Our journey towards reconciliation

2015

The Department of Families. Fairness, and Housing (formally DHHS) established the Culturally Informed Addendum and the Aboriginal Cultural Competence Framework as part of the Human Services Standards (HSS). This was developed by the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) and is an evidence guide that includes practice advice and detailed examples to support improved service delivery to Aboriginal people. HHS complied with these frameworks, using a continuous quality improvement approach for the cultural competency continuum.

2016

We created a work plan incorporating recommendations from HHS’s 2015 Human Services Standards accreditation. The plan included appropriate training for Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity, reviewing culturally diverse materials and developing and strengthening networks with local Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.

2018

The Culture Club was created as a committee of HHS to promote and inform diversity and inclusion approaches within the organisation. The Culture Club was endorsed by the Board and given an annual budget to support activities championing cultural diversity within the organisation.

2020

We partnered with Bendigo District Aboriginal Corporation (BDAC) on a cultural safety project to review and develop strategies, policies and practices that address unconscious bias, discrimination and racism. The project refers to the CHIA Vic Community Housing Aboriginal Cultural Safety Framework and the Strengthening Cultural Safety of Family Violence Services Assessment Tool. We started with a gap analysis and HHS will incorporate the recommendations. We hosted cultural awareness training with BDAC for all staff. A Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Statement of Intent was created. The statement outlines our commitment to reconciliation and addressing access and equity in Housing and Homelessness services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

2021

HHS acknowledged National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week and provided all staff with a lanyard featuring Aboriginal artwork by Jhana Gray, a Jirrbal/Kuku Yalanji artist. We added Acknowledgment of Country signs to all office entries, supplied welcoming posters by First Nation artists and an Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies map to each office.

2022

HHS updated all consumer surveys to include questions about identity and can now monitor satisfaction and feedback from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. A project was undertaken in HHS client services to add a new field on the details page of the client management system. The field asks Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients which Mob they belong to. With this information we can build a better working relationship with our First Nations clients by Acknowledging their Country, aiming to create a more culturally safe experience with HHS. We created a cultural safety and reconciliation resources section on our intranet, including information on knowing whose Country employees are on; Acknowledgement of Country guidelines for meetings and other resources.

We also distributed tailored Acknowledgement of Country cards to each office location to provide employees with support and confidence to make an appropriate acknowledgement at the start of meetings. We also commenced the planning, listening, learning and conversations for our Reflect RAP, with the intention to submit to Reconciliation Australia at the end of 2022.

Above Artwork by Aunty Sharon Kirby, a proud Barkindji woman from far west NSW along the Darling River, who now lives in Mildura. Artist statement: This painting is about reconciliation. The circles represent all our communities connecting. In the middle is our two rivers that join all our people, and the flags show us all coming together for reconciliation.

Reconciliation Action Plan

Statement of Intent

1 October 2020

Haven; Home, Safe (HHS) reaffirms its commitment to Reconciliation and will work towards a Reconciliation Action Plan that commits to addressing access and equity in Housing and Homelessness services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across our service locations. We will continue to support our Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander staff in developing their careers and expect all staff to take up opportunities we provide them to expand their knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people’s culture and history.

HHS recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the first Australians, with a unique cultural and spiritual relationship with country. HHS also recognises the significant outcomes for reconciliation in improving the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through an increase in their access to safe, secure and affordable housing.

HHS acknowledges that access to a stable home is the foundation of a good life and a just society. A fair and efficient housing system is fundamental to improving health and education outcomes for all. HHS has commenced its reconciliation journey to further develop respectful relationships through acknowledging the urgent need for change within our organisation and within our communities.

This statement is the first step in signifying our commitment to understanding the injustices Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have faced and continue to face. We commit to building and fostering relationships with First Nations communities and organisations to strive to address the inequities that exist and we commit to an ongoing process of respectfully seeking advice and guidance on our practice and service delivery to provide a better experience for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients and tenants.

HHS acknowledges the Dja Dja Wurrung people as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which our head office is located. We extend that respect to the Wurundjeri people, the Wadawurrung people, the first peoples of Millewa- Mallee, being Latji Latji, Ngintait, Nyeri Nyeri and their close neighbours the Barkandji people and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people of other nations.

The Board of Directors, Executive and staff pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.

Damien Tangey Chair, Board of Directors Ken Marchingo AM Chief Executive Officer