FRNSW Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan
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Download the FRNSW Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan here (PDF)
Acknowledgement of Country
Fire and Rescue NSW acknowledges all the Traditional Custodians of the land and pays our respects to them and their Elders past and present. As a government agency that works across many locations, we have a responsibility to listen, learn and walk alongside First Nations peoples so that our activities support their ongoing connection to their lands, waters, cultures, languages, and traditions. We value their custodianship of 65,000 years.
Statement from CEO of Reconciliation Australia
Reconciliation Australia welcomes Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) to the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) program with the formal endorsement of its inaugural Reflect RAP.
FRNSW joins a network of more than 3,000 corporate, government, and not-for-profit organisations that have made a formal commitment to reconciliation through the RAP program.
Since 2006, RAPs have provided a framework for organisations to leverage their structures and diverse spheres of influence to support the national reconciliation movement. The program’s potential for impact is greater than ever, with close to 3 million people now working or studying in an organisation with a RAP.
The four RAP types — Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate — allow RAP partners to continuously develop and strengthen reconciliation commitments in new ways. This Reflect RAP will lay the foundations, priming the workplace for future RAPs and reconciliation initiatives.
The RAP program’s strength is its framework of relationships, respect, and opportunities, allowing an organisation to strategically set its reconciliation commitments in line with its own business objectives, for the most effective outcomes.
These outcomes contribute towards the five dimensions of reconciliation: race relations; equality and equity; institutional integrity; unity; and historical acceptance.
It is critical to not only uphold all five dimensions of reconciliation, but also increase awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, knowledge, and leadership across all sectors of Australian society.
This Reflect RAP enables FRNSW to deepen its understanding of its sphere of influence and the unique contribution it can make to lead progress across the five dimensions. Getting these first steps right will ensure the sustainability of future RAPs and reconciliation initiatives, and provide meaningful impact toward Australia’s reconciliation journey.
Congratulations FRNSW, welcome to the RAP program, and I look forward to following your reconciliation journey in the years to come.
Karen Mundine
Chief Executive Officer
Reconciliation Australia
Message from the FRNSW Commissioner
Fire and Rescue NSW is pleased to announce the launch of our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). I am proud to lead our organisation in advancing reconciliation, acknowledging that we operate on the traditional lands of over 70 distinct Aboriginal nations, each with their own unique clan groups.
Every day across New South Wales our firefighters are in the community and working to make people safer. While there are many examples of good work engaging with communities, this RAP provides for a more consistent and coordinated approach to be developed. It is also a public commitment for FRNSW to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities on practical activities that make a real difference and improve outcomes.
This RAP outlines the specific actions we will undertake and establishes a framework for accountability throughout the duration of the Reflect RAP. While specific roles have certain tasks assigned to them, all of us in FRNSW have a responsibility to be contributing to achieving the targeted outcomes.
Today, we proudly celebrate the presence of over 393 dedicated First Nations individuals who not only serve our organisation, but also actively contribute to their respective communities. It is pleasing to see that these staff members are proud and comfortable expressing their culture and identity as they perform their work with FRNSW. However, this wasn’t always the case. Reflecting on my early days as a firefighter with FRNSW, I recall that while there were First Nations firefighters, their contributions were not always prominently acknowledged, and many were hesitant to identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This change is an important example of improvements we have made through some of the good work undertaken over recent years and that we will continue as we implement our Reflect RAP.
Over recent years, working with our First Nations staff, we have delivered a number of important initiatives that also take practical steps towards reconciliation:
- Our Indigenous Fire and Rescue Employment Strategy (IFARES) has led to more than 80 First Nations people becoming firefighters over the last 10 years.
- The application of traditional Aboriginal nation names to our trucks better connecting with local communities and increasing our firefighters’ knowledge of local Aboriginal history.
- The introduction of First Nations strike teams to assist communities during major disasters.
We remain committed to incorporating these initiatives into the ongoing objectives of our RAP while also identifying additional activities to progress.
Working with our First Nations firefighters and staff as the executive sponsor of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council, I have learnt much from them and have a greater appreciation of their cultural perspectives. The RAP provides us with an opportunity to share this learning more broadly with all staff across FRNSW and build greater understanding together.
Uncle Frank Doolan’s poem Bridges, which we have included on this page, reminds us that building a bridge through increasing understanding and respect is what our RAP can help us achieve. Uncle Frank is a Wiradjuri/Gamiliroi man and a community leader from Dubbo and a long-time friend and supporter of FRNSW’s work. He recently met with our Executive Leadership Team and his words in our conversation and when reciting his poem were very powerful.
The successful implementation of our RAP does not solely rest on the responsibility of First Nations staff; it is a collective endeavour that we all must contribute to and share in. I look forward to embarking on this journey together, exploring how we can enhance our impact and advance through various levels of reconciliation. As Uncle Frank Doolan says in his poem, “it’s not completed yet”, but our work through this RAP will be important steps together for a better future.
Jeremy Fewtrell AFSM
Commissioner
Fire and Rescue NSW