Koorie Education
& Engagement
What is a RAP?
A Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) is a formal commitment to reconciliation. It documents how your school or early learning service will strengthen relationships, respect and opportunities in the classroom, around the school/service and with the community.
Schools and early learning services can develop a RAP using the Narragunnawali platform to register and extend on existing initiatives, or to begin their reconciliation journeys.
Who has a RAP?
There are more than 13,000 schools and early learning services developing Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs).
ELISABETH MURDOCH COLLEGE'S RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN: https://www.narragunnawali.org.au/raps/22935/elisabeth-murdoch-college
Vision for Reconciliation
Elisabeth Murdoch College's vision for reconciliation is to ensure that:
- the rich and thriving cultures, knowledge and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are celebrated and valued by the EMC community
- all students, including every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student, are afforded equal and equitable opportunities to achieve their potential, succeed in life, and feel strong in their cultural identity
- the relationship and yet distinctions between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education and reconciliation in education is recognised, including a further focus on engaging all students, staff, and all members of the EMC community with the importance of reconciliation, and the inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures into our practice
- the EMC community understands the acknowledgement by the Victorian Government of the impact of colonisation to this day
- reconciliation Actions are genuinely embedded into everyday practice.
We continue to work towards achieving this vision, and leading systemic based change and role modelling for other local schools. Based on our reconciliation journey and learnings so far, we reaffirm our commitment. We commit to walking alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their families, and the wider Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community connected to EMC through respectful, genuine and collaborative partnerships.
EMC considers reconciliation involving a community joining together not just to celebrate, but to answer calls to action to make things better. In 2025, the Statewide Treaty Bill is now law in Victoria. EMC acknowledges the formation of a new entity, Gellung Warl, a permanent representative and decision-making, accountability and truth telling body for First People. We, as a College, will work with the Department of Education and Gellung Warl, to deliver on the legislation and commitments.
Acknowledgement statement
Our College stands on Bunurong Country, and we acknowledge the Bunurong peoples as the Traditional Owners of this Land. We acknowledge this Land was unceded. We pay our respects to Bunurong Elders past and present, and extend this respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who are part of the EMC community.
We acknowledge the continuous living cultures of the First Peoples of Australia and acknowledge the important contributions Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have made, and continue to make, in Australian society. We support the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
We are especially grateful for the contributions of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples involved in our College community, and their generosity in sharing their cultures and knowledge with us.