Agenda of Aboriginal Advisory Committee

Aboriginal Advisory Committee

Meeting Date: Wednesday, 09 April, 2025

Location: Osprey Training Room, City Administrative Centre, Bridge Road, Nowra

Time: 5.00pm

Please note: Council’s Code of Meeting Practice permits the electronic recording and broadcast of the proceedings of meetings of the Council which are open to the public. Your attendance at this meeting is taken as consent to the possibility that your image and/or voice may be recorded and broadcast to the public.

Agenda

1. Meeting Conduct Statement

2. Apologies

3 Acknowledgement of Country

Walawaani (welcome),

Shoalhaven City Council recognises the First Peoples of the Shoalhaven and their ongoing connection to culture and country. We acknowledge Aboriginal people as the Traditional Owners, Custodians and Lore Keepers of the world’s oldest living culture and pay respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Walawaani njindiwan (safe journey to you all)

Disclaimer: Shoalhaven City Council acknowledges and understands there are many diverse languages spoken within the Shoalhaven and many different opinions

4. A Minute Silence in Respect of Aboriginal Elders, Past and Present

5. Confirmation of Minutes

· Aboriginal Advisory Committee - 5 November 2024

6. Declarations of Interest

7. Presentations

AA25.1......... Presentation - Community Strategic Plan - Feedback

The Community Strategic Plan (CSP) is the community’s plan for the Shoalhaven. It has a minimum 10-year timeframe and should reflect the community’s main priorities and aspirations (needs and wants) for the Shoalhaven.

We are engaging multiple stakeholder groups across the Shoalhaven to understand what they love about the Shoalhaven, what they would like to see less of, challenges facing the Shoalhaven and their vision for the Shoalhaven.

Feedback and contributions from the Aboriginal Advisory Committee will help ensure we are capturing key community priorities in the new plan.

AA25.2......... Workshop - Disability Inclusion Action Plan

Under the NSW Disability Inclusion Act 2014, councils are required to review their Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) every four years. As part of this requirement, councils must consult with specific groups in the community including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, people with a disability and young people. Council’s advisory committees provide a great opportunity for such consultation in addition to other engagement that is being conducted in the broader community.

8. Reports

AA25.3......... Membership Resignation, Memberships Lapsed & Vacancies.................................................................................................. 1

AA25.4......... Update on Reconciliation Action Plan...................................... 3

9. General Business

Aboriginal Advisory Committee – Wednesday 09 April 2025

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Membership

Chairperson - Ms Natalie Lloyd

All Councillors

Chief Executive Officer or nominee

Ms Nicole Moore

Ms Caryn Carpenter

Ms Sharlene Cruickshank

Mr David Blakeney

Ms Belinda Little

Mr Uncle Sonny Henry - Nowra LALC

Mr Alfred Wellington - Jerrinja LALC

Ms Karen Tronier - Ulladulla LALC

Quorum – Five (5) local Aboriginal community members

Purpose

The purpose of the Aboriginal Advisory Committee, hereby known as the Committee, is to provide cultural advice to Council on its Strategies and Plans.

The Committee will also seek to gain Council’s support in achieving the objectives for the current Statement of Commitment 2010 (SoC), the Shoalhaven City Council (SCC) Community Strategic Plan 2027 (SCCSP) and endorsement of the Uluru Statement of the Heart June 2020.

Role of the Committee

The role of the Committee is to:

· Advise SCC on matters relating to Aboriginal communities in the LGA.

· Promote and increase knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal society, history and culture throughout SCC and in the Community.

· Advocate and support Council’s plan to promote inclusive and accessible services and facilities for Aboriginal people.

· Provide advice towards and monitor the implementation of relevant Council plans and strategies with respect to the needs, issues and interests of Aboriginal people and communities.

· To support and work with Aboriginal and other organisations committed to increasing respect for Aboriginal culture and history, past and present.

· Foster and safeguard a spirit of mutual trust and respect which allows the Aboriginal Advisory Committee (AAC) and SCC to work together in their commitment towards well-informed decision-making processes that are culturally respectful.

