Reconciliation Action Plan
for the years 2015-2017
Bundjalung
Dandur-ngurgan mering
Dhanggati
Murun ngalany
English
Strong Life
Gumbaynggirr
Guunu balmuun
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Yaygirr
Yaganyi darhiiwa
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Our Vision for Reconciliation
CHESS vision is for a “United Australia which respects this land of ours; values Australia’s First Peoples culture and
provides justice and equity for all”.
CHESS is specific in actioning the above by focusing on the First Australian Nations upon which its sites / offices
are located. CHESS vision is to participate in improving outcomes for Australia’s First Peoples in areas of influence,
namely education, employment, social and economic participation and has a strong commitment to working with
First Australians to access sustainable and meaningful employment and healthy living.
CHESS Reconciliation Action Plan 2015–2017
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Our Business
CHESS Employment and Support Services is a community based business which provides assistance to people in
the NSW Coffs Coast and Clarence Valley communities. We employ over 60 staff in offices in Kempsey, Nambucca
Heads, Bellingen, Dorrigo, Coffs Harbour, Woolgoolga, Grafton, Maclean and Yamba. Our staff members include 6
who identify as First Australians and through this RAP we aim to increase this number.
Established in 1995 with a focus on disability and mental health, CHESS has now evolved into a dynamic
organisation covering two distinct areas of service – Employment Services and Community Services.
CHESS Employment Services provides specialist assistance to support jobseekers and employers into strong and
meaningful employment partnerships achieved through our Disability Employment Service, with 10% of our 845
jobseekers identifying as First Australians and of those 20% in lasting employment.
CHESS Vocational Intervention Programme (VIP) funded through the NSW Lifetime Care and Support authority
supports people with Brain Injury including those from the First Australian community into training and vocational
pathways to employment
CHESS Community Services strive to be leaders in the mental health and wellness field through providing a range
of programs to assist those with mild through to more complex health needs. These programmes include Personal
Helpers and Mentors (PHaMs) and Partners in Recovery (PIR)
PHaMs employs dedicated and skilled workers including a First Australian mentor and Peer Worker to assist
participants’ access support and consolidate the skills needed to live independently and productively in the
community.
PHaMs uses a strengths-based, recovery approach which focuses on a person’s strengths and recognises that a
person can live a satisfying and contributing life within the limitations of their illness.
Program participants work together with an individual mentor to overcome social isolation and increase their
connections within the community based on agreed achievable goals.
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Our Business
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CHESS PIR workers are located in Kempsey, Coffs Harbour and Grafton and aim to support people with severe
and persistent mental illness with complex needs and their carers and families, by working to integrate beneficial
services to better support their needs. PIR employs peer workers and support facilitators and has a focus on
engaging effectively with First Australian communities.
Through these services we support people to achieve social and economic participation in community in
accordance with our Mission Statement ‘Strong Life’. This is featured on the CHESS banner and is translated into
First Australian language as a fundamental expression of the longest continuing living culture in the world.
Gumbaynggirr, Yaygirr, Dunghutti and Bundjalung are the representative languages of the land CHESS offices are on
and are displayed at all our sites.
CHESS is proudly local. We believe in the untapped potential of our service users, the skills and professionalism of
our staff and the importance of community and collaboration.
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CHESS RAP
The CHESS Innovate RAP builds on what has been accomplished through the achievements of the CHESS Reflect RAP.
Our journey continues with the aim of CHESS being a truly inclusive and culturally competent organisation. This will
be achieved through innovative and all-encompassing actions.
Our inaugural Reflect RAP largely achieved the deliverables:
• Greater organisational awareness of First Australian culture –The majority of CHESS staff have participated in
cultural awareness training – covering oral history as handed down by Elders, reflection on traditional First
Australian society enabling a greater understanding of the issues affecting First Australians and the ability to build
on existing knowledge to provide more culturally appropriate services to First Australian people.
• Regular staff attendance at Aboriginal Interagency meetings,
• The development of the CHESS partnership with Galambila, a Coffs Harbour based multidisciplinary Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander primary health care facility servicing the local First Australian community from Corindi in the
north to Urunga and west to Dorrigo and Ulong. This partnership has improved employment outcomes for mutual
clients.
• The development of the CHESS partnership with Yamba Ngaru local Elders and community members mentoring
program to assist First Australian youth with homework and study assistance
• CHESS First Australian PHaMs employment service in Kempsey has achieved significant outcomes in supporting
First Australians to gain employment and engage in further study
• The acknowledgment within CHESS of the importance of significant dates in the First Australian calendar and
commemorating those dates. These dates are marked in the annual all staff calendar with information provided for
discussion at the daily site meeting.
• The inception of a monthly ‘Did you Know’ All Staff email providing information on First Australian history and
culture.
• An increase in the number of First Australians engaging with the DES and PHaMs programme
• Attracting more First Australians to apply for and gain employment with CHESS.
Areas that will carry forward to this RAP include further development of a CHESS First Australian Employment Policy
and Procedure to recognise and provide a framework to encourage a supportive working environment for all First
Australians and Cultural Awareness training for senior staff.
