PCYC launches first Reconciliation Action Plan

In conjunction with the 2022 National Reconciliation Week theme, ‘Be Brave. Make Change’, it is with great pride that we launch PCYC’s first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

To formally launch PCYC’s RAP, an event was held at Fremantle PCYC, with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony performed by local Elder, Neville Collard, who has lived in the area for 58 years.

Speeches were made by PCYC Chairperson, Geoff Stooke, Board Member and Chair of the RAP Working Group, Denise Cheir, and Minister and State Member for Fremantle Hon. Simone McGurk.

We were also honoured to have Geraldton PCYC Centre Manager, Talya Quinn and some of the Geraldton team visit, along with special guest and safeSISTAS participant, Bella Quatermaine, who talked about the programs and activities they run in Geraldton, and how they worked with Aboriginal artist Trevor Pickett, to design the RAP cover page artwork.

Bella explained she was one of the first girls to add her hand print and design to the artwork and said, “It was good to see everyone taking part and sharing their stories.”

“For me, PCYC is my safe place, where I feel welcome and at home.”

Jacinta Miller, a proud Minag Goreng Wirlomen Noongar woman and safeSISTAS Facilitator at Fremantle PCYC also spoke about her experience growing up attending PCYC and her continued employment at PCYC.

PCYC Chairperson, Geoffrey Stooke’s stated, “As a provider of programs and activities to many Aboriginal children and young people across the state, we appreciate the role PCYC can play in creating a reconciled Australia, where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children will have the same life chances and choices as non-Indigenous children.”

“We know that connection to culture, country and community is fundamental to a child’s identity and wellbeing, so we will continue to promote Aboriginal culture at our facilities and through our activities as one of many of our actions on this reconciliation journey.”

The PCYC Board and Executive Team are committed to the delivery of the RAP across the organisation. The RAP Working Group will meet regularly to discuss progress against the five key pillars of relationships, respect, opportunities, Governance and reporting. These include building relationships with Aboriginal people from a position of trust, respecting the leaders in each community and valuing their wisdom and knowledge. Also maximising equality in employment opportunities and having transparent reconciliation processes and reporting to track our progress.

While PCYC celebrates the launch of our first RAP, we know our reconciliation journey has only just begun. So now we look forward to delivering outcomes and sharing those as we build on our commitments and progress on our reconciliation journey.