Our Progress – Opportunities
Respectful relationships form the basis for tackling this challenge. Through the practice of crafting and implementing together, culturally appropriate options and solutions to matters relevant to First Nations Peoples, it helps to create the right environment to identify a range of possibilities and opportunities. This encourages and enables Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to more fully engage and contribute towards service and church leadership in a meaningful way.
| Action | Deliverable | Timeline | Responsibility | Progress | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9. | Improve employment outcomes by increasing the training, recruitment, retention and professional development of First Nations peoples | (a) Review the current LCA’s practice for the recruitment, retention and professional development of First Nations people | February 2021 | Manager Churchworker Support Department Secretary of the Church | The LCA has the following policies which were created in 2018 and subject to review every 3 years: 02.01.102 Employee Recruitment and Selection Policy. The objective of this policy is to articulate and encourage the use of consistent and equitable practices during recruitment and selection processes, ultimately resulting in the person who best meets the requirements being selected for the position. 02.01.600 Vocational Development and Training Policy: The objectives of this policy are to articulate and encourage practices that contribute to: • all church workers being equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge and abilities to carry out their roles • all church workers being encouraged to develop their God-given potential, both vocationally and personally • service-long learning for all church workers being encouraged and supported to maintain the high level of skill, knowledge and ability necessary for their roles • all development and training activities and attendance being appropriately recorded and documented • all legislative, regulatory and church requirements being met. |
| (b) Build understanding of current First Nations staffing to inform future employment and staff development opportunities | February 2021 | Manager Churchworker Support Department | The HRS Data system: updated fields to record Personal Details of First Nations identification status, ie Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Moari Personal data fields on all source forms for HRS to be updated to provide the relevant information |
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| (c) Explore current and potential future for First Nations pastoral and laity opportunities within the Lutheran church | March 2021 | Office of the Bishop Secretary of the Church | Ordination as Pastors, serving specifically amongst their local Community. Over the years, more than 60 names of Aboriginal Pastors appear (some have since become deceased) on the LCA Roll of Pastors. Some recent ordinations: Pastor Lindsay Thomas, Yalata, SA Pastor Stanley Roberts, Papunya, NT Pastor Jeffrey Wheeler, Pintupi-Luritja language area, NT Pastor John West, Kiwirrkurra, WA Pastor Rodney Malbunka, Hermannsburg, NT Pastor Simon Dixon Installation and commissioning of Aboriginal women church workers Installation of Jane and Margaret Campbell Rita Okai, Mutijulu, NT Language Area Agreements developed with Central Australian Lutheran Community groups, facilitated full constitutional membership of the Church for the many Lutheran Aboriginal community groups including those of the Western Arrarnta, Pintupi-Luritja, Allyawarr, Anmatyere and Pitjantjatjara areas of Central Australia. |
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| (d) Investigate opportunities for education, learning and training scholarships for First Nations peoples within the Lutheran church | January 2021 | RAP Project Officer | Joint collaboration between Finke River Mission and the Australian Lutheran College provide series of 'Bush Courses' for Aboriginal Pastors, evangelists and those in training as well as for for Aboriginal lay parish workers (including women). Such course are held on location in differing Central Australian communities, often in 'Bush' environments with which participants are familiar.Training Inmanpa Hosts First Training Course for 2020 Nungalinya College NT, is a combined Churches' Training College for Indigenous Australians and offers a range of courses for Aboriginal people wanting to receive nationally accredited training in Ministry and Theology. A growing number of Aboriginal Lutheran pastors and in particular female parish/church workers have been supported engage in further training and have since graduated through the College Rita Okai, Mutijulu, NT, Graduate Certificate III in Christian Ministry & Theology Training for Aboriginal Church leaders Yirara College, Alice Springs is a Lutheran secondary education boarding college for Aboriginal young men and ladies. The college offers work preparation and accredited Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses including work placement. Yirara College Work Pathway Programs Video - Yirara College |
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| 10. | 10. Increase supplier diversity to support improved economic and social outcomes for First Nations peoples | (a) Explore and develop procurement opportunities from First Nations owned businesses | January 2021 | Business Manager RAP Project Chair | Graphic Design of LCA RAP: Carbon Creative, a whole owned graphic design company was engaged to design the graphic elements and the RAP booklet. Carbon Creative Printing of RAP documentation: 'We Create, Design, Print' were contracted to print the RAP Booklet and RAP poster for distribution across Australia and New Zealand. We Create Print Deliver Indigenous consultants: Coleman Consulting, were engaged to deliver Cultural Awareness sessions to Churchwide Office staff. Welcome to Country: Coleman Consulting contracted to deliver Welcome to Country at LCA events. |
| (b) Investigate Supply Nation membership | August 2020 | Business Manager Secretary of the Church | Information outlining the opportunities and options available with a 'Supply Nation Membership' Supply Nation | ||
| 11. | Identify Learning and Mentoring opportunities for our Church | (a) Bring together and resource a First Nations advisory group to provide guidance with a national perspective, to the Office of the Bishop, on matters impacting First Nations peoples | June 2020 | Office of the Bishop Secretary of the Church | A RAP Advisory (Mentor) Group developed inclusive Andrea Mason*, Noel Pearson, Dr Jackie Huggins, Shona Reid. *Since withdrawn due to work commitments. Teleconference meeting to discuss 'Managing the Challenges of engaging in a RAP' Inclusive group in the communication strategy. |
| 12. | Continue to create an awareness of and promote Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Education to affiliated bodies within LCA sphere of influence | (a) Further promote the awareness of and encourage engagement in Reconciliation Australia’s Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Education program within LCA-affiliated educational bodies | June 2021 | Executive Director of Lutheran Education Australia | RAP website | Resources page: Links to Narragunnawali webpage and FAQs FAQs Creation of a data MAP of Lutheran Schools across Australia either engaging in the Narrugunnawali process or with an endorsed Narragunnawali RAP Narragunnawali RAP Website | Stories : Posting stories of engagement in cultural awareness and other activities demonstrating engagement with learning from and about First Nations peoples Northern Eastern Adelaide SA Connected Schools Vision for Reconciliation Immanuel Lutheran PS Gawler SA Acknowledgement of Country Maitland Lutheran SA Mural Burrunga Land Project Endeavour Lutheran College Mawson Lakes, SA Indigenous Literacy Day Unity College Murray Bridge SA Raising Awareness of Prevalence of Medical Issues Cornerstone College Mt Barker SA APY Lands APY Lands Prince of Peace OSHC, Qld Indigenous Cultural Awareness Indigenous Cultural Awareness St James Kindergarten, Cleveland, QLD Sharing Aboriginal Culture through DanceSharing Aboriginal Culture through Dance Good News Lutheran College, Vic Acknowledgement of Country |
