Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan Published

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Volunteering WA values the strength, resilience and enduring connection to Country of Aboriginal peoples. We acknowledge that past experiences have created challenges that are still felt today and are committed to helping build a future where Aboriginal people in WA have every opportunity to thrive in health, justice, education, employment and beyond.

By committing to understanding our past, working together to overcome racism, renewing focus on closing the gap and creating opportunities for all, we can contribute to meaningful reconciliation and a more just and hopeful future for everyone.

Our dedication to First Nations peoples is at the heart of our Reconciliation Action Plan. Through our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan we continue our journey in taking thoughtful, practical steps to build genuine relationships, show deep respect, and create opportunities both within our organisation and alongside our partners and communities.

 

Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan | October 2025 – April 2027

Volunteering WA is proud to present our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2025-2027 that continues our commitment to reconciliation by recognising, acknowledging and respecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’, knowledge, cultures and histories. This RAP builds on lessons learnt from our Reflect RAP, and focuses on embedding reconciliation into organisational planning, building on current initiatives, and expanding understanding of engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, in a culturally safe way.

Innovate RAP 2025-2027 Reflect RAP 2022-2023

About the Artist: Sarah Weston

Sarah Weston is a a 35-year-old proud Noongar woman with family ties to Kanaeng, Ballardong and Whadjuk country. Her artistic journey is enriched by the stories of her elders, aunties, uncles and extended family, who bore witness to the Stolen Generation and are survivors. Her artwork is artwork is quirky, creative, colourful, bold and very detailed.

Sarah has contributed to community development by working with government agencies and schools doing team building workshops and Reconciliation Action Plans. She is committed to fostering creativity within her community, engaging in projects with children within the community and through government agencies, imparting cultural creativity and cultural knowledge through art.

  • The circle motifs are traditional cultural symbols that represent campsites or meeting places. The lines that join the meeting place symbols represent pathways (bidi in Noongar language), showing the many journeys of people as they come together. In modern times, we use these motifs to symbolise people in the community coming together.
  • The circles of pink represent significant community gatherings spots that have meaning for Volunteering WA all over the State. The blue lines are the direct and unbroken pathways that connect these meeting places, keeping everything flowing and everyone connected.
  • The hand-print motifs represent the ongoing efforts of the reconciliation action plan to reach out and engage with all members of the community. The hands symbolise Volunteering WA working together to ensure positive outcomes.
  • These ripple motifs represent the stories shared by the knowledge holders. The dots represent the people sharing the knowledge.
  • The feet represent our Elders, the traditional knowledge holders of the land. They walk alongside us and share their stories. They help us to carry knowledge too, passing it down through generations to ensure our cultural connections are strong.
  • The Kangaroo and Emu prints represent how the RAP is moving the organisation forward and bridging cultural divides – because emus and kangaroos can’t go backwards. Also traditionally, both animals provided untold resources and support to the old people.

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