About the Strategy

The City of Belmont is developing an Aboriginal Strategy and we have kick-started the consultation phase which includes a survey, interviews, consultation forums and a Co-Design Group!

By working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and with feedback from local residents and ratepayers, the City will deliver a Strategy that has been developed by the community, for the community.

The Strategy will capture community’s current needs, priorities, and future aspirations. In addition, the Strategy will focus on at least six key priority areas and reflect key Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policies such as, the National Agreement on Closing the Gap 2020, the Western Australian Aboriginal Empowerment Strategy and Reconciliation Australia’s Reconciliation Action Plan framework.

Development of the Strategy

The Strategy will focus on at least six priority areas for the City’s Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander population, as indicated in the graphic on the right. The survey and
co-design group will further explore the community’s needs and future aspirations within each of these priority areas.

In addition to community feedback, the Strategy will also reflect the strategic direction of key Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians policies. This will ensure that the City is moving in-step with other government agencies and using best practice to develop a holistic Strategy.

The City developed our first Reconciliation Action Plan in 2015. Since its expiry in 2017, the City has achieved a number of key actions over the past five years including:

• Establishment of an Aboriginal Advisory Group since 2014;
• Recognition of Close the Gap, National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC annually with events growing in size and in budget;
• Provision of regular Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Training for staff and community members;
• Engagement of Noongar Patrol Outreach Services to provide advice, support and outreach services to the City of Belmont community and Aboriginal people;
• Welcome To Country and other cultural ceremonies performed at major City events;
• Aboriginal history in the City displayed at the City’s Museum and;
• Partnership with the Belmont RSL to unveil a plaque which honors Aboriginal men and women who lived in the City of Belmont area and served in the Armed forces.

To help frame the consultation process, the City has worked with members of our Aboriginal Advisory Group to develop six suggested key outcome areas, informed by previous feedback from the City’s earlier Reconciliation Action Plan as well as key state and federal policies and frameworks including Closing the Gap. They have also assisted us to co-design the survey.

The City’s survey and co-design workshops will focus on developing the community’s priorities within each of these areas, or refining the key areas as needed. In addition to community feedback, the Strategy will reflect the contemporary strategic direction of key Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians policies. This will ensure that the City is moving in-step with other government agencies and using best practice to develop a holistic Strategy.