Reconciliation Australia has formally recognised Richmond Football Club’s commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (ATSIs), with the club’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) being officially upgraded to Elevate status.
Reconciliation Australia formally endorses Elevate RAP status to organisations with a demonstrated history of achievement and leadership across all three core RAP areas - respect, relationships and opportunities.
Only nine businesses across Australia have had RAP’s upgraded to Elevate status and Richmond becomes the first sporting organisation in the country to achieve Elevate status.
“This is wonderful recognition of the work the Club does through the Korin Gamadji Institute and the outcomes we are delivering for young Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders,” Richmond CEO Brendon Gale said.
“It is a great credit to the staff of the KGI whose unwavering commitment to improving the lives of these young people is inspiring. They are committed to creating change – we see it every day and it is certainly a story we want to share more broadly.
“We know there is more work to do and we continue to look for like-minded organisations that can help us broaden and deepen our programs into the future to deliver even more significant outcomes.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the other organisations who now have Elevate RAP status.”
KGI Director Belinda Duarte said the support and guidance of Reconciliation Australia had been critical to the development of programming and community engagement.
“The support of Reconciliation Australia has provided direction and importantly held the whole Club accountable,” Duarte said. “To have an Elevate RAP endorses what we have achieved, but equally provides great motivation for what lies ahead – in many ways we have laid the foundations.”
Reconciliation Australia CEO Justin Mohamed congratulated Richmond on becoming the first sporting Club in Australia to develop an Elevate RAP.
“Richmond’s Elevate RAP follows many years of pioneering work by the Club to build reconciliation in the AFL community and beyond,” Mohamed said.
“Richmond’s important work with the Korin Gamadji Institute to build young Indigenous leaders and their support of the Recognise campaign and AFL Indigenous Round are to be commended”
“Richmond FC’s leadership role and willingness to support reconciliation is something everyone at the Club can be proud of.”
Other Elevated RAP partners are:
- National Australia Bank
- KPMG
- Transfield Services
- AIATSIS
- Herbert Smith Freehills
- Brierty Ltd
- Westpac
- Department of Human Services
View Richmond’s current Maurice Rioli Reconciliation Action Plan
KGI Director Belinda Duarte addresses the President's Function on Saturday night
