Our vision
for Reconciliation
Wesley Mission
Queensland’s vision
for reconciliation
is for all people to
stand unified in an
equal and inclusive
future. We commit
to enhancing
opportunities for
Aboriginal & Torres
Strait Islander people
and celebrating
diversity.
Our Reconciliation Action Plan
Our Organisation
• Why is our organisation developing a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)?
• What are our core areas of work?
Wesley Mission Queensland is an integral part of the Uniting Church in Australia and our Purpose is to
participate in the mission of God – towards reconciliation, justice and hope for all people. As part of the
Uniting Church we are committed to a covenanting relationship with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples as Australia’s First Peoples. The importance of this covenant is recognised within the Revised
Preamble (2009) to the Constitution of the Uniting Church which recognised that many within the churches
which were formed into the Uniting Church (in 1977) “were complicit in the injustice that resulted in many of
the First Peoples being dispossessed from their land, their language, their culture and spirituality, becoming
strangers in their own land.”
Our core business is primarily to achieve a compassionate, just and inclusive society for all by walking alongside
people in need, offering care and compassion and promoting choice, independence and community wellbeing.
As outlined in the Wesley Mission Queensland Strategic Plan, we:
• respond to people in need and strengthen the communities in which we operate
• actively support cultural diversity and inclusion in our workplace.
• What is our reconciliation journey to date?
• How many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff does our organisation
currently employ?
Our organisation has approximately 0.8% of our workforce that identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander,
though as part of the RAP work we seek to increase this proportion.
• What is our organisation’s geographic reach (is our organisation state-focused
or national)?
Our organisation reaches primarily those in the southern half of Queensland, though we serve many parts of
Australia through our National Auslan Interpreter Booking and Payment Service (NABS).
• Who champions our RAP internally?
As part of our RAP Committee, we have identified an initial group of “RAP Champions” who are already
committed to reconciliation. As our RAP is implemented we will have these staff mentor others that have a
strong interest throughout the organisation to drive RAP implementation.
• Who was involved in the development of our RAP?
The whole organisation has participated in activities designed to provide direction for our RAP, including our
Acknowledgement of Country email signature. As part of the RAP development process we have consulted
and had cultural learning activities with several Elders who are the Traditional Owners of the lands in which
we operate. A small cross-section of 18 staff representing all of the Directorates of the organisation, have
formed our RAP Committee. We have an Indigenous facilitator and an Indigenous RAP Committee member
who have provided perspective and leadership throughout the RAP development.
Our Focus
Relationships
Wesley Mission Queensland believes a shared journey is vital to the ongoing process of reconciliation and
the wellbeing of our whole community.
In establishing meaningful engagement with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander cultures, we can expand our
knowledge and show our commitment to enhancing genuine and respectful relationships.
We recognise the way history has impacted the rich culture of first Australians, and the current gaps that
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples experience.
By working together, we can better respond to bridge these gaps and serve to empower and enrich not only
people’s lives but the life of our organisation.
Respect
Beauty in Diversity
We are all connected.
Rev. Lyn Burden
Superintendent Minister,
Wesley Mission Queensland
Luke Mallie
Beauty in Diversity, 2017
Wesley Mission Queensland honours Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples as Australia’s first people, and
celebrates our uniqueness and diversity.
Respect is one of the core values that drives the Vision of Wesley Mission Queensland as we seek to nurture a
culture of inclusion with a focus on social justice.
We can look to the diversity of nature where the dragonfly lives in balance with the butterfly, in which we can learn
how to live in balance with each other.
We are committed to meaningful consultation, and true understanding of people, culture, history and connection to
the land and to each other, leading us together into authentic action across our core activities.
As the honey bee collects pollen from the flower for further expansion, we can learn that every choice we make
can affect others around us and teach us to make better choices to live in harmony together.
Opportunities
Nature does not dwell on the past but lives strong today to create more growth for tomorrow, therefore if we
remember the past but work together today toward an all inclusive future we can then respect and recognise the
beauty of our diversity.
Providing opportunities is vital for Wesley Mission Queensland to role model and empower all people to be
actively involved in making a positive difference in the lives of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people.
The gold pattern in the background represents the rich Indigenous history that weaves throughout this great land.
The intense colours of the insects and flowers represent the bright outlook of today, while the fluoro blue outlines
represent the vibrancy of future prospects by working together.
Wesley Mission Queensland Reconciliation Action Plan 2017 – 2018
Our organisation employs approximately 2,500 staff and 1,500 volunteers.
Wesley Mission Queensland has a strong desire to implement a RAP into the organisation. We now seek to
adopt a whole-of-organisation approach to reconciliation.
Luke Mallie’s artwork beautifully captures our journey towards reconciliation, our
acknowledgement of the past, the beauty of our diversity and our excitement for the future by
working together.
Geoff Batkin
Chief Executive Officer,
Wesley Mission Queensland
• How many people does our organisation employ?
We strive to find connectedness between the past, present and future to achieve positive self-identity and
growth for mutual benefit.
Wesley Mission Queensland I P 1800 448 448 I wmq.org.au