ABS Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) December 2023 – December 2025

The Australian Bureau of Statistics acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country throughout Australia where we work, learn and live. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to their cultures and Elders, past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

An Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) outlines actions for achieving the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) vision for reconciliation, enables the ABS to gain a deeper understanding of our sphere of influence, and to develop, test and establish the best approach to advance reconciliation in the ABS.

An Innovate RAP focuses on developing and strengthening relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, engaging staff and stakeholders in reconciliation, and developing and piloting innovative strategies to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

An Innovate RAP is a public commitment published on Reconciliation Australia’s website.

I am pleased to present our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2023-2025 that continues our commitment to reconciliation by recognising, acknowledging and respecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures, histories and knowledge.

This Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) is a key element of our Inclusion and Diversity Strategy 2022-2026 which supports the ABS’ purpose to inform Australia’s important decisions by delivering relevant, trusted and objective data, statistics and insights.

As Australia’s national statistical agency, the ABS is in a unique position to support reconciliation in Australia through its statistical programs. ABS statistical outputs contribute to Australia’s understanding of progress against the Closing the Gap Priority Reforms which are critical in changing the way governments work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities. The ABS also provides leadership on the provision and championing of accurate data which contributes to Australia’s understanding of population, social, economic, and health needs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.

This RAP builds on the successes and lessons learnt from our previous RAPs and incorporates insights and feedback from the staff consultation process. This RAP focuses on new ideas and ways of thinking and doing, strengthening current initiatives, embedding reconciliation in day-to-day business, enhancing communication of our RAP and building staff capability, understanding and awareness in engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and business in a culturally safe way.

The development of the RAP has been a team effort, and I want to thank the ABS RAP Working Group, Inclusion and Diversity Team, Champions and Executive Sponsor and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff who have helped shape the RAP into a practical and meaningful document that outlines and shapes the ABS’ commitment to reconciliation.

We all have a role to play in reconciliation and I encourage everyone to read and reflect on the RAP and ask themselves – ‘how can I contribute to reconciliation and achieving the actions of the Reconciliation Action Plan’.

Thank you for your attention.

Dr David Gruen, AO
Australian Statistician
Champion of Change

As the ABS Reconciliation Champions and Executive Sponsor, we are pleased to join the Australian Statistician in presenting the Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). This RAP underpins our commitment and action towards reconciliation within the ABS and the wider community. We are committed to working closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, particularly the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employee network (Yakeen Network), to cultivate strong and productive relationships, increasing and retaining Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation in the ABS, and more broadly across the Australian Public Service (APS). We look forward to promoting, supporting and advocating on behalf of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff as we continue to raise and foster cultural awareness, understanding and safety.

We encourage all ABS staff to read the Reconciliation Action Plan and look for ways they can help ABS achieve its goals.

Reconciliation Champions:

Sybille McKeown, Program Manager, Social Characteristics and Place Branch

Marcel van Kints, General Manager, Statistical Production and Digital Services Division

Executive Sponsor:                     

Teresa Dickinson, Deputy Australian Statistician

Since 2006, Reconciliation Action Plans (RAP) have provided a framework for organisations to leverage their structures and diverse spheres of influence to support the national reconciliation movement.

With over 2.3 million people now either working or studying in an organisation with a RAP, the program’s potential for impact is greater than ever. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) continues to be part of a strong network of more than 1,100 corporate, government, and not-for-profit organisations that have taken goodwill and transformed it into action.

The four RAP types - Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate - allow RAP partners to continuously strengthen reconciliation commitments and constantly strive to apply learnings in new ways.

An Innovate RAP is a crucial and rewarding period in an organisation’s reconciliation journey. It is a time to build the strong foundations and relationships that ensure sustainable, thoughtful, and impactful RAP outcomes into the future.

An integral part of building these foundations is reflecting on and cataloguing the successes and challenges of previous RAPs. Learnings gained through effort and innovation are invaluable resources that the ABS will continuously draw upon to create RAP commitments rooted in experience and maturity.

These learnings extend to the ABS using the lens of reconciliation to better understand its core business, sphere of influence, and diverse community of staff and stakeholders.

The RAP program’s emphasis on relationships, respect, and opportunities gives organisations a framework from which to foster connections with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples rooted in mutual collaboration and trust.

This Innovate RAP is an opportunity for the ABS to strengthen these relationships, gain crucial experience, and nurture connections that will become the lifeblood of its future RAP commitments. By enabling and empowering staff to contribute to this process, the ABS will ensure shared and cooperative success in the long-term.

