ABC Reconciliation Action Plan 2013–15

(1)

1

ABC Reconciliation Action Plan 2013–15

First report against the Plan, January–December 2013

January 2014

Introduction

This the first report on the ABC’s progress against its Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2013–15. The ABC’s Plan is based on an extended version of the RAP framework developed by Reconciliation Australia. It commits the ABC to a set of concrete objectives and actions that acknowledge and value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their heritage and culture, as well as increasing employment opportunities and developing content that is about, created by or features Indigenous Australians.

The ABC’s commitment to a RAP and the actions that flow from it continued to have a positive effect on the organisation in 2013.

Respect

The ABC has for many years recognised the traditional owners of the places on which it conducts its activities and operations. Formal guidance is provided staff by an Indigenous Cultural Protocols at ABC Events Policy. During the reporting period, appropriate cultural protocols, including Acknowledgement of Country, were observed at all ABC events.

The Corporation has an Indigenous advisory group, the Bonner Committee, which provides advice to the Managing Director and the Executive on Indigenous issues and coordinates reporting on the ABC’s RAP.

The Bonner Committee met throughout 2013 and provided advice to the Corporation as required. In June, it met with an ABC broadcaster to receive an apology in relation to an on-air remark and to discuss potential contributions that he might make to realising the Corporation’s RAP objectives; this was a formal outcome of the ABC’s investigation of the matter.

During Reconciliation Week 2013, the Corporation unveiled plaques in all capital-city offices and in Launceston that acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which ABC premises are located. The plaques were commissioned from Indigenous artists and the ABC’s State and Territory Directors consulted with local communities on appropriate wording and designs.

Employment Opportunities

The RAP commits the Corporation to achieving a 2% Indigenous employment target by December 2014, and to increase the proportion of Indigenous staff thereafter. This has been an area of underperformance for many years. To improve employment opportunities for Indigenous Australians at the ABC, the Corporation adopted a new Indigenous Employment Strategy form the beginning of 2013 that requires each ABC Division to develop specific action plans to increase Indigenous employment.

Regrettably, the ABC’s Indigenous Employment Manager resigned in early 2013. This disrupted some elements of the Indigenous Employment Strategy that were under development. After a search, the Corporation appointed a new Head Indigenous Employment and Diversity, Phillipa McDermott, who joined the ABC in July. She has brought stability and focus to the role, and is coordinating the ABC’s efforts to achieve the Indigenous employment objectives.

Indigenous employment levels increased from 1.4% in December 2012 to 1.7% in December 2013.

In November, the ABC held its biennial Indigenous Staff Conference in Sydney. The Conference focused on the theme of career development.

(2)

Content Opportunities

The ABC is committed to Indigenous programming on all of its media platforms to support the place of Indigenous issues and voices in the national conversation. In 2013, the Corporation continued to deliver outstanding Indigenous content on television, radio and online.

ABC Television commissioned a number of high-profile Indigenous television programs, including the second series of the prime-time contemporary drama Redfern Now, the documentaries First Footprints, Big Name No Blanket, Kakadu, Yagan and Buckskin.

RN’s dedicated Indigenous arts and culture program Awaye! celebrated its 21st year on air in August with a month of special broadcasts, including a series of lectures, music specials and highlights packages from the program played across RN and made available across Radio.

Relationships

Throughout 2013, the ABC’s State and Territory Directors continued to build relationships with local Indigenous communities, as well as with education and training organisations to promote work-experience and related opportunities for Indigenous students.

The Indigenous Department in ABC Television commissions programs from Indigenous production companies and works with Indigenous creative talent. This actively promotes opportunities for Indigenous people in the film and television industry.

Targets not met

Three targets were not fully achieved within planned timeframes that fell within the reporting period. In each case, work on the target was undertaken during the period, but not completed. Work on each of these actions will continue in 2014.

