Abor1370 essay

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The University of Newcastle *

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1370

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Law

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Apr 3, 2024

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docx

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6

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1 Reconciliation is about creating a relationship built upon unity and respect between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and non-Indigenous Australians; it represents the beginning of healing for these cultures that experienced systemic and institutionalized disadvantage for many years and who still, to this day, continue to experience inequity, inequality, and lesser opportunities (Short, 2003). Multi-sectorial and multi-systemic interventions are pivotal in reconciling the social, emotional, environmental, and health disadvantages experienced by Aboriginal communities. It is because of these inequalities and injustices that Reconciliation Australia was established. Reconciliation, at its core, is about learning from the mistakes of the past to create healthy relationships between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples based on the foundation of respect. Reconciliation is founded on five interrelated dimensions: race relations, equality and equity, institutional integrity, unity, and historical acceptance (Short, 2003). These dimensions do not exist in isolation; instead, they are interconnected and highlight the multifaceted nature of the complex concept of reconciliation and set out appropriate forms of action that need to be implemented into Australian justice, education, and social systems ("What is reconciliation? - Reconciliation Australia", 2022) (Lee, 2015). Only once this is achieved can a complete understanding of reconciliation be understood, and the empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is seen. To truly achieve a unified and equal Australia, it is fundamental that Australian organizations engage and support the reconciliation process and take active steps in implementing the five dimensions of reconciliation into their organization. Because of this, Reconciliation Action Plans (RAP) were founded under the national body of Reconciliation Australia in 2001 (Lee, 2015). While reconciliation is a complex concept and does not consist of one solution to disadvantage, RAPs provide a framework for Australian organizations to document, govern, and publicly commit to actions that facilitate reconciliation (Lee, 2015).
2 There are four types of RAPs; Reflect, Innovate, Stretch, Elevate; they are the essential elements needed to build respectful relationships based on equal opportunity. Australian Centre for Disability Law (ACDL) developed its RAP through a consultative process to promote reconciliation by advocating for equitable treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. ACDL is a community legal Centre dedicated to promoting and protecting the fundamental freedoms and human and legal rights of people who have faced discrimination because of disability, hoping to create a world free of discrimination where people with disabilities can live with dignity. The ACDL works to gain recognition for these rights by removing barriers, eliminating discrimination, empowering those with disabilities, and increasing access to legal representation ("About Us - Australian Centre for Disability Law", 2022). The ACDL accomplishes this by providing free legal advice, education, representation, and specialist legal assistance to those with disability discrimination cases who cannot advocate for themselves. The RAP that ACDL has employed into their organization falls under ‘Reflect’; this specific RAP lasts one year and focuses heavily on strengthening engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities while working together to create a unique vision of reconciliation to ACDL. The RAP implemented within this organization is designed to address the underrepresentation of legal services, employment, and volunteer opportunities at ACDL. It is a commitment to achieve justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples so that they are free to live in a world without discrimination in all its forms. ACDL is committed to realizing this vision of reconciliation by advocating for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s legal rights and providing them with educational work and employment opportunities ("About Us - Australian Centre for Disability Law", 2022). This RAP design is suitable for ACDL as they have a preexisting and longstanding relationship with the First Peoples Disability Network (FPDN), which was established to create a project that builds the capabilities of First people with disability in
3 asserting and advocating for their rights. ACDLs RAP is effective in integrating the five dimensions discussed previously and is broken down into four comprehensive sections that go into greater detail regarding the steps they need to take towards reconciliation. However, the overarching theme is to realize a vision of reconciliation by advocating for equitable treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through legal advocacy ("About Us - Australian Centre for Disability Law", 2022). For an organization to have an influential RAP, the programme needs to implement protocols that help the organization target change within their spheres of influence to address social determinants that contribute to the cultural disadvantages experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. RAPs promote commitment to actions under three core pillars: relationships, respect, and opportunity (Lee, 2015). The broader five-dimension framework is built around these core pillars and can be used to assess the effectiveness of an organizations RAP. ACDLs RAP is divided into four sections, each of which comprehensively discusses how they intend to incorporate the three core pillars into the practical application of their RAP. Section one of ACDLs RAP focuses on the core pillar of relationships, founded on establishing mutually beneficial relationships within the organization and broader community. ACDLs RAP discusses its plan to build and strengthen its relationships with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait community via many pathways including, encouraging staff to participate in activities that celebrate and recognize National Reconciliation Week, collaborating with other like-minded organizations, and promoting key events that are significant to the Aboriginal community through social media (2022). The second pillar of respect is addressed through commitments in ACDL RAP that document their plans to increase understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, history, and knowledge. ACDL recognizes that respect is essential to reconciliation and hope to achieve this through employing mandatory Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural
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