Reconciliation Australia releases major report on impact of Reconciliation Action Plans

Reconciliation Australia has released the results of the first major report on the collective impact of the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) program and relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians.

The RAP Impact Measurement Report provides important information on where our nation is placed in relation to reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians—and what the mood is like in the business, government and community sectors. 

The RAP program was set up five years ago as a simple way for organisations to develop their own actions to improve relationships and generate respect through sustainable employment and business opportunities.  Today more than 1.6 million Australians work or study in an organisation that has a RAP, this includes 11 of Australia’s top 20 businesses.

Key findings include:

• over 280 organisations have a RAP
• 13,397 employment positions filled
• $26 million worth of goods and services purchased from Indigenous businesses
• $9 million for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander scholarships
• 170,000 people undertaking cultural awareness training.

As the peak body promoting reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians, Reconciliation Australia is pleased to report that RAPs are making a significant and lasting difference.  However the organisation also recognises the need for continuous improvement in the design and implementation of the program.

The report provides comprehensive analysis of the RAP program and examines more than 5,000 commitments the RAP community has made in the name of reconciliation.   Also available is the Reconciliation Australia 2011 Annual Review which highlights some of the other important projects being worked on to help advance reconciliation between the first Australians and the broader Australian community.

Click here to download the RAP Impact Measurement Report