Earlier this year, TelstraSuper launched our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). We spoke to Engagement and Inclusion Leader Shauna McLean about how to get started.

If you haven't heard the term before, a RAP is a formal business document outlining an organisation's approach to reconciliation with First Nations peoples. There's three levels of RAPs that have different minimum requirements with the framework set by Reconciliation Australia.

While getting started can seem daunting, Mrs McLean found that Reconciliation Australia had a range of resources to make it easy.

"The first step is registering your intention to develop a RAP with Reconciliation Australia, you're then assigned a case manager who can help you through the process," says Mrs McLean.

TelstraSuper then formed a RAP Working Group that would be responsible for ensuring the project's success. The invitation was sent across the business with representatives from various departments encouraged to join who could champion the work amongst their teams. As there were no staff that identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, the fund also engaged an external Aboriginal consultant who could attend meetings and provide insights.

"We started by asking our people what reconciliation meant to them personally, as well as what they thought it should mean to our business," said Mrs McLean. "These conversations not only helped us set our vision for reconciliation but also got us thinking about how to make the RAP engaging for our teams."

From there, the RAP Working Group met monthly to go through the RAP framework and determine where and how they could make the most impact - divvying up the work into smaller tasks that could be implemented throughout the year.

"We found that making smaller groups accountable for each task made it less daunting and empowered our teams to really own the work," said Mrs McLean. "All up the process took around six months, but it's already been extremely rewarding seeing the change in the way we do things and the positive attitude from our people."

If you're thinking about launching a RAP, you might find some of the tips below useful for your own journey. You can also reach out to us directly at [email protected] for a chat about our process – we’re always happy to help. You can view the TelstraSuper RAP here.

3 immediate steps to start today:

1. Form a RAP Working Group
   We've invited representatives from all parts of the business so tasks can be easily divided.
2. Ensure you've got First Nations representation on the RAP Working Group.
   If you don't have a First Nations staff member willing to take on the role be prepared to budget for an external consultant. You'll need someone to attend regular meetings and provide input.
3. Get familiar with the framework
   Review the RAP levels on Reconciliation Australia's website and decide what's right for you. You might wish to start with the first level, Reflect and work up from there.