National Reconciliation Week 2022 - Be Brave, Make Change

 

This week marks the anniversary of the 1967 referendum, which led to the amendment of the Constitution to allow the Commonwealth to make laws on behalf of the First Nations people of our country and include First Nations people in the census.

This occasion is recognised each year through National Reconciliation Week by providing a platform for us to reflect on the role we all must play when it comes to reconciliation. This week is a time to recognise the importance in amplifying First Nations’ voices as we work towards more impactful and positive change. 

This year’s National Reconciliation Week theme is ‘Be Brave. Make Change.’ Across everything we do at The Push, we know that change can only happen if we’re brave enough to take the first step. We recognise that as an organisation, we have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, but to do this we must listen and be informed by First Nations people. We must learn about their histories and cultures, truly hear their powerful stories, and recognise the impact of colonisation on successive generations of First Nations people.

"A lot of organisations don’t have Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs), but hire Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This creates toxic and un-safe work environments. The Push has taken a great first step by engaging with Aboriginal people to create culturally safe opportunities and environments. This is what The Push’s RAP will achieve. What makes The Push’s RAP an authentic and engaging document is The Push is working with Aboriginal people to create opportunities to support them which will set the tone for how other organisations should be working when engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people."

Kimmie Lovegrove, The Push, RAP Chairperson

“Joining the Board of Directors for The Push is a great honour for me, and a significant full-circle moment, as someone who had their first real live music experiences via Push/Freeza initiatives as a young kid in Country Victoria.

“Opportunities to get close to professionals, and even to perform on stage at those formative moments in my youth, planted seeds which have grown into a lifelong involvement in music. I know how important those opportunities are, especially for Aboriginal young people (and other marginalised young people) who bring added social and cultural complexities to their everyday engagement with mainstream services and organisations.

“I’m proud to have supported the development of The Push’s first Reconciliation Action Plan, which outlines specific measures which will not only ensure programs and spaces are safer and more accepting, but will develop and implement specific opportunities for young Aboriginal people to lead our future in music.

“Importantly, we have designed a RAP that is directly embedded in our new Strategic Plan, meaning that we, The Board, are committed to accountability measures for RAP targets in the same way we are accountable for other key organisational strategies. I believe this is a significant commitment, and I’m excited to continue finding ways we can open doors and facilitate growth.”

Nathan Leitch, The Push, Board of Management Committee Member

Over the past 12-months, The Push has been on a journey and growth as an organisation, working with First Nations young people and leaders in our community to develop our first ever Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Through this we have committed to:

  • Implementing a First Nations Employment Plan developed with the remit of creating new appointments across staff and our board of management

  • Ensuring First Nations young people will be greater represented and supported to have their voices heard and lead decision-making across all our programs and events

  • Building meaningful relationships with First Nations community leaders to guide and inform the work we do

  • Establishing and maintaining an effective RAP Working Group to drive governance of our Reconciliation Action Plan

  • Increasing the number of First Nations artists programmed across our all-ages events

As we reflect on this year’s National Reconciliation Week theme of ‘Be Brave. Make Change’, we want to encourage all our all-ages events teams and communities of young people to reflect on what brave changes you can do within your own communities to learn from and amplify the voices of First Nations people across your programs and events.

For more information on National Reconciliation Week, check out https://nrw.reconciliation.org.au

 
 
The Pushnational reconciliation week, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, First Nations