Reconciliation Action Plan 2014
Summary and key dates
Moonee Valley City Council respectfully acknowledges the traditional custodians of this
land – the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, their spirits, ancestors, elders and
community members past and present.
Council’s commitment to the respect, recognition and representation of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander people is supported by our Reconciliation Policy (2010-14).
To support implementation of this policy, an annual action plan – the Reconciliation
Action Plan 2014 – has been developed, in consultation with our community and
partners. As part of this action plan, we are committed to acknowledging and
celebrating key dates and holding activities throughout the year.
2014 Actions
Council will be undertaking the following activities in 2014:
Themes
Actions
Respect
Undertake cultural awareness training for staff to build cultural
understanding; build on this training by creating and embedding a
champions program across departments to share knowledge with other
staff.
Undertake cultural awareness training with Early Years staff.
Encourage staff to meet and experience Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people and culture.
Incorporate cultural awareness including historical and contemporary
history of the municipality in corporate staff induction (e.g. the bus tour).
Develop a Reconciliation Working Group at Council and encourage
opportunities for Aboriginal staff at Moonee Valley, along with community
members, to share their culture and knowledge.
Recognition
Hold events throughout the year for all ages that celebrate Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander culture and promote reconciliation, including in
partnership with other organisations. This includes art exhibition at the
Incinerator Gallery, My Smart Garden project, Children’s activities and
Children’s Week, Reconciliation Week, NAIDOC Week and the Long
Walk (10th anniversary); National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Children’s Day (4 August).
Embed reconciliation and recognition activities in all Council events
including the Moonee Valley Festival, Spirit of Moonee Valley Awards,
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grants ceremonies, and citizenship ceremonies.
Encourage environments at all Council facilities to be welcoming,
culturally safe for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community
members and that promote reconciliation and encourage other
organisations, schools, businesses, service providers and community
groups to do the same.
Continue to acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation as
traditional owners of the land now known as Moonee Valley through
publications, signs, communication and imagery and encourage others to
do the same1.
Promote the Council-produced publication about Aboriginal history in
Moonee Valley: The Wurundjeri Willam: the Original Inhabitants of
Moonee Valley to organisations and schools within our municipality.
Establish a hierarchy of signage to acknowledge traditional owners and to
develop and install interpretative signage across the municipality.
Include positive stories and information in Council publications (e.g.
Valley View) about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.
Support and promote Aboriginal-led organisations, initiatives and projects
in our municipality as well as organisations who undertake Reconciliation
activities.
Representation Develop an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment strategy.
Support conversations about the Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people in the constitution.
Participate in networks and partnerships including: the Inner North West
Primary Care Partnership Close the Health Gap Wellbeing Partnership;
the Western Region Local Government Reconciliation Network; the
Maribyrnong Local Indigenous Network; the Western region Regional
Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee (RAJAC); the Indigenous Family
Violence Regional Action Group (IFVRAG).
Promote and facilitate opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people to be involved in decision-making and activities across
our municipality.
Develop a list of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations,
speakers, businesses and providers in the Western region of Melbourne
and share amongst organisations and Council contacts
Embed support for reconciliation and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people, groups and businesses in grants agreements and procurement
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Council will refer to the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages for advice on signage and
language; ANTaR also has signage and other resources.
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practice.
Tracking
progress and
reporting
Hold follow up roundtables to continue opportunities for community
members to contribute to Reconciliation planning.
Review and update the Moonee Valley Reconciliation Policy (2010-2014).
Develop a summary version of the action plan to communicate key
actions and dates to the community.
What next?
Council is committed to ongoing Reconciliation activities. As the Reconciliation Policy
(2010-14) concludes in 2014, we will be working in partnership with our community and
organisations to review and update the policy, along with an action plan for 2015.
To get involved in conversations about reconciliation, contact the Community Planning
Officer at Moonee Valley City Council on (03) 9243 8888 or email
community@mvcc.vic.gov.au
Significant dates and activities in Moonee Valley for
2014
Significant dates
13 February: Apology Day
The 6th anniversary of the apology in Federal Parliament to the Stolen Generations of
Australia.
20 March: Close the Gap Day
National Close the Gap Day is an annual event held to raise awareness of the
Indigenous health crisis
26 May: Sorry Day
A day to recognise and commemorate the Stolen Generations, survivors of past
government policies that allowed for the forcible removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
lslander children from their families.
27 May – 3 June: Reconciliation Week
A time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements
and to explore how each of us can join the national reconciliation effort.
Reconciliation Week marks two significant dates in Australia’s reconciliation history:

27 May 1967 referendum - This saw over 90 per cent of Australians vote to give
the Commonwealth the power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples and recognise them in the national census.
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
3 June 1992 High Court Mabo - a decision which legally recognised that
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a special relationship with the
land.
31 May: The Long Walk (10th Anniversary)
Celebrating 10 years since Michael Long and others walked to Canberra to get the lives
of Aboriginal people back on the national agenda. Coincides with Dreamtime at the G’.
7 – 14 July: NAIDOC Week
A celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and culture across
Australia.
4 August: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day
A day to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, their strengths and
their connections to culture.
Activities
Wednesday 21 May Training - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural
Awareness
Day-long training with some places available for community members in Moonee Valley
and representatives from local community groups and organisations. To find out more
or RSVP, contact Community Planning Officer on 9243 8888 or email
community@mvcc.vic.gov.au
6 June – 27 July Beyond the Surface - Group exhibition at the Incinerator Gallery
An exhibition of recent work by Indigenous artists from South-eastern Australia.
Includes the following events and activities:

Friday 6 June, 6pm-8pm Opening Night - Join us for the opening of these
exhibitions. Free wine and snacks.

Sunday 29 June, 1-2pm Curator Talk – Hannah Presley and some participating
artists will discuss the themes and artwork in the exhibition.

July school holidays Storytelling and Dreamtime – children will be taken on a
guided tour of the art exhibition and learn about the stories and culture of
Australia’s first people.

Friday 18 July, 6-8pm: Indigenous Poetry and Spoken Word – come and
experience an intimate night of poetry and spoken word.
For more information about the Beyond the Surface events visit
http://incineratorgallery.com.au or call 9243 8888. The Incinerator Gallery is located at
180 Holmes Road, Moonee Ponds.
11 June, 9am-1pm Cultural Heritage Tour
Wurundjeri Elder will lead a tour of Brimbank Park and the Maribyrnong River. Places
Limited. Call the Community Planning Officer of 9243 8888 to register your interest.
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8 July NAIDOC Week Flag-raising Event
Join Council at this important flag-raising event will include music, kids’ activities and
food – a fun morning for the whole family.
9.30-11am at the Clocktower Centre, 750 Mount Alexander Road, Moonee Ponds
RSVP to the Community Planning Officer on 9243 8888 or email
community@mvcc.vic.gov.au
12 August Training: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Awareness
Day-long training with some places available for community members in Moonee Valley
and representatives from local community groups and organisations. To find out more
or RSVP, contact Community Planning Officer on 9243 8888 or email
community@mvcc.vic.gov.au
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