RAP Update : Cultural Immersion Experience

Land and Community are at the heart of what we do and this is the shared premise that connects us to our vision for reconciliation. Core instigated it’s first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), Reflect in 2023, with the second iteration, Innovate currently in progress.

As a keen member of our ‘Purpose Peeps’ group at Core, Maggie Hajnal has been a leading hand in the construction of our RAP and delivery of it’s associated actions. In October, Maggie attended a cultural immersion program designed to offer corporate participants an opportunity to explore a range of themes leading to a conclusion about what each participant can do to drive change.

She shares some of her experience in the interview below:

Why did you personally want to attend?

One of the things that has struck me in my involvement with our RAP at Core was that lived experience and first hand information is key to informing how we can meaningfully respond. This opportunity was a great chance to access understanding directly from elders.
The other thing I liked about the program was the idea of being surrounded by like-minded people and others working on a RAP. I knew I’d get exposure to how others were approaching it to support our knowledge and approach.

What was Core’s motivation in having you attend?

Our three key certifications at Core being B-Corp, Climate Active and our RAP aren’t just logos to us. They guide the ethos we live by and genuine commitments that we’ve made as a business.  More than tokens, they guide our actions and efforts to make an impact. We want to be an active member of change and putting our people in these types of opportunities is an example of this hands-on approach.

What was your first impression, what struck you?

Red Earth created such a welcoming environment – Uncle Graham and Aunty D hug on arrival rather than shaking hands. An immediate sense of comfort created through a shared meal helped foster immediate bonds and connection between the participants. You could tell right from the first introduction that everyone had a genuine reason to be there and this commonality bonded us from the first minutes right through the program.

Was there a defining moment in the experience?

The first night sitting by the campfire a simple question was asked, “Why are you here?”. The answers were all different but everyone was committed to the same goal. The setting of a discussion around the campfire, embracing the idea of story-telling created a sense of closeness but also opened more meaningful discussions. Something that it can be hard to achieve around a boardroom table or in other corporate settings. It felt really genuine.

What’s an action that you took away from the opportunity?
For Core, there was so much that I took away and will be sharing with the team. Ideas for the year to come including connections and initiatives that could benefit not just our team but things we can share with our industry.

Personally , it was a great reminder that work toward reconciliation is far from over, we’ve come a long way but there’s so much to do. It reignited my passion to continue to keep our RAP top of the agenda and continue to push initiatives that can make a genuine difference.

What could others take from similar experiences?

If you are interested in initiating a RAP for your business, it’s a great place to start. Equally, if you wanted to get some more ideas of how you could drive change it’s great to see how others are tackling it.

Final thoughts?

The most important reason for businesses to establish a RAP is to educate, empower and action reconciliation efforts to the extent that these types of documents are redundant in the future. I am hoping that this is a change that i get to witness in my lifetime.

Interested in learning more? Here’s a couple of great organisations supporting education and action toward reconciliation:

Acknowledge This!
Indigenous X
Campfire X
Children’s Ground – Truth Telling