress through classification levels.
Aboriginal employees are employed
across all classification levels as reported
in the Workforce summary profile
provided annually to the DECD Aboriginal
Employment Reference Group.
Recognising and
celebrating the
achievements of
Aboriginal employees.
Office of
Resources,
Operations
and Assurance
Human Resources
and Workforce
Development
Executive Director
By December
2014 &
December 2015
DECD award ceremonies and forums
occur at the state and local level
to acknowledge and celebrate the
achievement of Aboriginal employees
selected to scholarship and leadership
initiatives, and on completion of training
programs and traineeships.
Work through the
Senior Officers
Group on Aboriginal
Affairs and the Chief
Executives Group on
Aboriginal Affairs to
develop a government
procurement policy that
increases opportunities
for Aboriginal
businesses.
Office of
Resources,
Operations and
Assurance
Chief Operating
Officer
By June 2014
Pending development, an agency specific
implementation plan is developed to
support policy implementation.
By December
2015
June 2014
DECD works with Industry to partner with
Aboriginal owned businesses in tendering
and sub-contracting arrangements in
order to build capacity.
An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
supplier list is developed and promoted
through DECD.
Reconciliation Action Plan 2014-2015
15
Tracking progress and reporting
The monitoring of progress against actions identified in this RAP will be the
responsibility of the DECD RAP Committee. Outcomes of the DECD 2014 – 2015
Reconciliation Action Plan will be reported in the DECD Annual Report.
Action​
​
Responsibility
Timeline
Measurement
The DECD RAP
committee monitors
the progress of the
RAP actions.
DECD Senior
Executive
Quarterly 2014
& 2015
The DECD RAP committee meets
regularly to monitor progress and
reporting requirements.
Report achievements,
challenges and
learnings to
Reconciliation
Australia for inclusion
in the Annual Impact
Measurement Report.
Office for Strategy
and Performance
Executive Director
December 2014
& December
2015
Complete and submit the RAP Impact
Measurement Questionnaire to
Reconciliation Australia annually.
The implementation and
progress of the RAP is
published on the DECD
website.
Office for Strategy
and Performance
Executive Director
January 2015 &
January 2016
RAP progress and achievement is
reported in the DECD Annual Report.
The DECD RAP will be
refreshed.
Senior Executive
Group
RAP progress and achievement
is reported to the South Australian
Aboriginal Education and Training
Consultative Body.
Reconciliation Action Plan 2014-2015
By December
2015
Outcomes and key learning from the RAP
are reviewed and provide direction to
future RAP development.