Fay Fuller Foundation Reconciliation Action Plan

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (15:05): My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. Will the minister inform the council about the Fay Fuller Foundation's reconciliation action plan launch?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:05): I certainly will be most happy to inform the member and indeed the whole chamber about the recent launch of the Fay Fuller Foundation's reconciliation action plan.

The Fay Fuller Foundation is a private philanthropic organisation that runs in South Australia and has a focus on the provision of philanthropic funding to drive change in an impactful, purposeful and people-centred way. Rather than funding and forgetting, the foundation has a mandate to a community-centred and trust-based model and values building deep relationships with its partners. The foundation holds the belief that communities are the experts in their own lives and therefore centre the community in what they do.

This principle-driven approach has informed the development of the reconciliation action plan within the foundation. As we know, reconciliation is about strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples for the benefit of all. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Australia's colonial history is characterised with land dispossession, violence and racism that persists to this day. In recent times, however, there have been many significant steps towards reconciliation. This is particularly evident through the increased volumes of not-for-profits, governments, corporates and businesses taking up the offer of reconciliation action plans.

There are four types of reconciliation action plans: reflect, innovate, stretch and elevate. Each type is designed to suit an organisation depending on the stage of their journey on reconciliation. The Fay Fuller Foundation launched an innovate reconciliation action plan, which has been endorsed by Reconciliation Australia. CEO of the foundation, Niall Fay, spoke of the commitment of the foundation in delivering under the plan and understands the responsibility it has to ensure it meets its measures.

Aboriginal leaders at the launch I attended who spoke included Warren Miller, Nicole Gollan and Marla Briscoe. They provided their views and endorsement; however, each was very clear about the expectations of delivery. At the reconciliation action plan launch, along with the speakers a highlight was having Uncle Moogy Sumner and the Tal-Kin-Jeri Dance Group perform at the start of the program. At this event, Uncle Moogy highlighted the recently performed international First Nations events in Canada that he was able to attend, providing a view of Australian First Nations people at that international forum.

I congratulate the Fay Fuller Foundation on the launch of their RAP and the efforts of all those involved, and I wish the foundation the best in the future.