New plan to better incorporate Indigenous culture into operations

Published on 25 June 2024

A new document to help guide Council’s engagement with local Indigenous people has been endorsed.

Mayor Cr Ian Smith said the Aboriginal Engagement and Partnership Plan was largely an internal facing document to help provide guidance to Council teams and increase awareness and recognition of indigenous culture in everyday operations.

“It is very much about integrating Indigenous culture and recognition into the work our teams do every day,” he said.

“It might include updating signage policies and guidelines to incorporate Aboriginal language and imagery where appropriate, increased Indigenous story time at our libraries or development of tourism materials with an Indigenous focus.

“The plan will help our teams recognise the 65,000 years of Indigenous culture in Australia, which predates all of us, and share it with the community through Council’s daily operations. It will help our teams think about how they can make our work more inclusive and aware of Aboriginal culture.”

Cr Smith said the plan had been developed in partnership Corangamite Shire Council and key traditional owner groups.  

“It’s a small but significant step for Council to be taking and our plan aligns with the Victorian Aboriginal Local Government Strategy as well as the Moyne Shire 2040 Community Plan and 2021-2025 Council Plan, and the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation Country Plan.”