The first related to the creation of an Indigenous sub-site on ABC Intranet within the first six months of the RAP (1.6). While a range of material of specific relevance to Indigenous staff, particularly employment information, has been posted on the ABC Intranet, it has yet to be brought together on a unified sub-site.

The Corporation also committed to adopting Indigenous protocols for content makers by the end of 2013 (Action 1.4). Work on appropriate protocols had begun, but was not complete by the end of the reporting period.

Finally, the ABC committed to developing a new framework for cultural awareness training for all staff (1.3).

The previous program, introduced during the RAP 2009–12, had a low completion rate and was found to be too time-consuming and, in many cases, too general to be effective. Significant work on improved

approaches was taken by ABC People. However, the ABC Indigenous Employment Strategy was given greater priority.

(3)

3

ABC Reconciliation Action Plan 2013–15

First report against the Plan, January–December 2013

This report covers the period from January to December 2013. The status of each initiative has been graded into one of four categories:

 Achieved/continuing achievement

 On track/

developing

 Not achieved/not on track

 Pending (e.g. dependent on a future event)

As required by Reconciliation Australia, the ABC RAP nominates completion dates for all actions.

Timeframes for actions listed as “December 2015” indicate a commitment to continuous achievement.

Respect

Respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culture, land and history is important to the ABC.

Enhanced understanding will assist all areas of our business.

1.1 Support the Bonner Committee, the ABC’s Indigenous advisory group, which monitors and coordinates the ABC’s Reconciliation Action Plan



Action leader Managing Director

Action team

Director Corporate Affairs, ABC Executive

Timeframe December 2015 Performance indicators

• Quarterly meetings of the Bonner Committee.

• Regular meetings of the Chair of Bonner Committee with the Managing Director.

• Secretariat support provided to the Bonner Committee.

• Biennial review of the Bonner Committee to ensure its effectiveness at providing wide representation, Indigenous networking and feedback to the Corporation.

The Bonner Committee held regular meetings on 26 February, 14 May, 31 July and 12 November 2013.

The Committee was supported by its Secretariat.

In addition, on 11 June, the Committee held an extraordinary meeting to meet with Grandstand broadcaster David Morrow to receive an apology in relation to an on-air remark Mr Morrow had made and discuss how he could assist the ABC and the Committee to meet the objectives set out in the RAP.

The meeting was one of the formal outcomes of the ABC’s investigation into the matter.

1.2 Provide staff with ongoing access to the “Indigenous Culture in the ABC” program



Action leader

Indigenous Employment Manager

Action team ABC People

Timeframe January 2014 Performance indicators

• Program reviewed and improved, including ensuring that it is accessible and promoted to all staff.

• Number of staff accessing the program and level of engagement.

ABC People reviewed the content and delivery of Cultural Awareness Training across the ABC.

Feedback from managers and staff indicated that, while the information in the existing package is useful, there is a need for localised content relevant to the region in which it is being delivered and that face-to-face delivery is considered more effective than online.

ABC People is examining options for improving the effectiveness to online training and negotiating a partnership with Reconciliation Australia to develop localised, face-to-face cultural competency workshops.

(4)

1.3 Use appropriate cultural protocols including Acknowledgement or Welcome to Country at events



Action leader

Director Corporate Affairs

Action team

State and Territory, Directors, All Divisions

• Indigenous protocols observed at all relevant events.

Indigenous protocols observed at all relevant events.

1.4 Adopt appropriate cultural protocols for content makers



Action leader Bonner Committee

Action team

Ed Pols Group, Content Divisions, IRGs/IWGs

• Adoption of appropriate cultural protocols.

• Communication to Content Divisions and content makers.

• Placement on Indigenous intranet site.

The Bonner Committee established a sub-committee with representatives from across content areas and additional input from a non-Committee representatives from Radio and ABC People to develop cultural protocols for content makers. Work on the protocols will continue in 2014.

1.5 Continue to recognise and participate in NAIDOC Week



Action leader

State and Territory Directors and IWGs

Timeframe

First week in July each year Performance indicators

• Opportunities for staff to participate in ABC NAIDOC activities and flag raisings across the country.

