We acknowledge the Dharawal and Biddegal peoples, the Traditional Owners, Custodians, Elders of the land on which Project Youth conducts

its work. We recognise the Elders, families and forbears of the Dharawal and Biddegal people. We acknowledge that this land – which we benefit

from occupying – was stolen, that sovereignty was never ceded, and that treaties are yet to be negotiated. As a community, not-for-profit

organisation, we pledge our ongoing solidarity with the Traditional Owners, and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, in their

struggle for recognition of sovereignty, historical truths, justice and lasting, positive change.

Project Youth have been discussing reconciliation for many years in meetings, strategic planning and consultations to understand the impact of colonisation and working on land where sovereignty was never ceded. These discussions have led to how we as an organisation can play a key role in reconciliation for the young people we serve and the wider community we operate in. As an organisation we have taken some steps towards reconciliation to ensure it is not just a discussion.

Project Youth have reflected on the four RAP types as set out in the Reconciliation Australia framework and have decided on a Reflect RAP to

create foundational actions to build on the three pillars of relationships, respect and opportunities. This is the first RAP for Project Youth and therefore we are starting our journey of reconciliation by laying the foundations and preparing the workforce for all future RAPs to follow.

Even though we have established some core practices at Project Youth to establish cultural safety and contribute towards reconciliation,

creating a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) is an important next step to ensure we can implement and sustain meaningful actions that can go

further with our reconciliation actions, improve our practices, improve our cultural safety and ensure we can lay a solid foundation for the next

RAP we develop and embed.

Through these actions and commitments in our RAP, we want to ensure there are benefits for all the First Nations young people we serve through

our programs, and the First Nations Elders and community members on the lands on which we operate our work.

An essential and important part of our Reflect RAP is to take the time to build sustainable and respectful relationships with First Nations

services, young people and community members as well as determine our sphere of influence in the sector and how we can leverage

this influence to advance reconciliation.

Please see Rap via link below

Reconciliation Action Plan