About our vision

The City’s vision for reconciliation will be driven by community engagement practices, innovative projects, policy practices, organisational reflection, improvement and positive promotion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories and cultural understandings.

We are committed to understanding the impacts of our colonial past, the injustices it has created for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and our need to address the complex underlying issues with a strong focus on change and improving our relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, in particular, the Whadjuk Noongar people.

We aim to generate positive impacts by taking into account the diverse needs of the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in decision making. We will strongly advocate the interests of this community and foster community cohesion by encouraging active participation in culturally appropriate projects and events. We aim to advocate and influence organisational awareness to strengthen our capacity, governance and practices to ensure responsiveness to emerging issues that impact the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. We aim to be a leader in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment and engagement.

We have a vision to be recognised as a culturally sensitive local government that works closely with key partners to address local issues including homelessness and community safety among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

In December 2020, Council resolved unanimously to support the Uluru Statement from the Heart. A key part of the Uluru Statement is a First Nations Voice to Parliament, protected by the Constitution. Ahead of the referendum on 14 October 2023, we heard from Vincent locals about their support for a Voice to Parliament. See the videos.

Our Reconciliation Action Plans (RAP)

RAPs provide a framework for organisations to realise their vision for reconciliation. RAPs are practical plans of action built on relationships, respect and opportunities. They create social change and economic opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

There are four types of RAP, determined by Reconciliation Australia, to reflect the stages of reconciliation progress, being Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate.

The City of Vincent began its reconciliation journey in 2017 with a Reflect RAP, completing its first Innovate RAP in September 2022 and commencing its second Innovate RAP in August 2022.

Throughout our previous two RAPs, the City has strengthened its relationship with the local Noongar Elders, community and celebrated Noongar culture and tradition through numerous events, activities and workshops. We have created a more empathetic and culturally sensitive workplace and increased our procurement from Aboriginal businesses.

Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2022-2024

The City's second Innovate RAP was adopted at the Ordinary Council Meeting on 23 August 2022. This RAP was designed in partnership with the City's Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group, internal staff, stakeholder groups and most importantly, our Aboriginal Elders. There are 80 actions in the second Innovate RAP that the City has committed to achieving within a two-year time period. Whilst the sharing of Noongar history, tradition and culture remains important, this RAP has some high-level deliverables including meeting an employment target of three per cent of staff who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, developing a strategy to achieve three per cent procurement from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses along with exploring Aboriginal names for unnamed places or laneways and reviving traditional names of parks and reserves.

Reconciliation Action Plan 2022 - 2024 | Innovate

First Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2019-2021

The City's second RAP, the Innovate RAP, was adopted at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 30 April 2019. This RAP aimed to continue to build on the meaningful relationships we developed during the implementation of our Reflect RAP and continue to grow our community’s awareness and appreciation of Noongar culture, as well as our sense of pride in our diversity and rich Noongar history and tradition. The City continued to provide staff and Council with opportunities to immerse themselves in Noongar culture and ensured that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff have the opportunity to celebrate and share their history, tradition and culture.

Reconciliation Action Plan 2019 - 2021 | Innovate

Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan 2017-2018

At the Ordinary Council Meeting on 4 April 2017, Council adopted the City's first RAP. The Reflect RAP was launched with a community event on Saturday 27 May 2017 in conjunction with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum during Reconciliation Week. Throughout this RAP, the City strengthened its relationship with the local Noongar community and celebrated Noongar culture and tradition through a number of events, activities and workshops. Internally, we strived to create a more empathetic and culturally sensitive workplace which resulted an update of our Welcome to Country Policy to include Noongar language, as well as mandating a Welcome to Country at major City funded events.

Reconciliation Action Plan 2017 - 2018 | Reflect

RAP reports

Organisations

We also have many Aboriginal-run organisations that aim to connect with Aboriginal people within the City of Vincent, servicing their various needs and requirements.

Aranmore Catholic College Aboriginal Student Support Program

Central Institute of Technology’s Koolark Centre

Gurlongga Njininj Day Care Centre

Derbal Yerrigan Health Service Inc.

Aboriginal Health Council of WA

Indigenous Community Volunteers

Noongar Radio

Nyoongar Outreach

Kuditj

Boordiya (Bosses) Reference Group

The City of Vincent Elders Reference Group, the Vincent Boordiya, was formed in 2021 as one of the actions of the Reconciliation Action Plan 2019 – 2021. The Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2022 – 2024 reaffirms the City’s commitment to continuing to work with the Vincent Boordiya together with the Whadjuk Noongar community towards genuine reconciliation and truth-telling. We acknowledge their contribution to our City:

• Uncle Ben Taylor
• Uncle Albert McNamara
• Aunty Irene McNamara
• Aunty Muriel Bowie
• Rose Walley
• Cheryl Martin
• Cyril Yarran
• Rodney Cox

Internal Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group (IRAPWG)

Our IRAPWG's purpose is to assist in the implementation of the RAP, with the aim to help the organisation achieve its commitment to greater reconciliation between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. The group ensure RAP actions within each directorate are undertaken and completed.

Partnerships

Alongside our working groups, we have strengthened our relationships with local Aboriginal organisations including Noongar Radio, the Aboriginal Health Council of WA, Nyoongar Outreach Services as well as Aranmore Catholic College.

Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country

Recognition of Noongar Boodjar culture and history starts with Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country.

The establishment of a policy shows respect to Noongar culture and tradition and encourages the use of Noongar language within our organisation and wider community.

The process of Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country recognises the unique position of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australian culture and history as the Traditional Owners of the land. It is important that this policy is incorporated as part of official protocols and events to enable the wider community to share in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage.