NAIDOC 2013 was recognised around Australia through a range of activities, as well as extensive coverage and content related to Indigenous people and achievements across all the ABC platforms.

A particular focus of the activities in the State and Territory branches was raising awareness of the ABC’s new 2013–15 RAP. Preview screenings of the documentary Big Name No Blanket for ABC staff were held in most cities.

In addition, the Northern Territory branch held a cultural-awareness seminar by author/anthropologist Richard Trudgen, as well as a bush tucker lunch, documentary screenings and Indigenous

entertainment. Photos of Top End Indigenous people taken by Local Radio staff were exhibited in the foyer of the ABC Darwin office.

The Queensland branch held screenings of Indigenous films supplied by the National Film and Sound Archive.

The South Australian branch hosted an all-staff barbeque with an address by guest speaker Bernard Clarke about the 1963 Yirrkala Bark Petitions.

The Tasmanian branch held a morning tea and flag raising for guests and staff. The Acting State Director announced the installation of flag poles at the Hobart office to allow the Aboriginal flag to be flown on a permanent basis alongside the Australian and ABC flags. The Torres Strait Islander flag will be flown on significant occasions, such as Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week.

The Western Australian branch hosted an afternoon tea with guest speaker, Professor Len Collard, who also performed the Welcome to Country.

ABC Radio celebrated NAIDOC 2013 across its networks and platforms. It again operated a “pop up”

radio service, NAIDOC, throughout the week via digital radio and online. The station ran highlighted Indigenous programming from across ABC Radio including unique radio programming by ABC

(5)

ABC Reconciliation Action Plan 2013–15, first report against the Plan, January–December 2013 5 Indigenous content makers from around the nation, and for the first time, programs from Koori Radio and the National Indigenous Radio Service (NIRS). Throughout the Week, Radio also delivered a wide of range of content across its other services, including video profiles of unsung local Indigenous heroes on the ABC Indigenous and ABC Local websites and ABC News 24; the announcement, in conjunction with the National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs), of the best unsigned Indigenous musical act in the country on triple j and triple j Unearthed; Indigenous didgeridoo artist William Barton was the featured performer on ABC Classic FM across the week; and a range of interviews with Indigenous Australians on Grandstand’s Breakfast (digital radio), State-based programs and Conversations with Richard Fidler on Local Radio.

ABC Television scheduled Indigenous films throughout NAIDOC Week, including Samson And Delilah;

three Call to Country films, an initiative which sourced emerging Indigenous filmmakers to create documentaries from all over Australia; and Seasons, a collection of four eight-minute documentaries by first-time Western Australian Indigenous filmmakers project, which were aired directly before the 7pm News. Television also broadcast episodes from series 14 of Message Stick and a documentary on Aboriginal artist Danny Eastwood.

1.6 Establish an Indigenous site on the ABC Intranet to provide a unified source of information in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and issues



Action leader Corporate Affairs

Action team

Bonner Committee, ABC People, IRGs, All Divisions

Timeframe

June 2013/December 2015 Performance indicators

• Creation of Indigenous site on ABC Intranet.

• New content published on Indigenous site on ABC Intranet.

• Existing content regularly reviewed to ensure continued currency and accuracy.

Web pages for the Bonner Committee were created, providing staff with access to information about the Committee and its activities.

However, development of the wider Indigenous intranet site was again delayed. It will be completed during 2014.

1.7 Install signage and other physical recognition of the traditional owners of land and the contribution of Indigenous ABC staff in the public foyers and reception areas of ABC offices.



Action leader

State and Territory Directors

Action team Facilities Managers

• Sites with physical recognition (e.g. signage, artwork and/or flags).

