Artwork titled: Island Dreaming By: Graham Gilbert – Wiradjuri man. Read about Graham’s art in Westernport Water’s Innovate RAP (2023-2025)
Reconciliation
Water Corporations manage a resource considered by Aboriginal people to be one of the most important and sacred – water. We all need water to survive, and protecting and managing our waterways is just one example of where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and businesses need to work in partnership.
Acknowledgement
Westernport Water acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as First Nations People and that the land, sea and water are of spiritual, cultural and economic importance. We recognise that we provide services on the traditional lands of the Bunurong Peoples of the Kulin Nation. The Bunurong Peoples have managed the resources on Millowl for thousands of years. We acknowledge them and their continued connection to this place, as we go about managing the water resources today.
Upcoming Events
As a leading member of the Bass Coast Reconciliation Network, Westernport Water co-hosts numerous events. We will update the list below for events in 2024 as soon as details are set:
Your voice is important to us!
We invite Bunurong Traditional Owners and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living in the Bass Coast to join the Bass Coast Reconciliation Network. Share your knowledge, experience and perspectives to help us make better decisions that contribute to improved outcomes for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities.
Join us on this Reconciliation journey, we meet four times per year to *champion reconciliation and recognition through events *work together to champion social change *connect and support reconciliation initiatives *build capacity and empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
To apply email: communications@westernportwater.com.au
Download the Expression of Interest
You are invited to the 2024 NAIDOC Week Art Exhibition official opening
Sunday 7th of July 1pm to 3pm
Come and experience a Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony and meet the artists.
Artspace Wonthaggi, The Centennial Centre, 1 Bent St
The Bass Coast/South Gippsland Reconciliation Group proudly organises the NAIDOC Week Art Exhibition and ongoing virtual exhibition with the support of the Bass Coast Reconciliation Network. The 2024 exhibition runs from Tuesday 2nd of July to Sunday 11th of August showcasing local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.
Download the Invitation to the 2024 NAIDOC WEEK ART EXPO
View the Virtual Exhibition from Sunday 7 July 2024
Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (October 2023 – October 2025)
Reconciliation Australia adopted Westernport Water’s third Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) on 17 October 2023. The Innovate RAP will enable Westernport Water to sustainably and strategically take meaningful action to advance reconciliation based on the core pillars of relationships, respect and opportunities. Read the Westernport Water Innovate RAP 2023-2025…
Our RAP Working Group
Consists of members of Westernport Water’s workforce and includes representatives from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island community and businesses such as the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation.
RAP Working Group – Terms of Reference – Approved 10-09-2021
Seeking new members
Welcome to Country Video
Click the image to view our Welcome to Country video, produced by the Bass Coast Reconciliation Network and Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation.
Bass Coast Reconciliation Network
We’re proud to be a member of the Bass Coast Reconciliation Network (BCRN) along with community representatives, the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, Bass Coast South Gippsland Reconciliation Group, Yowengarra Bun Wurrung Balug Clans Aboriginal Corporation, and four of Bass Coast’s leading organisations including Bass Coast Shire Council, Bass Coast Health, Phillip Island Nature Parks and Westernport Water.
The BCRN was established in 2019 and seeks to create a shared future of recognition, opportunity and true partnerships with Traditional Owners and our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
The Network is an action-based group of organisations committed to:
- sharing time, resources, and knowledge
- being a conduit for organisational and community networking
- building organisational and community knowledge and understanding of reconciliation
- driving positive social change
- presenting a united ‘organisational’ approach to reconciliation
See the video created by BCRN for 2020 Reconciliation Week
Completed Reconciliation Action Plans
Click on the accordion below to view our completed Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPS)
1. Our REFLECT Reconciliation Action Plan (May 2018- May 2019)
Our REFLECT RAP was our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
It was an agreed plan of how Westernport Water intended to contribute to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and their connection to the land and waterways. This RAP committed to implement specific actions that built respectful relationships and outlined opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Westernport Water was at the beginning of its RAP journey to reconciliation and recognition in 2018, focusing on building the foundations for relationships, respect and opportunities as it developed and implemented the actions identified in its Reflect RAP.
View Westernport Water’s endorsed Reconciliation Action Plan 2018-2019 – Adopted
2. Our INNOVATE Reconciliation Action Plan (July 2020 – July 2022)
Our second RAP, was an INNOVATE RAP.
An Innovate RAP focuses on developing and strengthening relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, engaging staff and stakeholders in reconciliation, developing and piloting innovative strategies to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Talking, walking, and working together, we aimed to build trust and respectful relationships with Traditional Custodians and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to enable us to achieve positive social change and support the national reconciliation movement.
Innovate RAP May 2020-2022 (5.5 MB)
Past media releases ~ Reconciliation
Click on the accordion below to view media releases we’ve written about past reconciliation topics and events.
2018 Media Releases
2019 Media Releases
Reconciliation is Grounded in Truth (Published
2020 Media Releases
- Reflecting on Reconciliation (Published 08/11/2020)
2021 Media Releases
- Reconciliation takes action (Published 28/05/2021)
-
Walk for Reconciliation (Published 24/05/2021)
2022 Media Releases
2023 Media Releases
- Be a voice for generations – Community Forum (Published – 10/05/2023)
On the road to Reconciliation
Read about how Westernport Water started our Reconciliation journey in 2018.