SANE was immensely proud to announce the launch of our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) at the SANE Team25 Conference in Melbourne.
Representing a significant milestone in our reconciliation journey, the occasion was marked by a special Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country by Wurundjeri Elder David Wandin involving all SANE staff, RAP Chair Tom Brideson and members of the SANE RAP Committee.
An Innovate RAP is the second stage in the four-tier RAP framework developed by Reconciliation Australia. It is designed for organisations that have laid the groundwork for reconciliation and are now ready to implement more structured and measurable actions.
Since the endorsement of our Reflect RAP in 2020, SANE has actively progressed our engagement and public support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people whilst prioritising partnerships with Aboriginal-led organisations to ensure social and emotional wellbeing principles are built in to all our services and resources.
The SANE Innovate RAP underpins our work with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, communities and partners to co-develop culturally governed programs that are tailored to the specific needs of the community.
According to SANE CEO Rachel Green, this is the first time in SANE’s 40-year history that reconciliation is embedded across all our strategic objectives, programs, and activities.
‘SANE is proud to walk alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in a spirit of respect, collaboration, and shared purpose.’
‘We acknowledge the significant intergenerational impact colonisation has had, and continues to have, on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s mental health and wellbeing and we’re continuing to listen and learn from First Nations people to implement cultural governance and social and emotional wellbeing practice within our model of care in support of Closing the Gap targets’
‘Our vision for reconciliation is an Australia that recognises and values the voices, experiences, and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and this is not just an aspiration—it is essential to our mission of delivering inclusive, effective and culturally sensitive mental health services.’
The SANE Innovate RAP outlines a series of measurable commitments designed to foster respect, relationships, and opportunities, including:
- Delivering culturally safe digital mental health programs and services.
- Building a diverse and inclusive workforce that supports social and emotional wellbeing.
- Embedding cultural governance and practice into SANE’s Model of Care.
- Strengthening partnerships with Aboriginal-led, lived experience, LGBTIQ+, and digital mental health organisations.
- Promoting diverse lived experience voices in the media through initiatives like StigmaWatch.
Key initiatives within this RAP are the inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation on the SANE Board and staff and the implementation of an Indigenous Governance Group to guide the development of Indigenous-specific digital services.
The RAP also features a commissioned artwork by Yankunytjatjara/Kokatha artist Kelly Taylor that beautifully describes SANE’s reconciliation journey. This artwork is proudly displayed in SANE’s offices and across SANE communications channels.
SANE would like to thank the SANE RAP Committee, including Independent Chair Mr Tom Brideson and SANE Peer Ambassadors Shazi Shephard and Dean Duncan for their leadership and contributions. SANE also acknowledged the guidance of Reconciliation Australia in shaping the RAP.
Learn more about SANE’s journey to reconciliation and view our Innovate RAP on our Journey to Reconciliation page.
We’re proud to support National Reconciliation Week, check out the Reconciliation Australia website to learn more about the work towards Reconciliation happening in your local area.