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CHESS RAP
(continued from previous page)
The CHESS RAP is championed by CHESS Executive Management with participation from staff across the
organisation. Staff Champions are Michelle Cowan and Shayne Rawson, PHaMs case workers in the Clarence region
and Brian Bolt, Administration Officer Coffs Harbour and Dale Chapman PHaMs case worker in Kempsey.
The RAP Working Party members include Amanda Jennings Executive Manager and RAP chair, Chris Jones
Operations Manager, Shayne Rawson First Australian Case Worker PHaMs, Michelle Cowan First Australian Case
Worker PHaMs, Brian Bolt First Australian Admin Officer, Naomi Elliott, Manager Maclean and Yamba.
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Relationships
CHESS acknowledges that First Australians have an important and profound relationship to the land on which we work.
By building strong organisational awareness of First Australian culture and through building relationships and working
in partnership with First Australian organisations particularly those of the nations on which CHESS offices are located it
is expected that CHESS will become more effective in providing its services to all Australians.
Action
Responsibility
Timeline
Deliverables
RAP Working Party (RWP)
RWP Chair
May 2015
RWP oversees the development, endorsement
and launch of the RAP.
Monthly 2015,
2016, 2017
RWP to meet monthly to monitor and report on
RAP implementation.
January, April,
July, October
2015, 2016, 2017
Invite staff members providing front line service
to each meeting to contribute to the shared
vision.
November 2015,
2016, 2017
Communicate RAP progress to staff and external
stakeholders through staff meetings, newsletters
and annual report .
June 2015
Establish a terms of reference for the RWP.
27th May- 3rd
June, 2015 2016 - 2017
Organise at least one internal NRW event each
year.
RWP monitors RAP
development, including
implementation of
actions, tracking
progress and reporting.
Celebrate National
Reconciliation Week
(NRW) by providing
opportunities for First
Australian employees
and other employees to
build relationships.
RWP Chair
Each site to organise an internal event or
participate meaningfully by supporting an
external NRW event through planning, funding
and participation.
All CHESS NRW events will be registered on the
Reconciliation Australia website.
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Promote awareness
of services and events
relevant to First
Australian People.
First
Australian
Admin Officer
June 2015
First Australian information page to be added
to CHESS website, with links to support groups
and national events, local community hubs and
contacts.
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Respect
CHESS as an organisation wants to promote respect to all members of the community and strives to adhere to its
company values of Equality, Inclusion, Fairness, Honesty and Professionalism, with all of its interactions with employees,
clients and significantly the First Australian community. By becoming a truly inclusive and collaborative organisation
working in partnership with the First Australian communities we can better reflect these values.
Action
Responsibility
Timeline
Deliverables
Engage employees
in cultural
awareness training
and development
to increase
understanding and
appreciation of First
Australian Peoples
culture, histories
and achievements.
HR Manager
June 2015
Review and implement Chess Cultural Awareness
Training Strategy.
July 2015
First Australians cross cultural awareness training will be
part of the CHESS new staff induction process
August 2015
All staff to complete the University of Sydney’s online
Kinship Module
January
2016, 2017
Staff at each site to undertake cultural awareness
training specific to the local area/s in which they work.
February
2016
The RWP and HR Manager to participate in cultural
awareness training
Engage
employees in
understanding the
protocols around
Acknowledgement
of Country and
Welcome to
Country ceremonies
to ensure there is
shared meaning
behind the
ceremonies.
RWP Chair
-HR Manager
– First
Australian
PhaMs worker
July 2015
Develop and disseminate a First Australian Cultural
Protocols document to all staff through All Staff
meetings.
November
2015, 2016,
2017
The CHESS Annual General Meeting will open with a
Welcome to Country provided by a Traditional Owner of
the Land.
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An Acknowledgment of Country will be included at
all important internal meetings such as 3 monthly
All Staff meetings in the Clarence and Coffs Harbour
area, all RWP meetings and meetings where external
stakeholders participate.
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Respect
CHESS Reconciliation Action Plan 2015–2017
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Action
Responsibility
Timeline
Deliverables
CHESS will create
opportunities for
First Australian
employees to
celebrate their
cultures and
communities
through NAIDOC
Week events.
RWP Chair
– CHESS
Management
group
July 2015,
2016, 2017
Provide opportunities for all staff to participate in local
NAIDOC Week events.
Continue to promote
internal awareness
of the contribution
First Australians have
made to this country
First
Australian
PhaMs worker
Commemorate
regional dates and
significant events
to create awareness
and mark respect
among CHESS staff
of the significance
of the land on which
they work.
RWP chair
Site Managers
Commemorate
significant dates
for First Australian
Peoples
RWP Chair
Review HR policies to ensure there are no barriers to
staff participating in NAIDOC Week activities.
CHESS to contact local NAIDOC Week Committee to
explore opportunities to collaborate in assisting with
NAIDOC activities.
Monthly from
May 2015, 2016,
2017
Continue to distribute a monthly “Did you Know?’ email
to be sent to All Staff including an interesting fact or
story relating to First Nation Peoples.
