Foundation Housing launches Innovate RAP

April 11, 2023

Foundation Housing is excited to announce the official endorsement of our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), marking a significant step forward in our commitment to Reconciliation. The RAP, developed in collaboration with Reconciliation Australia, outlines a range of initiatives across Foundation Housing aimed at building stronger relationships with Indigenous communities, promoting cultural awareness and understanding, and increasing employment opportunities for Indigenous Australians.

We’d like to thank the following people for their support and guidance on our reconciliation journey: Rhys Paddick and Emma Gibbens (Acknowledge This), Anthea Corbett, Members of the First Nations Involvement Panel, Freda Ogilvie, Neville Collard and family. 

Some of the key Innovate RAP commitments include:

• Develop a cultural standards framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living in Foundation Housing homes and lodges.
• Consult with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders on residential safety and cultural protocols.
• Ensure that 2% of all business transactions go to majority owned Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander companies.
• Provide more employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Develop a procurement strategy to increase engagement with Aboriginal owned businesses.

We wanted to launch our Innovate RAP and emphasise the importance of the commitment to reconciliation with our community.

A sunny morning at our Bennett Street Lodge in East Perth was the perfect setting to hold a special gathering to not only launch the Innovate RAP but to celebrate Aboriginal culture and our commitment to reconciliation.

It was a beautiful event that commenced with a Welcome to Country by Robert Eades (tenant). Other guest speakers included Chris Smith (CEO), Rhys Paddick and Emma Gibbens (Acknowledge This) and Tania (Senior Housing Coordinator). We were honoured to have Anthea Corbett share her housing journey and its influence on her artwork which is featured throughout the RAP document. It was a morning of celebration, yarning, story-telling and delicious native food handmade by proud Kija woman Stacey Goodall (All Good Grub Bushtukka Catering).

We have created a special page on our website dedicated to our Reconciliation journey where you can download copies of our RAP and stay updated with our progress and other milestones. You can visit this page at www.foundationhousing.org.au/about/reconciliation-action-plan/.