Reconciliation Action Plan
A path towards reconciliation
Rottnest Island Authority (RIA) honours and celebrates the cultures, languages, stories, and long histories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We also acknowledge Wadjemup / Rottnest Island’s cultural significance and traumatic past. We are committed to moving forward together on a shared journey towards understanding and healing.
The Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2021–23 (RAP) is RIA’s fourth RAP and provides a framework to further foster connections with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; connections that are rooted in mutual collaboration and trust.
Importantly, it outlines an actionable roadmap to build on the successes already achieved and the lessons learned from previous RAPs.
A recent review and reflection of our RAP journey has resulted in a 12-month extension on our current RAP. This extension, supported by Reconciliation Australia, enables the agency to fulfill RAP deliverables and to develop our next RAP, which we currently plan to deliver at the Stretch level.
Apology for the past
The RAP includes a formal apology to the Aboriginal people of Western Australia for the past practices of those who managed Wadjemup. It also addresses the disrespectful treatment of Aboriginal peoples, the cultural significance of the island, and RIA’s historical role in the concealment of this history. It’s an important step in the journey towards reconciliation.
Apology to the Aboriginal people of Western Australia
Wadjemup is a place of pain and sadness for many Western Australian Aboriginal peoples. Between 1838 and 1931, the island was used as an Aboriginal prison. State records indicate that approximately 4000 Aboriginal men and boys from Western Australia were imprisoned on the island. At least 373 of these prisoners died in custody and were buried in an area currently referred to as the Wadjemup Aboriginal Burial Ground.
In 1907, the Colonial Secretary’s department drafted a scheme to transform the island from an Aboriginal penal settlement to a recreation and holiday destination. As part of this transformation, the area where the burial ground is located was repurposed as a camping ground known as Tentland and the Quod (main prison building) was converted into a hostel. Over time the history of the island as a place of incarceration was concealed.
The Rottnest Island Authority (RIA), as the statutory authority established in 1987, and vested with the management of recreational and holiday facilities on the island, has played a historically significant role in the obfuscation of the Aboriginal prison history. It is acknowledged that many past practices of those entrusted with management of the island were not respectful of Aboriginal peoples or the cultural significance of the island. We recognise that this has caused great pain and anguish within Aboriginal communities. For this, we apologise.
The closure of Tentland in 2007 and the return of the Quod to RIA management in 2018 marked important steps forward in the RIA journey towards reconciliation with Aboriginal peoples. We will continue to work in collaboration with the Whadjuk Noongar people and the wider Aboriginal communities of Western Australia to promote reconciliation and acknowledge the past.
Read the Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2021-23
The RAP 2021-23 is designed to increase the participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in the management of the island's cultural heritage. It maps out what we’re doing to acknowledge the past, and look to the future, while celebrating the cultures, languages, stories, and long histories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The vision for reconciliation
The vision for reconciliation is to build respectful, trusting and equitable relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. To acknowledge the past, while moving forward together on a shared journey towards understanding and healing.
RIA wer bandang moort dandjoo kolbang koorliny
RIA and all families together moving forward
To achieve this, RIA will continue to work towards the goals set out in the RAP in partnership with the Whadjuk Noongar people and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Western Australia.
Three key focus areas
The RAP has three key focus areas: Relationships, Respect, and Opportunities.
Aboriginal peoples have connections to Wadjemup before and after European settlement, so the foundation of our reconciliation begins with building strong relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across WA. It involves recognising, acknowledging, and learning about their history and ownership of the land, and developing key partnerships with key groups who can guide us in our journey.
Respect
Reconciliation is built on respect: respecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ culture, lands, waters, histories, rights, and heritage as the nation’s First Peoples. Through understanding and appreciating the diverse histories and cultures that shape this land, we can be more respectful, more inclusive, and provide a more honest visitor experience.
Opportunities
In order to facilitate reconciliation, we’re committed to providing RIA employment, professional development, and commercial tourism opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, organisations, and communities, increasing participation in the island’s management.
How the RAP is implemented
Rottnest Island Authority is responsible for the implementation of the RAP, with the Director of Environment, Heritage and Parks acting as the appointed RAP Champion.
A Reconciliation Working Group (RWG) drives the RAP’s delivery. This is led by our appointed RAP Champion, and is made up of members of our Corporate Executive, the Environment, Heritage and Parks team, and Aboriginal employees:
- Executive Director
- Director – Corporate Services
- Director – Contracts and Planning
- Director – Environment, Heritage and Parks
- Director – Infrastructure
- Director – Marketing and Events
- Director – Visitor Services
- Heritage Manager
- Heritage Officer(s); and the
- Wadjemup Aboriginal Reference Group Members
- Pamela Thorley, Wargyl Keip Noongar
- Brendan Moore, Whadjuk Noongar
- Lindsay Dean, Wargyl Keip Noongar, Bardi and Karajarri
- Walter McGuire, Whadjuk Noongar
- Casey Kickett, Whadjuk, Yued, Ballardong, and Wardandi
- Kathleen Musulin, Malgana and Yawuru
Continuing the reconciliation journey
Rottnest Island Authority is committed to achieving the actions and deliverables set out in the current Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan November 2021 – November 2023. A recent review and reflection of the RAP journey has resulted in a 12-month extension on the current RAP. This extension, supported by Reconciliation Australia, enables the agency to fulfill RAP deliverables and to develop the next RAP, which we currently plan to deliver at the Stretch level.
Key outcomes
- A new Reconciliation Action Plan launched during the RIMP period
- Delivery of the actions identified in the Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2021-23
- Increased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment at RIA