The Adelaide Football Club has reaffirmed its commitment to being an active participant in Australia’s reconciliation journey, with the launch of its second Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
The strategy document recently received formal endorsement from Reconciliation Australia and will build on the achievements of the first plan, while establishing new programs, pathways and initiatives.
One of its key features is the AFL’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round which brings players, staff members and fans together in a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
The Crows have hosted home games during this round for the past six seasons and it will remain a priority request in the premiership season fixture moving forward.
The Club’s 30 past and present AFL and AFLW Aboriginal and Torres Strait players continue to be important role models on and off the field, and the plan commits to creating more meaningful opportunities for them to connect with the Club and wider community.
Crows Chairman John Olsen said there is also a focus on creating further education and employment programs, while supporting local Indigenous businesses and community organisations through procurement opportunities.
“Our Club holds a unique and privileged position in the South Australian community, as well as the broader Australian sporting landscape, and we will do all we can to help make a positive and meaningful contribution,” Olsen said.
“Everyone inside the Club, from the Board through to the players, coaches and staff, is committed to building on the progress of previous years and taking the next step in the reconciliation journey.”
For Indigenous Programs Manager Jeremy Johncock, this advanced RAP is another important step forward.
“We have built the foundations through our first plan and now it is time to turn our good intentions into actions,” Johncock said.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities can’t and aren’t reconciling with themselves, so it is everyone’s responsibility to play their part and ensure reconciliation is considered in everything we do.
“We have set some ambitious deliverables and I can’t wait to see them come to life.”
Adelaide’s first RAP included the delivery of cultural awareness training for non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and a permanent acknowledgement statue, among many other initiatives.
