The Reconciliation Action Plan is grounded in the the rich histories, challenges, hopes, struggles and strengths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The Centre for Women & Co. will journey with our community to co-create a new storyline. We will cultivate new values, behaviours, perspectives, connections and ways of being as a non-Indigenous agency. From now until 2023, the plan will have a new theme interconnected with and bloomed from the previous year's growth.

In the ‘Wisdom Phase’ (2021), our team will broaden personal insight into our own values, behaviours and attitudes.

The ‘Dreaming & Achieving Phase' (2022) will be a time of listening and learning about the lived experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from within the local and broader community.

The ‘Connection Phase' (2023) will be a time of building genuine friendships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, community members and institutions.

Our Original RAP Artwork

Delvene Cockatoo-Collins is a Quandamooka woman and artist who lives and works on Minjerribah - North Stradbroke Island, operating her business ‘Minjerribah Art Studio and Cottage’. Delvene's art encompasses themes of her family's lived experiences on Minjerribah, her responses to images and texts related to her family, the relationship to her great-great grandmother and she sources local clays and pigments from across Quandamooka.

When we initially connected with Delvene about the possibility of the RAP artwork, she spoke about the workshops holding a space where the team could connect around some of the things we spoke about during the design jams. Delvene emphasised how this kind of creative space can be a space for healing and connection and how enabling the team to be part of the process around the composition of the piece can promote connection to the final piece and Reconciliation Action Plan going forward.

Over a relaxed morning, sitting on beanbags and listening to music, Delvene guided us in using raffia strands to twine and weave pieces to contribute to part of the final artwork. Being in a focused, purposeful space, allowed us to take the time to explore and reflect on our approach, with Delvene’s guidance.

"PART OF THE FACILITATION OF THIS WORKSHOP IS FOR STAFF TO TALK THROUGH THEIR PLAN. IT'S ALMOST AS IF THE CONVERSATIONS REMAIN WOVEN AND EMBEDDED IN THE ARTWORK." - Delvene Cockatoo-Collins

Delvene then collected the individual raffia weavings. Within a few days Delvene had incorporated our individual weavings into the artwork. The three clusters of weavings represent our Logan, Beenleigh and Redlands locations. This reflects the constant and everlasting connection between our team, community and country. We may all look, feel and be different, however, we are all inevitably interconnected across the land on which we live and work. We are united on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land to make a positive impact in our community everyday.

On March 11th 2021, we held our Reconciliation Action Plan launch event.

Catering was supplied by Birrunga Gallery and Dining - an Indigenous owned and operated cultural hub in Meanjin (Brisbane). Guests enjoyed a delicious morning tea while reading through the RAP document, listening to team members tell their stories and chat about the journey ahead.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Women and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Shannon Fentiman spoke via video correspondence at the launch. “I’m incredibly proud that you are launching your Reconciliation Action Plan. It will help both organisations come together and it will make sure that we really do have that crucial step in understanding the diverse and rich cultures of our First Nation’s people and create a new storyline together.”