Reconciliation Awards celebrate unique partnerships and influential initiatives

Outstanding initiatives driving reconciliation have been recognised in the 2021 Queensland Reconciliation Awards presented tonight in Townsville.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said all winners and finalists had demonstrated reconciliation in action.

“This year, the Queensland Reconciliation Awards have honoured initiatives which have enhanced cultural awareness and understanding and improved the experiences of First Nations people at school, at work and in the community,” the Premier said.

“The winners of the Premier’s Reconciliation Award and joint winners in the Partnership category, the Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation and Rainforest 4 Foundation have formed a unique partnership – the only formalised, non-Government program which purchases land for conservation to be owned and managed by its Traditional Owners.

“Joint winners in the Business category, North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation and Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union have engaged in proactive programs and strategies to create more supportive, respectful workplaces. 

“COOEE Indigenous Family and Community Education Centre has been recognised in the Community category for their work sharing the insights of Elders to address inequality and cultural competency in the Redlands and Greater Brisbane.

“I thank all of this year’s winners and finalists for their contributions to foster a more culturally aware, connected and respectful state.”

Representing the Premier at the awards ceremony, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Craig Crawford congratulated Ronald McDonald House Charities North Australia as the inaugural winner in the Health and Wellbeing category.

“An Australia-wide not-for-profit organisation, Ronald McDonald House Charities provides practical care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in the north of the State,” Mr Crawford said.

“Since the opening of the Townsville Ronald McDonald House in 2004, they have provided over 16,500 nightly stays to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander families.

“And they’ve supported Closing the Gap education initiatives with their Learning Program helping children with serious illness catch up on missed school with the provision of one-on-one tutoring.

“All initiatives which support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to thrive support the Queensland Government’s reframed relationship with First Nations Queenslanders, including progressing a Path to Treaty.

“These actions are important steps in reconciliation to create a better and healthier future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”

Queensland Reconciliation Awards Ambassador Johnathan Thurston said education initiatives – including 2021 Education winner Gracemere State School’s Indigenous language program – were making a lasting difference in the lives of young Queenslanders.

“I have seen the incredible effect that educating school children about First Nations people and culture has on their level of engagement at school and their self-esteem,” Mr Thurston said.

“At Gracemere State School, they’ve developed and delivered a Darumbal language and Aboriginal cultural program that is creating new connections, and a greater sense of belonging for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

“I’m proud to be a part of an Awards program that acknowledges the important work of advancing reconciliation, particularly for young Queenslanders.” 

ENDS

Media contact:  Chris O’Brien 0419 774 004

Premier’s Reconciliation Award

Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation and Rainforest 4 Foundation

Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation and Rainforest 4 Foundation share values of protecting the Daintree’s globally significant conservation and cultural values while reconnecting people with Country. The two organisations have formed a unique partnership which sees collaborative efforts to identify Daintree properties, originally sub-divided in the 1980s, with high cultural and conservation values. Rainforest 4 Foundation activates its supporter base to raise funds to purchase the properties. Once the blocks are purchased, the title is transferred to Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation which determines the best course of action in terms of reconnecting people with Country and allowing the land to heal. Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation also works to have the land added to the Daintree National Park.

Business

JOINT WINNER North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation for North Queensland Bulk Ports Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2020–22

In February 2019, North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation started preparing its first Reconciliation Action Plan, to recognise long-term relationships with the Traditional Owners of its ports and existing reconciliation actions which were already being implemented, while providing targets to broaden NQBP’s reconciliation influence.

The key driver was to formalise NQBP’s engagement with Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples into positive and measurable actions, with higher levels of trust and cultural pride.

NQBP implemented several actions to achieve reconciliation including cultural competency training for staff, increasing employment of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples from 2.4 per cent to 3.1 per cent, raising procurement spend on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses from 1.63 per cent to 2.67 per cent and naming a new port road in the Yuwei language.

JOINT WINNER Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union for Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union First Nations Branch

Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union identified concern for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses and midwives experiencing racism –overt, covert and institutional. QNMU also identified it was not adequately equipped at the time to support members experiencing racism.

QNMU established the First Nations Reference Group in 2018, to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses and midwives to improve services. It was recognised that for this relationship to grow and become a true partnership, the FNRG would need to be embedded in the QNMU democratic process. As such, the FNRG transitioned to the First Nations Branch in 2020 and monthly meetings for the new branch commenced in January 2021.

In collaboration with the FNRG, QNMU created a senior level First Nations Strategy, Policy and Research Officer role, which commenced in September 2020. One of the priorities is to grow the First Nations Branch membership and strengthen the First Nations’ voice at QNMU council, as well as consult with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members regarding QNMU business.

