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Reconciliation Action Plans: It’s Not About Who Writes the Plan, But Who Lives It.
- claire9426
- Jan 30
- 3 min read
A reflection by Jade Malanczak
I want to start by acknowledging my own perspective—I’m a Wadjula* who has worked in the First Nations space for a number of years. My experiences have shaped how I view reconciliation, but I know that not everyone will see it the same way. This is a deeply political, emotional, and complex issue, and I’m yet to meet two people who completely agree on how it should be done.
People ask me all the time, who should I get to facilitate my Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)? And honestly, there’s no easy answer.
The responsibility for reconciliation is a topic full of debate—is it Wadjulas or mob who should be leading it? Who should be driving it? Who should be advising on it? The truth is, it’s not that simple. It’s messy. It’s complex. And no matter what you do, someone is going to think you got it wrong. But what I do know for sure is this: for a RAP to be effective, it has to be driven from within the organisation. A facilitator can guide and support, but the real work has to come from those within the business who are committed to reconciliation beyond just ticking a box.
That’s why the people who drive reconciliation within an organisation must ensure it’s not just a corporate exercise but a meaningful commitment. And at the heart of that commitment is ensuring First Nations voices are included. A RAP without authentic First Nations input is hollow—it lacks the truth, cultural depth, and lived experience that should guide the process from the inside out. The role of a facilitator is to create space for these voices, ensuring their perspectives inform and shape the plan, rather than being an afterthought—which, unfortunately, is too often the case.
The most important qualities in a facilitator? Consideration. Empathy. Knowledge. A good facilitator needs a strong base of understanding to define solutions and drive real, positive change. And most of all, they need to be committed to reconciliation—beyond a document, beyond a plan, beyond lip service. If you’re working on a RAP, approach it with respect. Know the framework. Do your research—understand the industry you're working within, see what leaders are doing, and apply it to the context. A good facilitator doesn’t dictate the answers—they guide the process, bring ideas together, and capture them in a way that makes sense for the organisation. But they are not the ones responsible for embedding change—that has to come from within.
I’ve been fortunate to work with some incredible Elders who have told me that what matters most isn’t the colour of my skin—it’s my heart, my intent, and the respect I bring to the space. But I’ve also met others who don’t agree—who believe Wadjulas shouldn’t be in this space at all. And I hear and respect that perspective too. This is a conversation filled with different perspectives, and I don’t pretend to have all the answers. I only know my own experience, and I believe that reconciliation is everyone's job.
At the end of the day, reconciliation is not about who writes the plan—it’s about who lives it. A RAP should be more than just a document; it should be the foundation for embedding real change within an organisation. If reconciliation is just a policy or a piece of paper, it’s already failed. Real reconciliation isn’t written—it’s lived. And that starts from within.
*Wadjula - Noongar word for White person
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