Our work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
Our Reconciliation Action Plan
Beyond Blue acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land on which our Head Office is based, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend our respect to all Elders and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia.
A Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) program provides a framework for organisations to be inclusive in their work and contribute to national reconciliation.
Our RAP supports us to collaborate and share knowledge, skills and expertise to build strong relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities and assists us to create a culturally safe organisation.
Beyond Blue's Innovate RAP 2020-22 will:
Ensure that we continue to plan and organise our work to promote deep and powerful change in our Beyond Blue community, so that we may support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to achieve their best possible social and emotional wellbeing.
Guide our programs, services and partnerships, allowing us to work safely, respectfully and effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, families and communities.
Support our journey to becoming a culturally safe and competent organisation.
Support us in strengthening relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and organisations, so our work is informed by the people and communities we seek to support.
Connect and integrate with Beyond Blue's existing internal strategies, frameworks and policies, and inform the development of future organisational planning.
Key initiatives of our RAP include working to establish and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders and organisations, using our sphere of influence to promote reconciliation and positive race relations, enhance employment and procurement opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and businesses, and to share strengths-based stories across our platforms.
Beyond Blue will provide regular updates on the progress of our Innovate RAP 2020-2022 implementation.
Read Beyond Blue's position on social and emotional wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
View or download our RAP
View or download our RAP Highlights 2019-20
Our vision for reconciliation
The majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia strive and aspire to lead happy, healthy, fulfilling lives. However, we recognise that much needs to be done to address depression, anxiety, suicide and related drug and alcohol issues in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Over time and across Australia, generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have experienced trauma, grief and loss. It's important to remember the impact that colonisation has had on the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – and the ongoing trauma, and social and health factors, that affects their social and emotional wellbeing.
Guided by our values of collaboration, respect, enthusiasm, excellence, innovation and integrity, Beyond Blue's vision for reconciliation is for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to achieve their best possible social and emotional wellbeing and have access to culturally appropriate support. In our work, we prioritise the perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and highlight the importance of empowering them to have control over their own social and emotional wellbeing. We strive to be a strong voice for challenging discriminatory behaviour by enabling discussions about reconciliation through the promotion of positive messages and actions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's social and emotional wellbeing.
Create a Reconciliation Action Plan for your organisation
We encourage other organisations to visit Reconciliation Australia for more information on implementing a RAP to help drive change and support reconciliation across our country.
Support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Learn more about our commitment to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to achieve their best possible social and emotional wellbeing – and helpful contacts and websites.
About the RAP artwork
A Life Full of Colour
The artist, Tamara May Murray, has created this large, colourful piece as a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' strength, hope and resilience.
As the world's oldest civilisation, Australia's First Nations people have cultivated strong connections to Country, culture, family and community over tens of thousands of years.
The artist conveys this long, unbroken civilisation with the use of an hourglass design.
The many bright, colourful firework-looking circles forming the hourglass symbolise the many different life experiences – births, deaths and knowledge sharing from elders and through ceremonies.
The section inside of the hourglass represents time – from the time of Dreaming through to the future.
The section to the left recognises some of the fundamental elements of First Nations people's strength and resilience – respect for Ancestors, Elders, culture and a deep connection with the land and water.
The central circle represents Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, strengthened by their past and buoyed into their future.
The section on the right shows a bright and fulfilled future. A future inclusive of healing, holistic health, hope, growth, knowledge sharing and respect.
The artist has chosen to paint in abstract to make the image as inclusive as possible.
She has also selected bright, vibrant colours for this piece to not only show the rich and proud history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, but because of her belief that there is a brighter future ahead for all First Nations people, a future full of colour.
About the artist – Tamara May Murray
The artist, Tamara May Murray, is a proud member of the Barkindtji tribe on her mother's side, the Yorta Yorta and Dhudaroah tribes on her father's side.
She grew up on the Namatjira Mission in the small country town of Coomealla.
"Culture is everything to me, it's a way of life, it's my identity, it's who I represent – my people, my family. Culture is our way of healing, telling stories, keeping spirits and traditions alive. It's our connection to the land."
For Tamara, her art is not simply paint on a canvas; It's a story, it's a place, it's someone she has met along the way that has inspired her. It's a deep connection to the land and her culture. It's a story that has been passed down.
"I want my art to help break down barriers between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. I hope I can help educate and contribute to a more peaceful world where our children can all walk as one, hand in hand, no matter their skin colour or cultural identity."
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