Marking a significant milestone in NQ's commitment to reconciliation, the report looks back over the implementation period following the launch of NQ’s inaugural RAP and reflects on our cultural journey during from January 2022 to December 2022.
NQ has made remarkable progress in that period, achieving 84 per cent of the RAP deliverables, with the remaining 16 per cent still in progress this year.
Among those achievements is the NQ Board’s unanimous support for the introduction of culturally appropriate leave practices, highlighting the organisation's dedication to creating an inclusive and respectful environment, while a smoking ceremony, conducted upon the team's return to the NQ offices at the beginning of each year, signifies a deepening connection to First Nations customs and practices.
NQ's commitment to reconciliation is also evident in the revised Netball Queensland Strategic Plan 2023-2025. This plan places a strong emphasis on transitioning diversity and inclusion from a function to a practice throughout the organisation.
The Queensland Firebirds have also demonstrated their dedication to embedding First Nations cultures within the club. Their four-year plan includes the integration of Yarning Circles as a regular feature in the program, fostering greater understanding and connection among the players.
Another key aim of the Reflect RAP was to investigate participation rates of First Nations peoples to identify trends and gaps in netball participation. Of the playing population in Queensland, 5.1 per cent are First Nations peoples, compared to First Nations people making up 4.6 per cent of the Queensland population.
Reflecting on the completion of NQ's first RAP has sparked innovative thinking on how NQ can further progress its commitment to reconciliation moving forward.
“Reflecting on our first RAP has allowed us to identify learnings from the past twelve months and inspired our thinking on how we want to progress our commitment – how we want to innovate – as we move forward,” NQ Chief Executive Kate Davies said.
NQ RAP Advisor Grace Sarra said the next step in the organisation’s cultural journey will be to use the findings of the report to help formulate NQ’s ‘Innovate’ RAP.
“We have been through an extensive reflection process, identifying the challenges and successes of 2022,” Sarra said.
“As we keep moving forward in our cultural journey, we will look to how we can further address and break down barriers for First Nations people in netball and educate and build the cultural capacity of our member associations and clubs.”
NQ recognises our First Nations Advisory Group for their ongoing support and guidance as well as engaging with the resources and opportunities provided by Reconciliation Australia, including attending RAP Learning Circles.
“It has been fantastic to see NQ’s progress in the engagement of First Nations community members,” First Nations Advisory Group and RAP Working Group Member Chenoa Stockton said.
“This solidified the aims of our group in assisting NQ to better develop the pathways from grassroots participation to elite performance level for our next generation of netballers. This first year of implementation has set the tone for NQ to continue along their cultural journey.”
To view NQ’s Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan Report, click here.
To find out more about NAIDOC Week and engage with the 2023 theme ‘For Our Elders’, click here.