Community

COOEE Indigenous Family and Community Education Centre for COOEE Elders

COOEE Indigenous Family and Community Education Centre, also referred to as COOEE Elders, provides support services, educational programs and a meeting place. The centre provides a holistic wrap‑around service to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and families in an authentic and safe cultural space. COOEE has the capacity to build and enhance community-wide resilience and understanding of social, systemic and historical barriers to equality through cultural engagement of both Indigenous and non‑Indigenous communities.

COOEE seeks to identify and address social issues that impact on the education, socialisation and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth and families, developing processes and programs to address these issues through strategically aligned partnerships.

COOEE regularly brings together agencies that provide specialist and family support programs, including government and non-government agencies, representatives from local schools and community organisations.

Education

Gracemere State School for Gracemere State School Watch this Space – Darumbal Wadya is HERE!

Gracemere State School has been working with the wider community to create an inclusive educational culture including developing and delivering a Darumbal language and Aboriginal cultural program, aligned to the Australian curriculum.

In mid-2019, GSS met with Darumbal Enterprises, Elders, the P&C Association and wider community members to explore the idea of teaching Darumbal language in the school due to the disconnections and disengagement seen in students. GSS wanted to bridge the educational divide by making the school culturally familiar and appropriate for their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, by embedding Aboriginal heritage and culture, while creating a sense of connection and belonging to the school.

This initiative has allowed the reconciliation process to advance within the GSS community, with all school staff participating in the program to broaden their knowledge and support their learning journey. The program helps all students to recognise themselves, their culture and their identity within the curriculum, allowing for full participation in classes and to assist with building re-engagement and self-esteem.

Health and Wellbeing

Ronald McDonald House Charities North Australia for Closing the Gap and cultural inclusion at Ronald McDonald House Charities North Australia

Ronald McDonald House Charities North Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that supports seriously ill children and their families through practical care programs. As many as 75 per cent of families who use the care programs are from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background. Within the region, many First Nations residents live in extremely remote areas, facing additional hardships in accessing health screening and treatment. Distance to services and associated costs, and cultural fear of medical conditions and treatments are common barriers to accessing services. Ronald McDonald House Charities is working to Close the Gap by improving access to health services for early detection and treatment of health conditions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families across its programs.

Separate from its practical care programs that work to Close the Gap, the organisation’s Cultural Inclusion Program encompasses a governance structure, cultural comfort practices and awareness-building activities. In 2012, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group was established, working collaboratively to promote the understanding and respect of the different backgrounds, ensuring everyone feels culturally safe, included and welcome.

In 2019, the Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan was developed. An innovative family welcome video, promoting cultural diversity and ensuring an efficient admission process that further eases families’ stress during an already difficult time was also developed.

Partnership

JOINT WINNER The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (Qld), Northern Peninsula Area Justice Services Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation (NPA Community Justice Group) and Queensland Police Service (Bamaga Station) for Northern Peninsula Area Licensing Muster Initiative

The Northern Peninsula Area Licensing Muster Initiative is a justice reinvestment strategy that has been providing cross-agency, holistic, evidence-based, proactive and culturally safe support to the five communities of the NPA around licensing, registration and identity documents since 2019.

The initiative aims to reduce unnecessary contact that Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience with the criminal justice system related to driving and vehicle related offending. Such contact often leads to offenders being sent to correctional facilities located thousands of kilometres away from their community.

The initiative arose through prolonged observation of the high numbers of community members facing court action and punishment for non-violent driving-related offences, as well as social and economic exclusion. It appeared that many community members lacked sufficient or consistent primary identity documentation, immediately precluding them from accessing the services and opportunities many Australians take for granted.

JOINT WINNER Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation and Rainforest 4 Foundation

Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation and Rainforest 4 Foundation share values of protecting the Daintree’s globally significant conservation and cultural values while reconnecting people with Country. The two organisations have formed a unique partnership which sees collaborative efforts to identify Daintree properties, originally sub-divided in the 1980s, with high cultural and conservation values. Rainforest 4 Foundation activates its supporter base to raise funds to purchase the properties. Once the blocks are purchased, the title is transferred to Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation which determines the best course of action in terms of reconnecting people with Country and allowing the land to heal. Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation also works to have the land added to the Daintree National Park.

Both organisations have sought out this partnership based on mutual values focussed on self-determination for custodians of Country, protecting cultural, biodiversity and conservation values of Country and working collaboratively to understand issues and develop solutions. As an Aboriginal land holding entity with 75 per cent Indigenous staff, Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation manages the process of returning land back to Eastern Kuku Yalanji people and protecting it in perpetuity as part of the Daintree National Park.

The partnership is the only formalised non-government program in Australia that purchases land for conservation to be owned and managed by its Traditional Owners. Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation provides cultural expertise, ranger experience and staff to steer the project, and Rainforest 4 Foundation provides expertise in fundraising and advocacy for rainforests.