The Corporation installed a plaque in the foyer of each capital-city ABC office, as well as one in Launceston, to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which the building stands. The plaques were designed and produced by Indigenous artists. State and Territory Directors consulted with local communities on appropriate wording and imagery for the plaques. The plaques were unveiled at ceremonies around the country during Reconciliation Week 2013, many of which were attended by Elders and/or other representatives of local Indigenous communities.

(6)

Opportunities—Employment

Opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, organisations and communities are important to the ABC as we strive to comprehensively and fairly reflect national identity

2.1 Implement the ABC Indigenous Employment Strategy



Action leader

Action team

Divisional Directors, All ABC Managers, Bonner Committee

• Strategy in place.

• Regular reporting of progress against the strategy.

• Annual review of the strategy to ensure its effectiveness.

• Strategy renewed alongside the RAP.

The ABC Employment Strategy 2013–15, which was developed alongside the RAP, is in its first full year of operation. It focuses on four objectives that link directly with the employment objectives of the RAP:

— Pipeline Activities to increase awareness of Indigenous secondary and tertiary students of jobs and career opportunities at the ABC;

— Recruitment to increase the number of Indigenous employees at the ABC;

— Career Development to provide and support career development of Indigenous employees; and

— Retention to develop a framework that maximises the retention of Indigenous employees.

The Strategy focuses on ABC-wide activity and underpins individual Divisional Action Plans, which are developed by the each Division in consultation with ABC People through the relevant Business Partner.

Implementation of the Strategy continued throughout the year. Director People provided the ABC Executive with monthly updates on Corporation-wide and divisional progress.

Rather than conducting formal annual reviews, ABC People will update the Strategy annually.

2.2 Undertake activities to increase the number of Indigenous employees at the ABC to 2% within two years (end 2014) and exceed that target in 2015.



Action leader

Action team

Divisional Directors, Hiring line managers

Timeframe Each January Performance indicators

• Number of employees.

• Number of roles advertised for and filled by Indigenous applicants.

• Supporting mechanisms, such as divisional plans and recruitment guidelines, in place.

At the end of December 2013, the ABC employed 80 Indigenous staff, an increase of 17 employees since December 2012. The proportion of Indigenous staff rose from 1.4% in December 2012 to 1.7% in December 2013.

During the year, eight targeted Indigenous positions were advertised and filled—three in the first half of the year and five in the second.

In January, two former interns secured ongoing positions (one as a cadet in News, the other in the Office of the COO).

ABC People Business Partners assisted their Divisions with the development of Divisional Action Plans, including prioritising actions to achieve meaningful employment outcomes and targets under the RAP.

At the end of 2013, those Plans were in redevelopment to further improve outcomes.

(7)

ABC Reconciliation Action Plan 2013–15, first report against the Plan, January–December 2013 7

2.3 Undertake “pipeline” activities to increase awareness of potential jobs and careers at the ABC among Indigenous secondary and tertiary students.



Action leader

Action team

State/Territory Directors, State/Territory ABC People Managers, All Divisions

Timeframe December 2015

Performance indicators

• Evidence of pipeline activities undertaken (e.g. work experience placements, representation at Indigenous careers expos and active strategic partnerships with tertiary institutions and other relevant organisations).

The ABC developed partnerships with a range of bodies, including Indigenous Media, Indigenous employment agencies, Government agencies at all levels, tertiary institutions and Indigenous peak bodies, such as the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE), the National Congress of First Peoples, the Indigenous Leadership Centre and the Australian Indigenous Communications Association (ACIA).

State and Territory Directors continued to develop relationships to increase awareness and

opportunities for Indigenous students, including with the Adelaide College of the Arts; Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education (BIITE); the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association

(CAAMA); Central Institute of Technology, Perth; Charles Darwin University; Claremont College;

Flinders University; Guildford Young College, Hobart; Ipswich High School (which has the highest proportion of Indigenous students in South-East Queensland); the Michael Long Leadership and Learning Centre; the Riawunna Centre, University of Tasmania; Rosny College Media School, Hobart;

St Brendan-Shaw College, Devonport; Ultimo College TAFE, Sydney; the University of Canberra and the University of Technology Sydney.

