Our Reconciliation Action Plan
The Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) program was developed with Reconciliation Australia and provides a framework for organisations such as Mercy Community to support the national Reconciliation movement.
This is our first RAP—our Innovate RAP. It includes practical actions for us to take so that we may continue to build respectful relationships and create meaningful opportunities with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. These actions align with our Mercy Community values of acceptance, excellence, dignity, empowerment, integrity and mercy.
We acknowledge and greatly appreciate the contributions, leadership and mentoring of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander colleagues and stakeholders in the development of this living document.
Our actions in support of Reconciliation include:
- providing a culturally sensitive and safe place to work for our First Nations people and communities;
- building the cultural competency of all staff and carers;
- collaborating closely with members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to improve service delivery and partnerships with the broader sector; and more.
View Mercy Community’s full Innovate RAP document here:
Our vision for Reconciliation
Our vision for Reconciliation is for a world that embraces the diversity of Australia and has a deep respect for Traditional Custodians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.
"As we journey together with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and community, we hear but rather listen, we look but rather see, we talk but rather yarn."
Harry Pitt is the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Lead here at Mercy Community. His lineage is from the Torres Strait Islands; Harry’s mother is from Erub, his father is from Mer and his totems are the Beizam (Shark) and Nam (turtle). Harry has built his knowledge and experience from a variety of roles across remote, rural and urban settings.
Our work in action
Read about Christina*, her escape from domestic violence and how our Family and Child Connect services played a role.
This story is about Adam*, a young participant in our Kinnected Program. Read more about his reconnection with kin.
The Exceptionally Complex Support Needs Program support the disability sector. Our webinar looks at cultural considerations in the NDIS space.
For this, our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), we commissioned original artwork from local artist Shara Delaney—descendant of the Noonuccal, Ngugi and Goenpul clan groups of Quandamooka that is located on the east coast of Brisbane. In the spirit of reconciliation, we commence the journey through our commissioned work with both an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation.