· Support the recognition and preservation of past and present local cultural heritage and its place in future Council planning and strategies.

· Offers a reciprocal platform for the communication of information from Aboriginal community voices and others that identify local needs for services, facilities and activities.

· Work together with Council to develop and promote appropriate commemorations and celebrations of Aboriginal culture including, but not limited to Sorry Day and NAIDOC Week.

· Provide relevant information to other Committees of Council when needed or requested.

Ordinary Meeting 21 December 2009 – Item 43 – MIN19.1808

STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT

This Statement commits Shoalhaven City Council to continue building mutually respectful relationships with the Aboriginal Communities of the Shoalhaven.

Shoalhaven City Council values its culturally diverse communities and lifestyles and is deeply committed to working in partnership with Aboriginal people of the Shoalhaven. This Partnership will be based on mutual respect and equality to further employment, social, cultural and economic community development.

Shoalhaven City Council recognizes and acknowledges the history and treatment of Aboriginal people in Australia and supports the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation’s vision and values.

Shoalhaven City Council recognises Aboriginal people’s valuable contribution made in strengthening and enriching our communities and the heritage of all Australians.

Shoalhaven City Council Acknowledges and Recognises:

· Aboriginal people as the first people of Australia

· Past practices and policies that impacted on Aboriginal people’s lives, cultures and society

· The customs and traditions of Aboriginal people and their spiritual relationship with the land

· The rights of Aboriginal people to live according to their own beliefs, values and customs, and

· The significant contribution made by Aboriginal people in the past, present and future.

Shoalhaven City Council commits itself to:

· Ensuring local Aboriginal involvement in events and celebrations of significance which respect the dignity and protocols of the local Aboriginal communities

· The ongoing development of strategies to improve and increase the level of participation of local Aboriginal people in the local Government decision making processes

· Undertake holistic community planning to address wellbeing, employment and social economic or cultural disadvantage experienced by local Aboriginal people in the Shoalhaven

· Ensuring all council staff and Councillors are exposed to ongoing education and cultural training and development programs to increase knowledge, understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal Cultural heritage and the needs of the Aboriginal communities

· Celebrate and support significant Aboriginal ceremonies and events, e.g. NAIDOC week, Sorry Day, Reconciliation Week and Survival Day

· To continue to fly the Aboriginal flag in places such as City Administrative Centre, Council Chambers, Reception room and in other prominent Council locations.

Aboriginal Advisory Committee – Wednesday 09 April 2025

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AA25.3 Membership Resignation, Memberships Lapsed & Vacancies

HPERM Ref: D24/302548

Department: Business Assurance & Risk

Approver: Lindsay Usher, Acting Director - City Development

Reason for Report

The purpose of this report is to advise the Aboriginal Advisory Committee of the Resignation received from Ms Janet Atkins, the membership expiration for Ms Sylvia Timbery, Mr Shane Brown, Uncle Paul McLeod and Mr Charlie Ashby and the re-nomination received from Ms Sharlene Cruickshank and Ms Natalie Lloyd for an additional term on the Committee and to advise the Committee of the current Expression of Interest.

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the Aboriginal Advisory Committee:

1. Accept the resignation of Ms Janet Atkins and thank her for her contribution to the Committee.

2. Note there are 4 x Community Representative positions that expired in January and February 2025, and thank these members for their contribution to the Committee:

a. Ms Sylvia Timbery

b. Mr Shane Brown

c. Uncle Paul McLeod

d. Mr Charlie Ashby

3. Note that Ms Sharlene Cruickshank and Ms Natalie Lloyd’s membership expired in January 2025 and Council have accepted their re-nomination for an additional term on the Committee with their membership to expire on 18 February 2029.

4. Note that there are 5 x Community Representative and 2x Youth Representative vacancies currently advertised through an Expression of Interest process.

Options

1. Adopt the Recommendation

Implications: Vacant position will be filled.

2. Adopt an alternate recommendation

Implications: Unknown

Background

Member Resignation

Council received notification Thursday, 5 December 2024 from Ms Janet Atkins that she wished to resign from the Aboriginal Advisory Committee.

