The City of Parramatta Reconciliation Action Plan 2017-2020 (RAP) was an important step in our journey to supporting and working with our First Nations community, using the key focus areas of relationships, respect, opportunities and positive outcomes. The draft First Nations Strategy aims to elevate the work of the RAP by creating a strategic plan that is directly aligned with the ambitions and aspirations of the Dharug and First Nations community. This new approach provides Council with the flexibility and autonomy required to be both accountable and responsive to community.
The First Nations Strategy is being led by the City of Parramatta Community Capacity Building Team with direct oversight being provided by Council. The team are responsible for formalising the Strategy and ensuring that the Parramatta community have strong input into its development. The City of Parramatta have also engaged the services of Ngurra Advisory to assist with First Nations community engagement throughout the development of the Strategy.
The First Nations Strategy consultation process is open to a broad range of community members and stakeholders to ensure that we are capturing feedback from the various individuals and organisations who have close associations with our City. The consultation process is open to the following stakeholders:
- Dharug people
- First Nations and non-First Nations people who live in the Parramatta LGA
- People who work, learn or play within the LGA
- Services who have clients within the LGA
The feedback was sorted into 5 distinct themes or pillars that have informed the delivery of the draft First Nations Strategy.
Pillar 1: Social Justice
Recognising and allowing First Nations people to have a voice that empowers and enables self-determination. Working together with First Nations peoples and communities to live healthy and prosperous lives.
You said:
- A desire for more First Nations support services
- Land justice with Traditional Owners
- Partnerships with organisations to deliver services
- Advocacy on behalf of Traditional Owners – social justice in the form of allyship
- More employment opportunities for First Nations peoples
Pillar 2: Cultural Leadership
Relationships and engagement built on trust and integrity with First Nations Communities with meaningful and sustainable outcomes.
You said:
- Collaborating with community leaders to facilitate events, and research what supports would be beneficial to the community
- Increased representation of First Nations staff across Council
- Profiling local Dharug leaders
Pillar 3: Social Cohesion
Understanding, valuing and recognising First Nations cultures, protocols, histories, knowledge and rights, through cultural learning across organisations.
You said:
- Increase in cultural awareness and cultural immersion activities offered to First Nations peoples and Non-First Nations peoples
- Placemaking – more visible culture and localised storytelling (both the ‘good’ and ‘bad’)
Pillar 4: Accountability
Shared ownership between Community and Council in the delivery of, and reporting back on, actions flowing from the First Nations Strategy.
You said:
Dharug led design group to work across all Council projects – streamlined approach to avoid consultation fatigue
- Council to report back to Advisory Committee on a regular basis
- Regular communication with First Nations Community
- Annual report on the status of the Strategy
Pillar 5: Celebration
Learning, advocating, supporting, and celebrating the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.
You said:
- A revival of Dharug culture which celebrates: the ‘Mullet Run’, ‘Wattle Blooming’, and ‘Eel Festival’. Events need to be delivered as authentically as possible to old ways (not colonial)
- Cultural learning through public displays of cultural material
The engagement process which was led by a First Nations consultant, focused on co-design and deep conversations with the community as well as our internal and external stakeholders so that there would be real buy in to the development and success of the Strategy.
To ensure we captured meaningful and considered feedback, we engaged broadly with the following groups:
- Dharug people
- First Nations and non-First Nations peoples who live in the Parramatta LGA
- People who work, learn, or play within the LGA
- Services with First Nations clients within the LGA
The consultation achieved:
- 1309 views from 1007 visitors to the project page
- Over 750 engagements on social media
- 11 engagement opportunities for the First Nations Advisory Committee, Council staff, service providers, students and the broader community
- 60 online surveys completed
