Reconciliation Action Plan

The journey to reconciliation.

Our vision for reconciliation.

Creating socially and culturally safe relationships

All people standing together.

Our vision for reconciliation is all people standing together to create socially just and culturally safe relationships with, and opportunities for, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

As an organisation we acknowledge the great suffering caused to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by colonisation and discrimination, and we acknowledge those impacts are ongoing.

Guided by Reconciliation Australia’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) framework, we are taking a strategic approach to advancing reconciliation in our organisation. 

On 3 March 2021, we launched our second RAP.  This Innovate RAP continues the journeys started by our founding organisations, our first Reflect RAP and represents a major step for us on our journey towards working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in culturally safe ways consistently across our organisation. 

Our Innovate RAP encourages us to deliver services and other support which respect the cultural rights, values and expectations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their communities, and identify opportunities to sustainably embed reconciliation right across Uniting. 

Our Innovate RAP reflects the many contributions made by RAP Working Group members and other Uniting staff during its development. We thank everyone for their contribution and acknowledge particularly the guidance and support provided by the Aboriginal members of the RAP Working Group.

Meaning of 'Over Waters' artwork.

A healing journey of recovery and reconciliation by Cassie Leatham of the Taungurung/Wurundjeri people from the Kulin Nation.

‘Over Waters’ represents the path that all should be taking, the path of reconciliation The waters depicted within this artwork, represent the currents taking us on a journey of self-cleansing, washing away the past hurt. The pebbles and stones are the stepping stones that allow Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to walk the path of reconciliation, side by side. The stars represent our ancestors who guide us, in darkness or light, through life’s obstacles, which are depicted by the pointed mountains. The ancestor symbol illustrates Uniting’s work to strive for a brighter future for all.

Curved lines: Women

Child’s hand: The future

Roads in the curved mountains: The journey to recovery and moving forward

Straight lines: Men

Pebbles and stones: Path to reconciliation

Waters: The waters connecting Victoria and Tasmania

Hands holding message sticks: Communicating the way of the ‘old people’

Pointed mountains: The obstacles we must overcome in life

Stars: The ancestors, representing Uniting’s work to build a better future for all

Plants: New growth

Hear the real story

Our statement on January 26.

January 26 is not a day of celebration for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. It is a reminder of the lasting impacts of colonisation and dispossession and for many, a day of grief and mourning.

Communities for Children Hume

Possum skin tells the story of strengthened tradition, cultural identity, and spiritual healing in Aboriginal communities.
National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year (Sunday through to Sunday) to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Advocacy in action

Uniting Vic.Tas stands in solidarity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in recognising the injustices, dispossession and trauma that began 234 years ago on 26 January 1788. We recognise the continued impacts of colonisation through dispossession of land and disconnection from family, culture, and Country. These include removal of children and …

Welcoming all communities

We work in solidarity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as Australia’s First Peoples and as the traditional owners and custodians of this land. We celebrate diversity and value the lived experience of people of every faith, ethnicity, age, disability, culture, language, gender identity, sex and sexual orientation. We welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender diverse and non-binary, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) people at our services. We pledge to provide inclusive and non-discriminatory services.

The work we do is all about giving people the support they need to live happy and meaningful lives. We are committed to being people-focused and rights-based.

We have worked alongside local communities across both states for over 100 years.