Reconciliation Action Plan

NAIF joins a network of more than 1,100 corporate, government, and not-for-profit organisations that have made a formal commitment to reconciliation through the RAP program.

Since 2006, RAPs have provided a framework for organisations to leverage their structures and

diverse spheres of influence to support the national reconciliation movement. The program’s potential for impact is greater than ever, with over 2.3 million people now working or studying in an organisation with a RAP.

The four RAP types — Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate — allow RAP partners to continuously develop and strengthen reconciliation commitments in new ways. This Reflect RAP will lay the foundations, priming the workplace for future RAPs and reconciliation initiatives.

The RAP program’s strength is its framework of relationships, respect, and opportunities, allowing an organisation to strategically set its reconciliation commitments in line with its own business objectives, for the most effective outcomes.

These outcomes contribute towards the five dimensions of reconciliation: race relations; equality and equity; institutional integrity; unity; and historical acceptance.

It is critical to not only uphold all five dimensions of reconciliation, but also increase awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, knowledge, and leadership across all sectors of Australian society.

This Reflect RAP enables NAIF to deepen its understanding of its sphere of influence and the unique contribution it can make to lead progress across the five dimensions. Getting these first steps right will ensure the sustainability of future RAPs and reconciliation initiatives, and provide meaningful impact toward Australia’s reconciliation journey.

Congratulations NAIF, welcome to the RAP program, and I look forward to following your reconciliation journey in the years to come.

I acknowledge and celebrate the deep and unbroken connection to land, sea and country of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

I have lived and worked in northern Australia for almost 40 years and I am mother to four sons who are sixth-generation Territorians. I know first-hand the importance of decisions about the future of northern Australia being made in northern Australia, and I know that we can only realise the region’s full potential in partnership with Indigenous Australians.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures have been the face and key identity of northern Australia’s past. We celebrate this and continue this as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples play a crucial role into the future of northern Australia.

Unlocking our undoubted potential needs investment into infrastructure to grow our economies and our communities.

NAIF has an important role to play as a development financier with a $5 billion lending facility provided by the Australian Government.

We have already committed more than $3.1 billion in loans to projects across vital sectors including ports, roads, airports, tourism, education, resources, agriculture, renewable energy and health.

Importantly, every project supported by NAIF must show how they will deliver economic and population growth, benefit to the community and Indigenous outcomes.

We are looking forward to doing more in the years ahead and we will do so together with, and learning from, Indigenous Australians.

This Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan is our commitment to being a meaningful partner in reconciliation and continuing to deliver positive Indigenous outcomes in northern Australia.

Bernard is an accomplished craftsman, curator and designer, born and living in Cairns. He grew up in Coen, Cape York.

His mother is a Djabuguy woman born in Mona Mona mission near Kuranda and his father is an Umpila (east coast Cape York) / Yirrkandji man from Yarrabah mission.

“I paint, craft and make artefacts to ground myself. Through the process of making a spear or shaping the figure of a spirit, I connect with my ancestors and they help bring my work to life.

My work is a way for me to acknowledge and remember the times of my great-grandmothers and great-grandfathers.

My designs are inspired by the laws of nature and the forms found in the creation stories around me. Using these basic forms or designs, I work to represent the bond of art and the continuation of culture.”

It was this relationship and cultural knowledge of Country that were crucial in establishing industries such as pastoral, fishing, agriculture and mining.

Today, Indigenous peoples’ cultures and Country are a key attraction to northern Australia with tourists making their way to the north every year to gain that experience.

Developing and implementing a RAP is an important next step for NAIF in its ongoing commitment to building meaningful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and driving economic and social opportunities in northern Australia.

NAIF established a Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group to lead the development of the Reflect RAP. Working Group members have a diverse professional and cultural background and operate

at different levels in the organisation, supporting a whole-of-organisation commitment to achieving the RAP’s targets.

It is intended the RAP has clear and attainable reconciliation and cultural engagement targets and activities and will be ‘owned’ by the organisation through regular reporting and engagement.

The RAP is endorsed and supported by NAIF’s Executive Management Group and independent Board.

To date, NAIF’s reconciliation journey has primarily focused on working with proponents in developing commitments under their Indigenous Engagement Strategy (IES) towards Indigenous participation, procurement and employment outcomes in the regional communities the projects are located in. To ensure the IES is supported, NAIF has regular engagement with all proponents who have reached Financial Close throughout the life of the loan.

Our Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group reflects our people’s cultural and professional diversity and includes:

• Dolores Cross – Executive Assistant
• Matt Pitman – Director Stakeholder Relations and Communications
• Frank van Rooyen – Director, Resources and Western Australia

NAIF’s RAP Champion is Paul Kalmar – Director, Social Infrastructure.

The Working Group has consulted regularly with the Indigenous Outcomes team – including Darren Chong, a Waanyi man and Associate Director – to ensure the Reconciliation Action Plan is developed and delivered in a culturally appropriate and responsive way.

A key milestone so far has been the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Indigenous Business Australia, the National Indigenous Australians Agency and the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation that aims to foster collaboration to support positive outcomes and opportunities for Indigenous Australians in northern Australia.

NAIF acknowledges and celebrates National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week through internal promotion and discussions and participation in community events, and we continue to look for new ways to engage.

We also recognise the essential work of our Indigenous Outcomes team in supporting proponents to develop and deliver successful Indigenous Engagement Strategies. An important initiative has been the establishment of round table discussions that bring together government, industry bodies, project proponents and Indigenous stakeholders to share ideas on lessons learned and areas for improvement.

We are determined to keep working with Indigenous Australians and organisations to achieve better opportunities to demonstrate cultural respect and collaboration.

NAIF is providing a $13.5 million loan to the Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation (ALPA) to redevelop their cold storage wholesale food distribution facility in Alice Springs.

Once completed, it will be the largest distribution centre of its kind in Central Australia and will help meet growing demand for fresh produce, frozen goods and general merchandise from customers across 1.4 million square kilometres from Kunawaritji to the west, Lake Nash (Alpurrurulam) to the east, Renner Springs to the north and Marla to the south.

It is mandatory for proponents supported by NAIF to develop and deliver an Indigenous Engagement Strategy that sets out objectives for participation, procurement and employment which reflect the regional Indigenous communities.

Through their Indigenous Engagement Strategy, ALPA has committed to ongoing engagement with the Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation, engaging Tangentyere Council on employment services and supporting Indigenous staff through construction and operations, establishing a 20% Indigenous employment target for the facility, and working with the NT Indigenous Business Network to identify relevant sub-contractors, training providers and Indigenous employment services.

ALPA supports sustainable employment in home communities through its 13 member-owned stores and 14 independent stores across remote Northern Territory and Far North Queensland, including the Torres Strait.

ALPA currently employs more than 1,100 people, with more than 80% of employees being local Indigenous people.