Gaining experience and reflecting on pertinent learnings will ensure the sustainability of the ABS’s future RAPs and reconciliation initiatives, providing meaningful impact toward Australia’s reconciliation journey.

Congratulations ABS on your Innovate RAP and I look forward to following your ongoing reconciliation journey.

Karen Mundine

Chief Executive Officer

Reconciliation Australia

The ABS recognises and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians.

Our vision for reconciliation is to be a culturally inclusive and safe organisation whose services and products elevate and reflect the voices, lived experiences, and needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities, with equitable access to our surveys and statistics as well as employment opportunities and provisions within the ABS.

To do this, we aim to ensure effective representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the ABS workforce and provide positive and culturally responsible data collection experiences for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples designed to contribute to understanding and improving economic, health and social opportunities.

The ABS values building an inclusive and diverse culture to enrich and improve business outcomes and where everyone can contribute fully. We recognise that a workforce that reflects the Australian population leads to better decision making, innovation and employee wellbeing.

The ABS is Australia’s national statistical agency and provides official statistics on a wide range of economic, social, population and environmental matters. Our purpose is to inform Australia’s important decisions by delivering relevant, trusted, objective data, statistics and insights.

The ABS provides national leadership for the APS and society on the provision and championing of accurate data to contribute to nationwide understandings of population and social economic and health needs including for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The ABS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement Strategy is making a positive contribution to our strategic commitments to inclusion, increased participation, improved cultural security and the quality and relevance of data.

As of 30 September 2023, the ABS employed approximately 3,180 ongoing and non-ongoing staff, this does not include staff on temporary inward transfers. Of this, 38 staff identified as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, representing approximately 1.2% of our total staff profile. Initiatives aligned with the Commonwealth Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Workforce Strategy 2020-2024 to support increased employment and career pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are underway.

We have a national presence with offices in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Geelong, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

Our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) guides the way the ABS embeds reconciliation in the way we work, demonstrating our committed contribution to improving the wellbeing and quality of life of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This RAP builds on the achievements of our previous RAPs where we are well positioned to leverage our knowledge and experience to innovate and promote actions that support reconciliation further. When we started the process for developing this RAP we looked back at our previous RAPs and conducted a critical review on our progress made and areas for improvement, drawing on the insights of our staff, achievements, and opportunity areas.

We are proud of the work we have done so far, but we recognise that we still have a long way to go. There have been many achievements since beginning our reconciliation journey and learnings along the way. Through that review and the guidance of Reconciliation Australia, we decided to develop an Innovate RAP. An Innovate RAP will give us the autonomy to continue to push and set targets in areas where we are excelling, while allowing flexibility to pilot and consolidate work in areas that have been impacted by the ongoing effects of COVID-19. We believe that the purpose of an Innovate RAP is more aligned with the various strategies, processes, and initiatives we are currently working on and gives us the space and time to develop and pilot these in an innovative, meaningful, and viable way.

The RAP together with the ABS Inclusion and Diversity Strategy, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement Strategy, the Guide to Managing and Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Staff in the Workplace and the proposed Cultural Capability Framework will guide implementation and contribute to enhanced relationships and engagement for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, clients and stakeholders.
 Since beginning our RAP journey, we have worked hard to listen, recognise, and acknowledge the voices and the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, peoples, and communities. Challenges and learnings include:

• There are differing awareness and engagement levels across the ABS. We must broaden awareness of, and engagement with, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and communities, businesses, and strategies, to become a culturally safe and responsive organisation.
• Learning looks different to everyone. We will review and improve cultural learning packages to increase learning benefits to positively improve learning outcomes and interactions, as well as providing guidance on how to apply these learnings in the workplace and work programs.
• The voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is critical in achieving positive and responsive outcomes. We aim to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation and career growth to embed and empower the voices and lived experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in defining and designing ABS products and services.

These learnings have helped us make some significant changes and reach achievements in the ABS:

• Created and implemented the Indigenous Liaison and Strategy role to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and managers with cultural advice and guidance, to develop and guide implementation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander strategies and programs, and to help build cultural competency, capability, and safety to achieve reconciliation outcomes.
• Developed and implemented a Guide to Managing and Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Staff in the Workplace and released the SBS Inclusion eLearning suite to develop broader cultural awareness, and to support culturally safe and responsible work environments, relationships, and outcomes.
• Increased the visibility of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, protocols, and representation by developing and implementing a whole of agency Acknowledgement of Country video featuring our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, creating Reconciliation Spaces in ABS offices and launching the ABS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brand, ‘Our Story. Our Future’.
• Designed ABS Affirmative Measures Recruitment Strategy and process with targeted recruitment campaigns to employ more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples into our workforce.
• Developed and implemented an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement Strategy, established partnerships and increased access to relevant data for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and organisations. This is critical for improving the collection, access, management, and use of data which is critical in supporting ABS objectives, improved community outcomes and Priority Reforms of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
• Annual celebrations to recognise cultural days of significance including, Mabo Day, NAIDOC Week, National Apology, National Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week.
• Strengthened our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employee Network (Yakeen Network) by hosting face-to-face workshops focused on connection, support and empowerment along with the appointment of an SESB3 Executive Sponsor for the Yakeen Network, in addition to the Champions, to hear and support the stories and needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff.

