National Reconciliation Week 2020

National Reconciliation Week is held each year in Australia, to give us an opportunity to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation. The theme of Reconciliation Week 2020 is “In This Together”, highlighting the fact that every one of us has a role to play when it comes to building relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories and cultures.

Royal Life Saving WA has been working hard for many years to ensure we do this in every one of our programs and activities, and in recent years has developed new programs and initiatives to further build on this.

As an organisation we recently released our Reconciliation Action Plan, which articulates our efforts to develop improved relationships, respect and opportunities with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The plan will guide us as we work to develop broader and stronger networks between Royal Life Saving WA and Aboriginal communities, agencies and individuals.

Jilalga Murray, owner and artist with Jilalga Designs, created a custom work of art titled “All Our Waterways” for this important milestone, saying she created the work to represent “that everybody feels welcome on the waterways and to support Royal Life Saving WA on their journey for reconciliation.”

Royal Life Saving is “In This Together” with a number of organisations across the state to provide opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to engage with our swimming and water safety programs including:

• Remote Aboriginal Swimming Pools program – working with the Department of Communities, with additional support from BHP, to provide eight swimming pools in remote aboriginal communities in the north of our state.
• Talent Pool – working with local communities and partners including VenuesWest to provide opportunities for Aboriginal youth the take part in Bronze Medallion, First Aid, Pool Lifeguard and AUSTSWIM training, in order to build their employment opportunities in the aquatic industry.
• BHP – our Principal Community Partner, supporting programming across WA to engage at-risk communities in vital swimming, water safety and first aid training.
• Jigalong Shed – sponsored by BHP and partnering with Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation, KJ Rangers and Martu Milli to provide work skills training for Aboriginal people in the remote community of Jigalong.

Stay tuned this week to hear more about these partnerships and we celebrate the fact that we’re “In This Together” not only during Reconciliation Week but every week of the year!