Begin your journey…

Building reconciliation in your school shows your respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Cultures.

A Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) is a formal statement of commitment to reconciliation. You can take the Schools Reconciliation Challenge further by evaluating reconciliation in your school and developing your own road map to Reconciliation. Reconciliation Australia provides the Narragunnawali platform to schools as a free resource to support the development, implementation and management of Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs). Click here to find out how to develop a Reconciliation Action Plan for your school.

Evaluate reconciliation in your school

Use this checklist to assess your schools approach to reconciliation and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. What things is your school currently doing?

School policy and practices

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flag

• Do you display or fly this flag?

Recognise Traditional Custodians of the land your school is on

• How does your school recognise the Traditional Owners?
• Is there a plaque or sign at the entrance of your school?
• Is it on the school website?

Acknowledgement of Country

• Do you Acknowledge Country at the commencement of important school events and assemblies?

Reconciliation Action Plan

• Have you developed and implemented a RAP through the Narragunnawali platform?

Reconciliation Statement

• Have you developed and implemented a Reconciliation Statement?
• Where is it? Who sees it? How is it used?

Take action against racism

Racism has serious negative physical and psychological consequences for the people who experience it, and for wider society. Understanding racism is an essential first step in overcoming it. Schools can take action to counter racism by building awareness of racism, its impacts, and how to respond effectively to racism.

Annual events of significance

There are a number of significant events that  your school can engage with each year. Listed below are five examples which commemorate or celebrate the histories and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Which events have you held activities for at your school?

1. NAIDOC Week
2. National Reconciliation Week
3. National Apology Day
4. National Sorry Day
5. Schools Reconciliation Challenge

Plan your year here.

Activities and relationships

There are many things that schools can do to build awareness and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures, and contributions, and to support the implementation of reconciliation initiatives. Here are a few ideas:

• make a mural to represent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples culture, stories or history to the school community.
• invite Aboriginal artists, story tellers and cultural practitioners to visit your school
• build relationship with Elders in our local community and invite them to talk at your school
• organise school excursions to local Aboriginal sites of significance.
• invite a Traditional Owner to perform a Welcome to Country in School for important assemblies and events
• investigate and learn about our local Aboriginal languages with the assistance of the local Aboriginal community, and consider re-naming parts of your school environment.

What other things could you do?

Get a discussion happening in your school. Check out the list of 39 possible RAP actions here that relates to relationships, respect and opportunities, as they play out in the classroom, around the school community.