Reconciliation Journey
Innovate RAPRoyal Far West is passionately committed to reconciliation.
Royal Far West has a long and proud history of supporting the health and wellbeing of children from rural and remote areas of Australia. A considerable proportion of children, families, and communities we have partnered with, supported, and served are First Nations people. We are committed to ensuring we provide culturally responsive and accountable health, education and disability services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families, organisations and communities.
Apology to the Stolen Generations
A deeply significant moment in our history — our apology to the Stolen Generations is a sincere and ongoing commitment to truth-telling and reconciliation.
Reconciliation at Royal Far West
Reconciliation at Royal Far West (RFW) is a journey we have been on for some time now and we see it being an important part of our organisational strategy, how we live our values of Caring, Connected, Passionate and Impact and informing our clinical service models and workforce development into the future as we create and enhance a safe cultural space for our client families and staff.
Our two- year long Innovate RAP (August 2023 – August 2025) builds on our Reflect RAP and provides a step by-step framework to ensure that the principles and actions RFW will apply and achieve will lead to a more culturally competent workforce and more culturally responsive environment for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community partners and families.
There is no doubt that the unacceptable gap in developmental vulnerability for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Australia is underpinned by the effects of the trauma of colonisation, dispossession and ongoing systemic racism and injustice. We know that First Nations Leadership is critical to overcome these impacts.
We work closely with our Indigenous Advisory Group and our First Nations partners in community to guide us in our work and help redress this disadvantage.
- Caroline Glass-Pattison – Aboriginal Education Officer, Royal Far West School; proud Wiradjuri, Dungutti woman
- Ben Ballard – Former CEO, First Peoples Leading; former Executive Director, Rural and Remote Education Policy, NSW Department of Education; proud Biripi and Bundjalung man
- Peter Mackay – Aboriginal Education Officer, Warren High School; RFW father, former RFW client, and Chair of Warraan Widji Arts; proud Ngarrindjeri and Wayilwan man
- Bill Simpson – Indigenous Education Officer, Taronga Zoo; proud Wakka Wakka man
This Innovate RAP:
- Highlights our reconciliation journey to date
- Describes our current partnerships with First Nations services and community groups
- Outlines existing activities and events we have engaged in to promote reconciliation
- Specifies the key actions (focused on Relationships, Respect, Opportunities and Governance) we have committed to undertaking by August 2025.
Artist statement
Frances Belle Parker
This work, titled What lies within is intended to bring a feeling of peace, calm, clarity, understanding and reassurance. A sense of calm flows through the entire work bringing the viewer in and giving hope and direction.
- Read the Full Artist Statement
The golden tree is the central component of this work that stands in the centre with large leaves. The tree blends into the gold and ochre land beneath it, firmly rooted in a land that depicts many different layers. The layers here represent many things including the paths we take in life, our underlying stories that shape all of us, as well as connections to country, places and people. At the very base of the work is a mapped river-way that snakes its way across, cutting through the land, depicting a sense of movement and flow.
In the top half of the image are lush, green, undulating hills that stand in contrast to the bright gold of the tree and the land. The hills contain many shapes and lines that give movement and depth as well as a shared sense of history. At the very top of the work is a starry night sky that seems to have a life of its own. The southern cross flashes brightly in the centre. Tying the hills to the land, and pulling the whole work together, are many dark spirit figures. They are all connected to each other to symbolise unity and strength and shared history. They meet at the golden tree in the centre of the work which contains a solitary figure representing rebirth, new-life, healing and peace.
Royal Far West is passionately committed to ensuring we provide culturally safe and accountable health, education and disability services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families, organisations and communities. We are also committed to advocating for equal access to services for all regional families, particularly our First Nations families. ”
Jacqueline Emery
Former Chief Executive Officer of Royal Far West
Learn more about Royal Far West
Coolamon Connection Journey
Honouring cultural traditions while embodying the heart of Royal Far West’s mission: to connect, support, and nurture families across generations.
The story behind our 100-year Coolamons
Celebrating connection and culture: The gift of Coolamons
Yiran Birrang (Long Journey)
Created by Skye Burton to commemorate the Royal Far West 100-year celebration, Yiran Birrang (Long Journey) is a deeply symbolic painting that captures the essence of connections formed between families, communities, and RFW.
We support the Uluru Statement from the Heart
We are passionately committed to working in genuine partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to realise the vision of the Uluru Statement.