In addition, the ACT branch participated in the student Work Exposure (WEX) program run by the then Department of Employment, Education and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). The Tasmanian branch is exploring signing MOUs for Indigenous Work Placements with several colleges under which

participating students would nominate a project to be involved with while on work placement and be allocated a mentor. The Northern territory branch established work experience and school tours programs.

Specific examples of pipeline activities in the reporting period included:

— A strategic relationship between the Operations Group and Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), resulting in two ABC internships from July and an ABC information day each semester for Indigenous UTS students to meet ABC staff and learn more about career opportunities at the Corporation;

— Innovation and ABC People working with the “Souths Cares” Program to plan an information session, including discussions with ABC Indigenous staff members, for Indigenous students on the different opportunities and career pathways in the ABC; and

— The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the ABC and Charles Sturt University to work together to create study and employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

— The Television program Good Game developed a work-based Indigenous traineeship in

conjunction with Aboriginal Employment Strategy. The first trainee worked with the program one day a week during 2012 and 2013 while completing TAFE and their HSC. Good Game will begin a new traineeship in 2014.

— Tours programs in the Darwin, Hobart and Perth ABC offices targeted at Indigenous students.

To support the development of pipeline relationships, ABC People is assembling resources that can be used by ABC representatives at Indigenous careers expos and other relevant field days.

(8)

2.4 Provide career development opportunities for Indigenous employees



Action leader

Action team

Divisional Directors, ABC People Learning Advisers, Divisional line managers, Bonner Committee

• Evidence of career development opportunities (e.g. formalised mentoring program, individualised staff learning and development plans).

ABC People works with managers and Indigenous staff to develop individualised learning and development plans as part of each employee’s Performance Agreement. Staff from ABC People also worked closely with the mentors of DEEWR Interns and the Interns themselves on their workplans and development opportunities throughout their Internship.

The biennial Indigenous Staff Conference, held from 13 to 15 November, focused on the theme of career development.

ABC People is developing Indigenous mentoring and learning programs as a key priority.

An Indigenous News Cadet is being developed as part of the Cadetship training program.

Approval was granted for an Indigenous journalist to take one year’s leave without pay to work at CNN in Hong Kong as a career development opportunity.

2.5 Develop a framework to maximise retention of Indigenous employees



Action leader

Action team

Divisional Directors, Bonner Committee, ABC PEOPLE State Managers

• Retention levels.

• Evidence of staff retention framework (e.g. support network activities, cultural sensitivity training and analysis of exit interview data).

Programs developed by ABC People to increase retention are being implemented, including providing greater support for ABC Indigenous staff; updating the ABC’s exit strategy; notifying the Managing Director of any Indigenous staff leaving or about to leave the Corporation; and increasing support and cultural awareness training for managers of Indigenous staff.

In the first half of 2013, the Indigenous Employment Learning Advisor developed an “Indigenous Networking Lunchtime Series” for Indigenous employees to hear guest speakers share stories, ideas and advice and discuss issues such as mentoring, career paths and program-making. Sessions were held on “Making TV at the ABC” with Sally Riley and Dena Curtis and “Leadership” with Charlie King and Stephen Gray, Manager Leadership and Talent Development. The sessions were well received and the “Leadership” session was filmed and posted on ABC People’s Indigenous Intranet page. The recording will also be used for future leadership training programs.

2.6 Contribute to the growth of Indigenous employment opportunities in the wider media industry



Action leaders

Indigenous Employment Manager, Television

• Number of Indigenous staff leaving the Corporation for jobs that draw on their ABC experience.

• Number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons engaged externally as a result of ABC-funded television productions and other activities. Measurement process and benchmarks to be established in the first year and targets set thereafter.

During 2013, no Indigenous staff left the Corporation for jobs that drew on their ABC experience.

