Reconciliation Action Plan

The St Vincent de Paul Society Canberra/Goulburn are dedicated to achieving transparent and positive working partnerships with Traditional Owners, Elders and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led and supported organisations. We believe strongly in advancing reconciliation and recognise our responsibility in participating in its progression.

We are implementing this Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) to create an actionable document that will signpost the change we hope to make. We will champion the RAP throughout the Society and implement measures to ensure all members, volunteers, and employees embody the goals and values outlined throughout the document.

The RAP focuses on key areas that include actions, deliverables, timelines, and responsibilities which will be actively monitored to ensure accountability and progression on the areas that require our attention.

The key areas are as follows:

• Relationships
• Respect
• Opportunities

The Society has consulted with our people and has developed our own Acknowledgement of Country which represents the core of our reconciliation work:

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, as the Traditional Custodians of this land, with deep respect. May Elders, past, present, and emerging, be blessed and honoured. May we join together and build a future based on compassion, justice, hope, faith, and reconciliation.

In moving forward, we will continue to advocate, voice and work with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities where we work and live. We believe this is crucial work and the implementation of the RAP and ongoing education of all our people is right, just and valued.

John Feint, Territory Council President

The Aboriginal Countries we work within

The Society is exploring the Aboriginal Countries we work within,
so that we better understand the histories and stories of those that came before us.

Artist Acknowledgement

Proud Ngunnawal and Ngambri man, Budda Connors, has designed the artwork ‘Caring of Others’ for the St Vincent de Paul Society Canberra/Goulburn.

Raised in Yass and with a growing family of his own, Budda is dedicated to helping others, working as a mental health worker with the Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation and volunteering on the side with multiple community initiatives.

His extensive community involvement also extends to his family, with his son Damon volunteering at a Vinnies centre for the last five years.

 However, it is Budda’s knack for storytelling through art, as learned from watching his Uncle Des over many years, that has developed his status as a local artist.

Budda’s work reflects on Vinnies Canberra/ Goulburn’s place – both geographically and culturally.

As described by Budda: The large circle represents both Ngambri and Ngunnawal peoples.

The smaller circles represent our neighbouring nations: Wiradjuri, Yuin, Ngarigo, Gundungurra and Walgalu.

The dotted painting that looks like mountains represents the Brindabellas.

The background is the ancestors of our neighboring nations, and the lines represent the Murrumbidgee.

Follow Budda on Instagram