Current RAP report

Current RAP Report

• Summary and key learnings
• Highlights
• Case study one: Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy
• Case study two: Caring for dogs, community and country
• Relationships
• Respect
• Opportunities
• Tracking and reporting

Summary and key learnings

The focus of the department’s 2009–10 Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) was on developing good relationships, respecting the special contribution of Indigenous Australians, and working together to ensure Indigenous people have the same life opportunities as others in the community.

During the reporting period, the department set itself a total of 22 targets across five key action areas. Out of these targets the department was on track to achieving seven and has completed 15, four of which exceeded expectations in terms of the targets set.

• The department has made solid progress in its efforts to build and maintain positive relationships with Indigenous employees, stakeholders and organisations. However, more can be achieved by building internal relationships within the department itself, so that successful teams can share their expertise and contacts with their colleagues from other areas of the department.
• The department is continuing its work to improve the recruitment, retention and development of Indigenous employees, which includes using the Australian Public Service Commission’s Pathways Program to provide Indigenous Australians with the opportunity to commence a career in the government.
• In some regions, the department is already a significant employer of Indigenous Australians: the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) for example, which forms a large part of the department, is the biggest Australian Government employer of Indigenous people in far north Queensland.
• The department could benefit from more internal communications to tell employees about the achievements and celebrations of Indigenous Australians, and about the achievements of its own Indigenous employees in particular.

The department’s progress against the targets it set in its 2009–10 Reconciliation Action Plan – under the key themes of relationships, respect and opportunities – is considered over the following pages.

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