(9)

ABC Reconciliation Action Plan 2013–15, first report against the Plan, January–December 2013 9 The Indigenous Department in ABC Television requires all projects have Indigenous Australians in at least two creative roles (writer, director and/or producer). During the reporting period, Indigenous filmmakers developed several projects for the Department and completed filming and/or post-production on a number of others (see Action 3.2, below).

The (external) recipient of the ABC News Indigenous Fellowship, established under the RAP 2009–12, undertook their scholarship in 2013.

Opportunities—Content

Opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, organisations and communities are important to the ABC as we strive to comprehensively and fairly reflect national identity

3.1 Demonstrate a stronger Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander presence in ABC content, including regional content, and in subsequent scheduling and marketing/promotion



Action leaders Content Divisions

• Number of television programs featuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, perspectives or issues.

• Indigenous music as a percentage of Australian music on relevant radio networks.

• Radio content projects and/or activities featuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, perspectives or issues.

In 2013, ABC Television broadcast a total of 93 Indigenous programs and programs with segments explicitly covering Indigenous individuals, communities and /or issues. Of these, 13 were made by Indigenous filmmakers (i.e. both the Writer and Director were Indigenous Australians), while the rest were programs about Indigenous themes produced by others. Significant programs included the documentaries First Footprints, Big Name No Blanket, Kakadu, Yagan and Buckskin, and the second series of the prime-time Indigenous drama Redfern Now.

Television documented a significant number of Indigenous talent and guests across a number of major genres, including arts, factual, fiction (drama), entertainment and children’s. They included: an

Indigenous presenter on Sunday Arts Up Late; interviews with two Indigenous writers/directors on At the Movies; two Indigenous guests on Adam Hills Tonight; three Indigenous panellists on Q&A; an

Indigenous presenter and two Indigenous guests on Gardening Australia, which also presented a special episode from an Indigenous community in the Tiwi Islands; an Indigenous presenter, a guest story teller and a special guest on Play School; Indigenous interviewees in the series The Art of

Australia and the factual documentaries Abba: Bang like a Boomerang and Whitlam: the Power and the Passion. The drama The Time of our Lives included two Indigenous actors and four Indigenous actors appeared in episodes of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries.

ABC News broadcasts The Indigenous Quarter—one of The Quarters, a series of 15-minute specialist news and current programs on ABC News 24.

On 30 June, ABC News 24 broadcast the Yunupingu State Memorial Service from Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.

ABC Radio broadcasts two weekly dedicated Indigenous programs, Speaking Out (Local Radio) and Awaye! (RN). In August, Awaye! celebrated its 21st birthday with a month of special broadcasts.

In addition, the various Radio networks broadcast a number of stories about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, perspectives and/or issues. Examples included: RN broadcast a range of programs as principal media partner for ‘‘My Country, I Still Call Australia Home: Contemporary Art from Black Australia”, a major exhibition at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art; coverage on NT Local Radio of the Tiwi Islands Football Grand Final in collaboration with Top End Aboriginal Bush Broadcasting Association (TEABBA); discussions of topics such as endangered Indigenous languages, Indigenous perspectives on the Murray Darling Basin Plan and the perspectives of Aboriginal Elders on the

(10)

Northern Territory Intervention and the ALP’s decision to appoint Nova Peris to its Northern Territory Senate ticket on Local Radio; a live “Listen Up Concert” featuring emerging Indigenous artists from around the Far North on ABC Cairns, which led to a CD release; ABC Open’s six-month Me and Mine project, which invited Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians to contribute a story about a special relationship with a relative or someone in their mob; triple j Unearthed collaborated with the National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) on a competition aimed at discovering the country's best emerging Indigenous musical talent, while triple j presenter Zan Rowe broadcast live from the Darwin Festival and the National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) in Darwin.

