Reconciliation Action Plan

“WorkCover Queensland respectfully acknowledges and pays respect to Queensland’s Elders past, present and emerging. We thank the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia for their ongoing custodianship of land, waters and community.”

Artwork by Rachael Sarra.

Our vision for Reconciliation

WorkCover Queensland deeply believes that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures should be embraced with equity, dignity and respect. We share Reconciliation Australia’s vision of a just, equitable and reconciled Australia. We strive to support and contribute to a space where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples feel valued and respected, have access to opportunities and resources and can contribute their perspectives and talents to the Queensland community.

WorkCover is committed to contributing to reconciliation in Australia. By developing a Reconciliation Action Plan (PDF, 6.26 MB), we will outline practical actions that we will take to help build strong relationships and enhance respect between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the wider Queensland community.

WorkCover has recognised the need to develop a Reconciliation Action Plan not only because it is the right thing to do, but because the ability to understand the heritage and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will enable our organisation to make lasting impacts for the Queensland community.

This Reconciliation Action Plan has been designed to build internal awareness, understanding and cultural competency for all of our people. We will utilise our unique position as an organisation that supports Queensland employers and injured workers to support and foster inclusion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Queensland workplaces.

Our journey

WorkCover has fostered the spirit of reconciliation through the following actions and recognise we still have a lot more to learn and do:

• In 2018, our Board of Directors endorsed a Regional Strategy, partnering with and supporting our customers and stakeholders throughout Queensland to ensure we keep all Queenslanders working and make a positive difference topeople’s lives. A key initiative of this strategy is to regularly hold WorkCover Queensland’s Board meetings in remote Queensland communities (including Mackay, Rockhampton, Toowoomba and Townsville to date)
• In 2019, we launched our Diversity, inclusion and belonging strategy
• In February 2020, we established our Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group comprising of 10 members from across the organisation with 50% of members identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
• In May 2020, we introduced Acknowledgement of Country protocols to all large internal and external meetings and events.

WorkCover Queensland is supported by our RAP Champion, Reconciliation Working Group (RWG) Chairperson and an engaged Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group made up of individuals from across our organisation who actively helped to shape and evolve our Reconciliation Action Plan. Our Reconciliation Action Plan has been developed in consultation with our Executive Leadership Team and endorsed by our Board of Directors.