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AVI strengthens commitment to Australia’s Indigenous communities

18 November 2011

Today, Reconciliation Australia's Co-Chair Dr Tom Calma launched Australian Volunteers International’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) at AVI’s Annual General Meeting and formalised the 60-year-old Melbourne-based international volunteering organisation’s commitment to Australia’s Indigenous communities.

According to Dr Calma reconciliation was all about understanding, respecting cultures and learning about each others situations and AVI's Reconciliation Action Plan embraced these elements.

"Reconciliation Action Plans currently cover 20 percent of the Australian workforce, which is a major achievement," he said. "An objective of the RAP plan is to change attitudes and the more people become informed, the more they can put pressure on political and social systems to drive change. That is why Reconciliation Action Plans are so important."

AVI CEO Dimity Fifer said, “AVI has had a long history of working with Indigenous communities, however launching a plan of action to work with communities now and long into the future is a major and significant milestone for us.

“Over the years AVI has supported the recruitment of skilled professionals to work in remote communities in Australia and seen a number of Indigenous Australians participate in its international volunteering programs. As part of our RAP we are making an agreement with Indigenous communities, families and individuals that we are truly committed  to their increased participation of Indigenous Australians in our work, our organisation, our networks and our volunteering programs.”

To mark the significance of the day, Ms Fifer with AusAID’s Deputy Director General – Corporate, Humanitarian and International Group Ewen McDonald, launched the International Indigenous Volunteer Network. This new initiative, to be Co-Chaired by Dr Tom Calma and Prof Larrisa Behrendt, will strengthen the linkages, dialogue and networks between Indigenous Australians working in the aid and development sector and who have participated in international volunteering.

"The International Indigenous Volunteer Network will provide a great opportunity to promote the mutual benefits international volunteering brings to overseas communities and those back in Australia," Mr McDonald said.

"It will also work towards increasing the numbers of Indigenous Australians participating in international volunteering.

"This is a wonderful initiative that AusAID look forward to providing ongoing support to in the future."

About the International Indigenous Volunteer Network Co-Chairs

Dr Tom Calma
Dr Tom Calma is the Co-Chair of Reconciliation Australia. Dr Calma has formerly served as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner and the Race Discrimination Commissioner. He is currently the Co-Chair of the Close the Gap Coalition and National Coordinator for Tackling Indigenous Smoking.

Prof Larrisa Behrendt
Prof Larrisa Behrendt, an Indigenous rights lawyer, was the 2011 NSW Australian of the Year and is an academic and author and is currently Professor of Law and Director of Research at Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning at University of Technology in Sydney.

Download the RAP
Download AVI's Reconciliation Action Plan (PDF, 1.3mb)

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For more information contact Christine Crosby on email: ccrosby@australianvolunteers.com