Message from the Secretary
In Reconciliation Week 2007 I launched the first Reconciliation Action Plan of the then Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA).
This plan placed on the public record our strong commitment and actions to progress reconciliation. It covered 29 items that highlighted key activities and initiatives for the coming year across the Department in the areas of whole of government leadership; programs and services; managing client and stakeholder relationships and internal organisational processes.
Now 12 months on, I am pleased to be able to report on the progress of each of these items.
The great majority of the performance indicators have been met and have assisted in promoting reconciliation across the Department. Our achievements reflect our role as the lead agency for Indigenous Affairs and our strong commitment to working with other departments to overcome Indigenous disadvantage.
A number of important reforms have been implemented in areas of Indigenous housing, early childhood services, leadership, substance abuse and the prevention of violence and child abuse.
At the organisational level, the department successfully implemented initiatives such as the 'Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Recruitment and Retention Strategy 2006-2009' (action 23) and an expansion of the Indigenous leadership development workshops (action 25).
As a next step, the Department will be developing a new, revised plan that builds on our achievements, reflects recent machinery of government changes and considers lessons learned from the development of the 2007-08 plan. This new plan will set the agenda for building our Department's contribution to and promotion of reconciliation in 2008-09 and beyond.
Dr Jeff Harmer
Secretary
27 May 2008