Radio measures Indigenous music (based on the work of artists that identify as Indigenous) as a percentage of its overall Australian music performance across appropriate networks. In 2013, those proportions were: RN 3.7%, Local Radio 3.2%, triple j 0.7%, triple j Unearthed 2.5%, ABC Dig Music 3.0% and ABC Country 0.8%. The number of tracks submitted to triple j Unearthed digital by artists identifying as Indigenous increased to 669 (up from 529 at the end of December 2012) and the number of artists played on the network increased to 299 (228 in December 2012).

During the reporting period, the ABC’s international media services broadcast a range of programs featuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, perspectives and/or issues. International television service Australia Network broadcast 52 Indigenous programs and programs with segments explicitly covering Indigenous individuals, communities and /or issues. Radio Australia broadcasts Speaking Out and Awaye! twice each week; its Pacific Mornings, Breakfast and Pacific Beat programs all regularly cover Indigenous issues and culture. Indigenous stories are also often featured in the service’s non-English broadcasts and web offerings. Radio Australia estimates that 15% of its music output is Indigenous.

3.2 Improved integration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people into the content-making process, including new projects



Action leaders Content divisions

• Number of Indigenous content makers in output divisions.

• Number of projects where Indigenous people are participating as content makers—particularly in key creative roles.

The Indigenous Department in ABC Television requires all projects to have Indigenous Australians in at least two creative roles (writer, director and/or producer). In 2013, Indigenous filmmakers developed and produced a range of projects for the Department, including the comedy 8MMM and sketch comedy series Don’t Be Afraid of the Darkies, the documentaries Big Name No Blanket, Buckskin, 88 and Once Upon a time in Redfern, the drama The Gods of Wheat Street and the children’s interstitial series Handball Heroes. The Arts Department commissioned the documentary Cyber Love Punks, which will be produced with ABC Indigenous producer Majhid Heath in 2014. One of the Xmas Quickies series of short programs on ABC2 was written, directed and produced by the Indigenous team from

whiteBLACKatcha.

A member of the Indigenous Department worked as an intern for one month on series 1 of Tractor Monkeys. In addition, there was an Indigenous intern on Good Game, Indigenous Film Victoria

attachments on the second series of Twentysomething and the series of It’s a Date, and two Indigenous attachments on the second series of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries.

Indigenous contributors formed a large portion of the key recurring talent throughout the series Kakadu, including Indigenous Kakadu Park Rangers and members of the local community. While working in Kakadu, the production company, Northern Pictures, offered three paid traineeship positions to local Indigenous people that provided opportunities to learn about documentary production.

Radio's 15 Indigenous staff are all content makers. In addition to key presentation and production roles for Speaking Out and Awaye!, the division has two Indigenous Producers and a Social Media

(11)

ABC Reconciliation Action Plan 2013–15, first report against the Plan, January–December 2013 11 Coordinator in ABC Open based in regional Australia and an Indigenous Content Maker (Operations) in RN.

Australia Network broadcast 19 programs in which Indigenous people participated in creative roles. One Indigenous content maker worked on Radio Australia's evening program to produce bulletins in 2013, but did not perform on-air duties.

3.3 Target and develop Indigenous on-air presenters



Action leaders Content divisions

• Numbers of Indigenous staff who have performed in on-air roles.

• Development plans for key Indigenous presenters.

In Radio, six Indigenous staff regularly present on air and a further three through do so online, including through social media.

News has ten Indigenous staff who are regularly on air as radio and television reporters. In addition, the co-host of ABC News 24 Weekend Breakfast is Indigenous, as are the presenters of the ABC News 24 Indigenous Quarter.

The television program Sunday Arts Up Late is hosted by Indigenous playwright Wesley Enoch. The children’s television series Bushwhacked and interstitial series P-Culture, both on ABC3, featured Indigenous hosts. Play School has an Indigenous presenter.

3.4 Develop internal and external communication to improve awareness of Indigenous achievement and activity in the ABC



Action leaders Content Divisions and Corporate Affairs

Timeframe Each January

• Details of internal and external promotional activity.