This policy reaffirms that the Whadjuk people from the Noongar nation are and always will be the Traditional Owners of the land upon which the City of Vincent is located and ensures that the correct protocols are used by the City of Vincent for Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country.

• 4.1.30 Recognition of Noongar Boodjar Culture and History through Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country

Guidelines and protocols

The guidelines and protocols for external stakeholders has been designed to provide guidance and direction to groups and organisations when planning and facilitating a Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country in the City of Vincent.

Guidelines and Protocols for External Stakeholders

Birak

First summer | December & January

As the rains begin to ease, the warm weather of Birak starts to take hold with the afternoon sea breeze cooling those close to the ocean. Easterly winds in the morning, followed by the afternoon sea breeze meant that traditionally this was the time of year Noongar people burnt country. They would burn the country in mosaic patterns to increase grazing pastures for some animals, to aid in seed germination, ease of mobility across the country and fuel reduction.

Birak also sees fledglings venturing out of their nests, though some still stay close to their parents. Reptiles are looking to shed their old skin for a new one during this season, and baby frogs complete their transformation into adulthood.

Bunuru

Second Summer | February & March

The hottest time of the year, Bunuru is a season of little to no rain and hot easterly winds with a cooling sea breeze in the afternoon if you are along the coast. The weather during this time permitted Noongar people to live and fish along the coast, rivers and estuaries and their diet consisted mainly of freshwater and sea foods.

White flowers, especially flowering gums including Jarrah, Marri and Ghost Gums are in full bloom. The female Zamia (Macrozamia Riedle) is also notable due to being much larger than its male counterpart, with huge cones emerging from the centre of the plant with masses of a cotton wool like substance. As the weather continues to be dry and hot, the Zamia seed upon the cone changes from green to bright red, indicating they are ripening and becoming more attractive to animals, particularly the emu, that will eat the toxic fleshy outer part of the plant.  

Djeran

Autumn | April & May

Djeran season sees a break in the very hot weather, and the change in the season is evident in the wind with seeds, dust and leaves blown across the landscape. Flying ants can be seen cruising around in the light southerly winds of Djeran. You’ll also notice this season brings cooler nights with a dewy presence for us to discover in the early mornings.

This season sees red wildflowers take bloom, especially the Red Flowering Gum (Corimbia Ficifolia) and the petite Summer Flame (Beaufortia Aestiva). The male and female Sheoaks (Allocasuarina Fraseriana) form cones, and Banksia start to display their flowers ensuring there are nectar food sources for the many small mammals and birds that rely upon them.

Noongar people would traditionally eat Zamia seeds that had been collected a season earlier, as well as root bulbs of the Yanget (Bullrushes), freshwater fish, frogs and turtles.

As the season progresses, nights become cool and damp and the days can become cooler too with some rain. Noongar people would at this time start preparing and position their mia mias (homes and shelter) for heavier rains in the coming winter months.

Makuru

Winter | June & July

The coldest and wettest time of the year, Makuru was traditionally the time that Noongar people moved back inland and away from the coast. Winds turn to the west and south bringing rain and occasional snow on the peaks of the Stirling and Porongurup Ranges.

During this season, waterways and catchments begin to fill and Noongar people change their diet from eating food from the sea and lakes to hunting grazing animals such as the kangaroo or ‘yongar’.  The yongar not only provided a food source but also ‘bookas’ which are animal skin cloaks used as nights became much colder. Bones and sinews were also used from the yongar for spear making and manufacturing of a booka.

Makuru is also a time for animals to begin pairing up in preparation for breeding in the coming season. ‘Wardongs’ (ravens) can be seen flying together during this season, and upon the lakes and rivers of the Southwest you will notice the influx of ‘Mali’ of Black Swan as they prepare to nest and breed.

Blue and purple flowers such as Blueberry Lilly (Dianella Revoluta) and the Purple Flags (Patersonia Occidentalis) emerge during these colder months, and as Mukuru draws to a close. You will notice the white flowers of the weeping peppermint (Agonis Flexuosa) as the blues start to make way for the white and cream flowers of Djilba.

Djilba

First Spring | August & September

A transitional time of the year, Djilba has days that are very cold, some that are rainy and windy and others where the sun comes through. As the days start to warm up, you’ll hear and see the first of the new born animals with their parents providing them with food, shelter and protection from other animals and people. The woodland birds will still be nest bound, hence the swooping behaviour of the Koolbardi (magpie), Djidi Djidi (Willywag tails) and the Chuck-a-luck (wattle birds).

This is the start of the massive flowering explosion in the South West. It begins with yellow flowering plants such as the Acacias. You’ll also notice cream and striking blue coloured flowers. As the season progresses and the temperatures continue to rise, you will see the flower stalks of the Balgas (Grass Tress) emerging in preparation for the coming Kambarang season.

Traditionally, the main food source at this time of the year included many of the land based grazing animals including Yongar (kangaroo), Waiitj (Emu) and the Koomal (possum).

Kambarang

Transformational time of the year | October & November

Kamabarng is the wildflower season with many yellow flowers, orchids, kangaroo paws and banksias in bloom. Even the Balgas will flowers, especially if they have been burnt in the past year. One of the most striking displays of flowers at this time of year is the Mooja or Australian Christmas Tree, whose bright orange/yellow flowers signal that heat is on its way.

As many things are undergoing transformation with the warm change in the weather and longer dry periods, October is a time of the year you are most likely to encounter a snake. Reptiles at this time are emerging from hibernation and look to make the most of the warm weather to assist them in getting enough energy to look for food.

Six seasons cooking