June, December
2015, 2016, 2017
Organise lunchtime presentations for staff to learn
about First Australians contributions and achievements.
June 2015,
2016, 2017
CHESS sites to organise an event commemorating a
significant occasion that is specific to First Australian
people in their local area.
Events to be communicated to the community via
media with open invitation and partnership to stage
the event.
June 2015,
2016, 2017
Site Managers to include site specific events into their
annual business plan to ensure delivery.
Update ‘All
Staff ’ calendar
January 2015,
2016. 2017
Include dates of significance for First Australian on
CHESS annual calendar
All staff emails to be distributed to mark significant
dates including historical context and cultural
references to the day – for instance script of the
National Apology distributed on 13th February.
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Opportunities
CHESS looks for opportunities to contribute to Closing the Gap within our sphere of influence – namely employment
and education. CHESS has an organisation wide commitment to increasing the numbers of First Australians gain
meaningful employment assisted by our Employment Services throughout the Mid North Coast NSW. CHESS Personal
Helpers and Mentors Service and Partners in Recovery staff are equally committed to supporting social inclusion
through their programmes.
Action
Responsibility
Timeline
Deliverables
Improve First Australian
Peoples employment
outcomes within CHESS
Operations
Manager
RWP Chair
HR Manager
June 2015
Review HR policies and procedures to
ensure any barriers to First Australian
employment can be addressed.
July 2015
Review and adapt recruitment and
interviewing processes to ensure they
attract First Australian applicants
July 2015
Review and update established First
Australian recruitment and retention policy
August 2015
Engage with existing First Australian staff
to discuss employment strategies including
professional development
Advertise all vacancies in First Australian
media
Participate in recruitment activities such as
job fairs and open days.
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Opportunities
(continued from previous page)
Action
Responsibility
Timeline
Deliverables
Improve employment
outcomes for First
Australian Peoples
through service
delivery, Disability
Employment Service
(DES) and Personal
Helpers and Mentors
service (PHaMs)
and the Vocational
Intervention
Programme (VIP) for
people with brain
injury.
RWP Chair
Operations
Manager
PHaMs Team
Leader
VIP Case
Manager
May 2015|
– June 2017
Participate in recruitment activities such as job fairs and
open days.
Continue to partner with Galambila Aboriginal Health
Services Coffs Harbour to deliver employment services
to jobseekers in a culturally appropriate setting.
September
2015
July 2015
August 2015
Establish a First
Australians Mentoring
program
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(continued on next page)
Establish a culturally safe employment service in
partnership with a First Australian organisation in
Grafton NSW.
Engage with PHaMs specialist employment worker
(identified First Australian position) to discuss effective
job seeking and employment strategies to strengthen
employment programs for First Australian clients.
Evaluate and update the cultural appropriateness
of CHESS employment services including, Disability
Employment Service (DES) and Personal Helpers
and Mentors service (PHaMs) and the Vocational
Intervention Programme (VIP) for people with brain
injury.
RWP Chair
Operations
Manager
PHaMs Team
Leader
VIP Case
Manager
September
2015
Develop and implement a First Australian Mentoring
program to support jobseekers in each CHESS service
area, DES, PHaMs, PIR and VIP.
Yamba/Maclean
Site Manager
May 2015 –
June 2017
Continue to collaborate with Yamba Ngaru local Elders
and community members mentoring program to
assist First Australian youth with homework and study
assistance.
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Opportunities
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Action
Responsibility
Timeline
Deliverables
Investigate
opportunities
to increase First
Australian supply
diversity
RWP Chair
General
Manager
Operations
Manager
July 2015
Review CHESS procurement policy to ensure barriers
to procuring goods and services from First Australian
businesses are addressed
July 2015
Develop a First Australian procurement strategy
August 2015
Investigate becoming a member of Supply Nation
August 2015
Develop a list of First Australian businesses to procure
goods and services
June 2015
Educate staff about using First Australian businesses.
July 2015
Develop at least one commercial relationship with a
First Australian business.
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Tracking Progress and Reporting
Action
Responsibility
Timeline
Deliverables
Report achievements,
challenges and
learnings to
Reconciliation
Australia for inclusion
in the RAP Impact
Measurement Report
RWP Chair
September 2015,
2016, 2017
Complete and submit the RAP Impact
Measurement Questionnaire to
Reconciliation Australia annually.
Review, Refresh and
update RAP
RWP Chair and RWP
Investigate opportunities to publicly report
on CHESS RAP
April 2017
Review refresh and update RAP based
on CHESS learnings challenges and
achievements.
June 2017
Submit the new RAP to Reconciliation
Australia for formal endorsement.
Photography Acknowledgement
CHESS would like to acknowledge and express its appreciation to Brian Bolt, Administration/Customer Service, CHESS, for
supplying photographs used in this CHESS Innovate RAP.
Contact details
CHESS Reconciliation Action Plan 2015–2017
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Amanda Jennings, Executive Manager Business Development – [email protected]
– 02 6691 9333 or 0429 455 281