The City of Port Phillip has a vision for a community that fully embraces our local living cultures. We celebrate the vibrant tapestry of shared and diverse cultural connections to our city. The Council’s vision for reconciliation is to be an inclusive organisation that supports the cultural diversity of the residents living across Port Phillip.

Our commitment to reconciliation is about coming together. It centres on strengthening enduring connections with Traditional Owner groups and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities linked to the contemporary footprint of our city. We strive to provide our communities with opportunities for self-determination and a voice.

We strongly support First Peoples’ inherent right to self-determination and are deeply committed to the actions in this Reconciliation Action Plan. We will implement these actions in ways that are consistent with the expertise and ambitions of First Peoples and our key partners and stakeholders.

With sincere empathy, we acknowledge the harmful impacts of colonisation upon First Peoples. We recognise the reverberating, multifaceted impacts that First Peoples face and understand that these harms can be far-reaching and intergenerational, as a result of past laws, policies, systems and structures. This systemic and structural racism has normalised the exclusion and disempowerment of First Peoples and ultimately denied their human right to self-determination.

This Reconciliation Action Plan represents the Council’s continued commitment to support meaningful and mutually beneficial relationships with First Peoples in Port Phillip. Meaningful relationships are the key to building and delivering a culturally appropriate and responsive service and enhance accountability and transparency to Bunurong, Boonwurrung and Wurundjeri people and all First Peoples.

In our efforts to evaluate our previous Reconciliation Action Plan, we have contemplated ways to enhance relationships, foster respect and create opportunities for First Peoples. With direct consultation with Traditional Owners, we know we can improve how we embed reconciliation through our core business. We are on a journey of continual growth and will address the evolving needs of Port Phillip's First Peoples, ensuring their experiences with Council’s services and facilities are positive.

We will take action to support our community to foster meaningful relationships, provide opportunities for local gatherings, enhance our cultural awareness and cultural safety, encourage leadership and support opportunities for self-determination.