Ms Janet Atkins was appointed as a Community Representative on the Aboriginal Advisory Committee on 16 February 2015. Due to an update of the Committees Terms of Reference that was adopted in 2022, which resulted in a change to the membership provisions to appoint community representatives for a four (4) year term with a set commencement and finish date and standing members may re-nominate for an additional term. Ms Atkins membership was due to lapse in February 2025.

Memberships Lapsed & Expression of Interest

There are an additional four (4) community representatives that also were due to expire in January and/or February 2025. On behalf of Council, we wish to thank the following committee members for their dedication and contribution to the Committee during their terms:

· Ms Janet Atkins

· Ms Sylvia Timbery

· Mr Shane Brown

· Uncle Paul McLeod

· Mr Charlie Ashby

Noting the above memberships that are due to expire, there are five (5) x community representative positions and a further two (2) youth community representative positions deemed vacant. There is an ongoing expression of interest for the youth community representatives that has been active since 2023 and this has now been extended for the above five (5) vacant community representatives.

Appointments of community representatives is conducted through Council’s Expression of Interest process and is advertised on the Council webpage.

https://www.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/News-and-feedback/Participation-opportunities/Council-Committees/Aboriginal-Advisory-Committee

Re-nominated Members

Ms Sharlene Cruickshank and Ms Natalie Lloyd were appointed to the Committee on 25 January 2021 with a membership end date of 25 January 2025. As per the Terms of Reference, standing members can re-nominate for an additional term. Council received nomination from Ms Sharlene Cruickshank and Ms Natalie Lloyd to be appointed for an additional term. The re-appointment of these two community representatives was endorsed at Council’s Ordinary Meeting held on 18 February 2025 (MIN25.44).

Community Consultations

Council is currently seeking applications for two (2) x youth representatives and five (5) community representatives via an Expression of Interest process.

More information can be found on the Committee’s webpage:

https://www.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/News-and-feedback/Participation-opportunities/Council-Committees/Aboriginal-Advisory-Committee

Aboriginal Advisory Committee – Wednesday 09 April 2025

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AA25.4 Update on Reconciliation Action Plan

HPERM Ref: D25/106331

Department: Cultural & Community Services

Approver: Lindsay Usher, Acting Director - City Development

Attachments: 1. Reconciliation Action Plan (under separate cover)

2. RAP Yarning Group Terms of Reference 1.1 ⇩

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to inform the Aboriginal Advisory Committee (AAC) of the adoption of the Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) by Council, and to provide an update on the proposed implementation of the plan.

In addition, the report seeks the committee’s nomination of two representatives to join the RAP Yarning Group throughout the RAP implementation, March 2025 to September 2026.

Summary and Key Points for Consideration:

At its Ordinary Meeting of 25 March 2025 Council adopted the Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The adopted Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan is included as Attachment 1.

The RAP outlines actions that Council will take to ensure that the way Council provides services and employs people integrates reconciliation, including through respectful race relations, understanding the impact of historical wrongs, providing equitable access to opportunities and valuing a shared national identity.

The term of the RAP is March 2025 to September 2026. The 48 RAP Actions have identified deliverables, each with a plan for implementation. Updates on the delivery of actions will be tracked by Council’s online reporting system.

The RAP Working Group and RAP Yarning Group will continue to meet to advocate for RAP implementation and provide guidance to staff as required throughout the term of the RAP. Meetings frequency will reduce from monthly to bi-monthly.

A launch event for the adopted RAP will be held at the Shoalhaven Regional Gallery on 28 May 2025 from 3-5pm, and invitations will be extended to all AAC members.

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the Aboriginal Advisory Committee:

1. Receive this report, Update on Reconciliation Action Plan, for information.

2. Nominate two representatives to join the RAP Yarning Group during the implementation term of the RAP March 2025 - September 2026, being:

a. Insert name of representative at meeting

b. Insert name of representative at meeting

Options

1. The AAC supports the recommendation and nominates two representatives for the RAP Yarning Group.

Implications: AAC shows support for the implementation of the Reconciliation Action Plan.

