Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) are strategic plans developed by schools to promote reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. They are designed to drive positive social change and promote cultural understanding, while also creating meaningful partnerships with Indigenous communities.

The Narragunnawali framework is an initiative developed by Reconciliation Australia to support schools to foster relationships, respect and understanding between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians. The RAP framework outlines a sustainable, holistic approach to driving reconciliation in education by building relationships, respect and opportunities in the classroom, around the School and with the community. 

Following the work done by a team of staff in 2021 and 2022 to reflect on the reconciliation journey of Ivanhoe Girls’ to date, our next step is to establish a RAP Working Group. This group will be made up of representatives of the Ivanhoe Girls’ community, including staff, students, and parents, as well as our local Indigenous community members. The Working Group will gather information about the local Indigenous community and their culture. This will involve engaging with local Indigenous Elders and community members to gain an understanding of their history, culture, and values.

Once the RAP Working Group has a better understanding of the local Indigenous community, our next steps will be to develop the Ivanhoe Girls’ vision for reconciliation and to set targets and actions for our RAP.

We will identify areas where our school can make a meaningful contribution to reconciliation. Examples may include improving cultural awareness among staff and students, incorporating Indigenous perspectives into the curriculum, and developing partnerships with local Indigenous organisations.

The final step will be to develop an implementation plan for the RAP. This will involve setting timelines and identifying the resources and support needed to achieve the targets and actions we have identified. 

We understand that developing a RAP is a complex and ongoing process, and it requires commitment and support from the School community. However, the benefits of developing a RAP are significant. 

By promoting reconciliation and cultural understanding, Ivanhoe Girls’ can play an important role in building a more inclusive and harmonious community at school and beyond.

Ms Narelle Umbers
Principal