Council adopts Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan

Published on 29 October 2025

Surf Coast Shire Council has pledged to continue its journey in First Nations reconciliation, with adoption of the Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2025-2027.

Council resolved at its October meeting to implement the plan, building on learning and growth achieved during completion of an initial Reflect action plan.

This is the next step within Reconciliation Australia’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) framework.

Cr Libby Stapleton: “We look forward to progressing our reconciliation journey, seeking to build on our learning with great care and respect.

“We can see how far we have come through completion of the Reflect RAP, which focused primarily on internal cultural awareness learning for our organisation.

“Now the Innovate plan will invite us to focus more on external reconciliation actions and strengthening of relationships with Traditional Owner organisations and the First Nations community.

“Importantly it provides us with a structured process, with measurable outcomes.”

The Reflect plan included 55 actions which have helped to grow understanding and embed cultural awareness into Council processes and project delivery.

Council symbolically launched its reconciliation journey with a statement of commitment to reconciliation in 2021, pledging to walk together and work together with Traditional Owners while growing understanding of First Nations culture.

The statement acknowledged the Wadawurrung People and the Gulidjan and Gadubanud Peoples of the Eastern Maar as the traditional custodians of the lands now spanned by Surf Coast Shire.

It also recognised their spiritual connections with those lands, and past hurt, grief and suffering experienced by First Nations people.