Our RAP has been developed through extensive engagement and consultation using a co-design approach to develop human-centred, relevant and meaningful deliverables. We partnered with the Burbangana Group, a 100% Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned company, to conduct organisational-wide consultation and RAP development. This included an all-staff RAP Development Survey, individual and group engagement sessions (with staff at all levels, locations and business units), and facilitation of two co-design workshops. The co-design workshops consisted of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and staff representing the business units comprising the RAP Working Group. This approach allowed us to identify needs, opportunities and solutions drawing on the participants lived and work experiences, skills and knowledge in a collaborative and respectful way, to shape our new RAP.

Key messages emerging from our staff consultation and review of our previous RAPs are reflected in the actions and deliverables of our new RAP and include:

• embedding the RAP, in tangible and sustainable ways, in our everyday business
• enhancing communication of our RAP actions and outcomes to maintain a reconciliation focus throughout the life of the RAP
• building and strengthening staff cultural capability and competency, understanding and awareness to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and business in a culturally safe way
• increasing visible support and leadership commitment, at both the senior and middle management levels in the implementation of the RAP
• developing and embedding specific recruitment, retention and career pathway initiatives for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff
• continuing to strengthen relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders to influence better data outcomes and strengths-based narratives
• continuing to respond to and meet the goals of the Priority Reforms set out in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

The RAP Working Group was established through a targeted approach which identified key business areas that are integral to achieving actions and deliverables and hold intellectual knowledge on lessons learnt and future resources.

Our RAP Working Group is made up of our Reconciliation Champions, members of our Yakeen Network, and staff from key business areas across the ABS who have a responsibility and commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and workplace inclusion and diversity. The Yakeen Network is a national network available to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff to connect and support each other, share information, strategically plan and celebrate success. The Yakeen Network plays a critical role in the RAP Working Group, particularly with a quorum of four Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff required at each meeting for any actions or decisions to be valid and made.

The Indigenous Liaison and Strategy Officer (ILSO) in conjunction with the Inclusion and Diversity team will provide secretariat support and will also assist with administering the actions of the RAP Working Group. The RAP Working Group will meet four times a year (and on an ad-hoc basis) to track and report progress, contribute to deliverables and development of future RAPs. Championing this strategy is our Australian Statistician and our Senior Executive team.

This RAP has been developed by the ILSO, Ayla Smith, and Assistant Director, Inclusion and Diversity, Annette Hanson, with guidance from the voices of ABS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, the Burbangana Group and the ABS RAP Working Group.

Members:

Reconciliation Champions:  General Manager, Statistical Production and Digital Services Division and; Program Manager, Social Characteristics and Place Branch

Program Manager, Workforce, Communication and Clients Branch

Director, Inclusion and Diversity

Director, Strategic Communications

Director, Recruitment

Director, Workplace Relations

Director, Centre of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics

Director representative, Data Sourcing Division

Director, People Management and Wellbeing

Director, People Development

Director, Workforce Management

Indigenous Liaison and Strategy Officer

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff members of the Yakeen Network (quorum of four required at each meeting)

We recognise the foundation for reconciliation is strong, meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, government, communities and other Australians. We value our enduring relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, community partners, suppliers and stakeholders. These relationships are integral to ensuring our statistical collections accurately represent the lived experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and contribute to planning for the future.

Deepening our understanding of and celebrating the unique histories and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and communities is essential for the work of the ABS and our national leadership in positive and culturally appropriate data collection and analysis. It will also contribute to strengthening feelings of trust and safety within the ABS and our wider communities and building a shared national identity.

The ABS is committed to creating opportunities for and with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by providing culturally safe environments and taking explicit action on increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment, procurement from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned businesses and improving data collection and publishing.

Inclusion and Diversity

Workforce, Communication and Clients Branch

02 6252 5000

Workplace.diversity@abs.gov.au

abs.gov.au