2. The AAC receives the report but does not nominate representatives to join the RAP Yarning Group during the implementation of the RAP.

Implications: AAC acknowledges the new RAP but does not currently have capacity to support with representatives from its committee. The RAP Yarning Group’s support of RAP implementation will not include contribution from the AAC.

3. The AAC adopts an alternative recommendation.

Implications: The AAC puts forward an alternative recommendation.

Background and Supplementary information

On 26 July 2022, the AAC resolved:

MIN AA22.13

That the Aboriginal Advisory Committee (AAC):

1. Support the development of a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) for Shoalhaven City Council

2. The AAC nominate representatives to form part of a Project Reference Group to assist in the development of the RAP:

a. Jared Brown

b. Kalinda Wills (TBC)

At its meeting of 21 November 2023, following both previous representatives stepping down from the AAC, the Aboriginal Advisory Committee resolved (MIN AA23.30) to support the nominations of Natalie Lloyd and Jason Groves as being the AAC’s representatives on the RAP Yarning Group.

At its meeting of 7 May 2024, it was noted (MIN AA24.11) that Ms Natalie Lloyd was unable to be a representative on the Reconciliation Action Plan Yarning Group and members were encouraged to engage in the process.

Most recently, Ms Caryn Carpenter has been attending the Yarning Group meetings as the representative of the Aboriginal Advisory Committee.

Anticipating adoption of the RAP by Council, the RAP Yarning Group has revised its Terms of Reference (Attachment 2) to extend its function and continue throughout the term of RAP implementation. The previous text in dot point 3 “Appointments to the Yarning Group will be for the duration of the development of the RAP” has been deleted. The revised Terms of Reference clause now reads:

Appointment Processes

Representatives of the Aboriginal Advisory Committee:

· Membership appointment will be decided by the Aboriginal Advisory Committee and recorded within the committee’s meeting minutes.

· The Aboriginal Advisory Committee will manage the membership appointment process.

· Where a membership is terminated, a replacement member may be appointed by the Aboriginal Advisory Committee.

This report recommends that the AAC continue its support of the RAP Yarning Group’s function by the nomination of two AAC members to join the group for the term of the RAP implementation. Future meetings of the RAP Yarning Group in 2025 are scheduled for:

· 8 May - 10am-12pm - Combined meeting - Yarning & Working Groups,
Nowra Showground

· 10 July - 10am-12pm - Yarning Group, Tomerong Hall

· 11 September  - 10am-12pm - Combined meeting - Yarning & Working Groups, Nowra Showground

· 13 November - 10am-12pm - Yarning Group, Tomerong Hall

Internal Consultations

Internal consultations will proceed as required for RAP implementation.

External Consultations

Reconciliation Australia is the national lead body for reconciliation in Australia. The draft RAP was submitted to Reconciliation Australia for final review on 13 January 2025 and formally endorsed by them on 25 February 2025. Shoalhaven City Council is now recognised as a member of the Reconciliation Australia ‘RAP network’ and the RAP is promoted on their website.

Further external consultations will proceed as required for RAP implementation.

Community Consultations

The Draft RAP was placed on Public Exhibition for 28 days from 4 November to 2 December 2024. No significant adverse comments were received regarding the content of the plan. The full summary of exhibition outcomes was included in the report to Council’s Ordinary Meeting 25 March 2025 and will be available to be viewed in the business paper on Councils website from 20^th March 2025.

Policy and Statutory Implications

Policy reviews and investigations will proceed as required for RAP implementation.

Financial Implications

Most deliverables in the Draft RAP, including all mandatory deliverables, will be implemented through business-as-usual and will not require additional funding.

Any additional costs associated with the implementation of the Draft RAP will be considered for prioritisation in annual budget provisions or be the subject of future budget bids.

Risk Implications

The risks involved in activities that are organised to implement the RAP will be managed using the organisation’s risk management procedures.

For engagement activities, it has been identified that some people may find conversations about reconciliation challenging or uncomfortable. In response, a plan will be developed to manage these risks and ensure staff and engagement participants have access to the supports they need.