Economic outcomes a key focus of City’s new Reconciliation Action Plan

The City’s Reconciliation Action Plan 2026-2028 (RAP) was endorsed by Council last week, after an extensive community engagement process that started over a year ago.

Dandjoo Wangkiny (Together Talking) was an engagement initiative that ran from August to October 2024, involving approximately 500 stakeholders across 21 activities.

The themes that emerged from Dandjoo Wangkiny shaped the direction of the RAP, from supporting employment opportunities to the importance of truth-telling.

The plan was developed by the City’s RAP Working Group, which includes senior Aboriginal leaders such as Nyoongar Elder Oriel Green OAM and emerging leaders such as Nyoongar/Yamatji man Preston Culbong.

It contains a set of actions and deliverables based around Reconciliation Australia’s core areas of relationships, respect, opportunities and governance.

A strategic shift in the development of the new RAP has led to a more focused plan than in previous years, allowing the City to dedicate more time and energy to achieving high-impact outcomes.

“We have come a long way since we started this RAP journey over a decade ago – and now we want to take even bigger strides,” City of Stirling Mayor Mark Irwin said.

“Sharing and celebrating Aboriginal cultures will continue to be part of our day-to-day operations as a local government, but we want to go beyond that as well.

“A key focus of this RAP is improving economic outcomes for Aboriginal people through employment, professional development and procurement.”

Two City projects completed in recent months are prime examples of what can be achieved through the RAP framework.

In Mirrabooka, Nyoongar-owned Kardan Construction recently completed an upgrade of the Mirrabooka Town Square, which features artwork by local Nyoongar/Yamatji artist Emily Rose.

During the construction phase, Kardan employees engaged with local Aboriginal people experiencing unemployment and homelessness, involving them in the project and giving them a sense of pride in the result.

Two of those locals are now employed by Kardan and working on the Fraser Suites affordable housing project in East Perth.

In the City’s recently upgraded Administration Centre forecourt, a new yarning circle takes pride of place as a prominent symbol of the City’s commitment to reconciliation and pride in its Wadjak Nyoongar heritage.

Created in collaboration with fabricator Jahne Rees of Scape-ism, the yarning circle features works by Nyoongar artists Peter Farmer Snr, Kylie Graham and the late Meeyakba Shane Pickett (1957-2010).

Titled Koora, Yeyi, Boordawan Bidi (Past, Present, Future Path), it encourages people to gather around a central firestone element, inviting connection, reflection and the sharing of knowledge.

Nyoongar/Yamatji man Preston Culbong said he was looking forward to working with the City and his fellow RAP Working Group members to turn the plan into action over the next two years.

“It’s been incredible to be part of this RAP journey with the City of Stirling,” Mr Culbong said.

“We’ve got some great Councillors now and the Mayor himself who really wants to support this journey with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the City.

“I feel like we have the right people in place to get some tangible and measurable outcomes out of this RAP.

“But producing the plan and getting it endorsed by Councillors is the easy part – now the real work starts.”