Training for RAP Implementation Teams

Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) implementation teams are tasked with applying those plans. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural awareness training is a crucial tool they will need, alongside skills such as relationship-building and training in the RAP framework to ensure they understand the purpose and goals they are working toward.

The cultural competency of your implementation team can be as important as the RAP itself. That is because they are responsible for engaging with stakeholders, overseeing sometimes systemic changes to the way an organisation works, and addressing any required updates after the RAP has been introduced. 

It is well worth considering all the skills and resources the team will require, picking the right people with a strong level of cultural sensitivity, and organising additional training to ensure your RAP implementation is a success.

What Training Should I Arrange for My Organisation’s RAP Implementation Team?

Cultural awareness training is a core requirement for anyone involved in the development and implementation of a RAP, as these educational courses cover several essential areas, such as:

• How to create a RAP that meets the organisation’s needs and is well-aligned with its structure and culture
• Identifying some of the most common mistakes businesses make when rolling out cultural awareness training in the workplace
• The importance of multicultural team communication strategies and why inclusivity and equal access are beneficial to all colleagues and customers

In many cases, RAP teams also enrol in our Ally Accreditation Program, which teaches the skills to engage and empower Indigenous people in a professional and personal capacity, and how to create culturally safe spaces as a leader. This depth of learning equips individuals managing RAP implementation with the knowledge to handle sometimes difficult conversations and ensure that inclusivity strategies are seen as positive reforms in the interests of all.

They can move forward with the confidence to initiate dialogues about sensitive issues and resolve conflicts to create open workplaces where individuals of all cultures can thrive, without worrying about inadvertently saying the wrong thing.

Essential Training for RAP Implementation Teams

Guidance on Selecting RAP Implementation Team Members

Some organisations or companies may have obvious candidates with excellent interpersonal skills, who have been heavily involved in the development of the RAP and who would be a clear choice to form part of the implementation team.

However, in many others, these decisions aren’t so clear-cut. It can feel tricky to know who will be the best people to implement key RAP actions, such as Acknowledgements of Country, and revising recruitment policies to ensure vacancies are fully accessible to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

We suggest initially seeking volunteers who are passionate about holding space for Indigenous voices to be heard within your workplace or group, who have the following skills or can attend training to augment their current abilities.

Change Management

Creating positive and sustained change is not an easy task, and RAP implementation teams must have the power and resources to reform organisational cultures, fostering respect and inclusivity across the board.

They might need to tackle resistance to change, a common issue, advocate for the importance of equality and accessibility, and showcase the benefits of being actively involved in reconciliation activities.

Strong Communications

RAP teams must engage with several stakeholders, including local representatives from Aboriginal community groups, Elders and leaders, colleagues within the organisation, senior leadership, and, in some cases, third parties.

Those dialogues may include in-person and written communications, which means each team member needs to be confident in speaking, vocalising the goals and purpose of the RAP, and then reacting to the responses or questions they receive.

Active Listening

Being able to actively listen and acknowledge alternative perspectives is essential within any reconciliation initiatives. This is all about ensuring RAPs support the needs and wishes of local Indigenous communities or parties connected to the work of the organisation, respecting the value of self-determination and acknowledging that even the best thought-out reconciliation plan may need to be adjusted.

Project Management

While much of the work associated with RAP implementation focuses on the initial phases, teams also need to be skilled project managers who can develop clear strategies and targets, and report back to the relevant management or stakeholders to inform them of the progress made.

This ensures that the organisation continues advancing towards the targets or values-based priorities set out within its RAP, and that reconciliation efforts have the positive, ongoing impact expected.