Radio Marketing worked with the Darwin Indigenous Coordination Centre and the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs to distribute flyers and promotional material for the “Say Hello to Bagot” outside broadcast conducted during Reconciliation Week.

Local radio in the Northern Territory ran an extensive “Footy is Our Territory” campaign to promote Grandstand football coverage that included on-air and social media promotions, editorial content, ticket promotions and merchandise giveaways to the NTFL and Tiwi Island Grand Finals.

891 ABC Adelaide was the media partner for the 2013 Spirit Festival in Adelaide.

RN was the primary media partner for the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art’s exhibition “My Country, I Still Call Australia Home: Contemporary Art from Black Australia”, the largest exhibition to date of contemporary Indigenous Australian art, which opened on 1 June.

ABC Television ran promotions for scheduled NAIDOC Week programming on high rotation in the weeks in the weeks before NAIDOC Week.

Australia Network and Radio Australia supported Indigenous programs throughout the reporting period with on-air promotions.

Thirty-two articles relating to Indigenous achievement and activity in the ABC were published on the Intranet during 2013.

Radio promotes Indigenous activity internally through its divisional newsletter, Touching Base, and externally through regular content marketing channels and relationships.

(12)

Relationships

Respectful relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous people are important to the ABC

4.1 Create opportunities to build strategic partnerships and projects with Indigenous

communities and relevant external organisations, with a focus on regional opportunities.



Action leader

State and Territory Directors, Bonner Committee

• Range of partnerships and projects.

State and Territory Directors worked to establish or maintain a range of relationships and projects, including:

— The ACT branch maintained contact with the ACT Government’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body (ATSIEB), Reconciliation Australia, the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations’ RAP and employment forums and the Wagga Wagga Community Forum.

— The Queensland branch sought to forge close links with Reconciliation Queensland and with Brisbane Elders. It partnered with the Brisbane Indigenous Media Association (BIMA) to develop a proposal for a televised studio panel discussion.

— The Northern Territory branch maintained and developed relationships with Charles Darwin University, BIITE, the Larrakia Nation, Top End Aboriginal Broadcasting Association (TEABBA), CAAMA, the Australian Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and Education (ACIKE), Aboriginal Resource and Development Services (ARDS), Michael Long Leadership and Learning Centre (part of AFLNT), the NT Government’s Department of Regional Development and the

Commonwealth Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA).

— The Tasmanian branch sought input from the Aboriginal Elders Council of Tasmania for the design and wording of the Acknowledgement Plaques for the ABC’s Hobart and Launceston offices.

— The Victorian branch worked with ABC People and the State Indigenous Working Group (IWG) to identify opportunities for partnerships. Members of the local Indigenous community attended a regional stakeholder event held by the Branch in Bairnsdale.

— The State Director WA met with Rachelle Towart, CEO of the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre and with the Director of the WA Screen Academy to discuss a training initiative.

4.2 Develop opportunities with Indigenous suppliers



Action leader Business Services

Action team All Divisions

• Review of opportunities for procurement from Indigenous suppliers.

• Development of policy on use of Indigenous suppliers.

During 2013, ABC Business Services reviewed the ABC’s supplier arrangements. The Corporation has the ABC has aligned its procurement policies and procedures to those of the Commonwealth

Procurement Rules and encourages the use of Indigenous suppliers, subject to standard requirements

(13)

ABC Reconciliation Action Plan 2013–15, first report against the Plan, January–December 2013 13 that value for money is obtained. The Procurement site on the ABC intranet links to a list of such

suppliers by area and type of business.

The review noted that in regional areas and for supplies/services less than the $400,000 threshold at which tendering becomes mandatory, Indigenous suppliers are able to provide services to support property management activities. However, for activities requiring tendering and/or specialist organisations to meet the technical broadcasting needs of the ABC, Indigenous suppliers may be unable to provide such services.

ABC People allocated $50,000 to Indigenous businesses for the 2013 Indigenous Staff Conference.

The Indigenous Department in ABC Television commissioned approximately $7 million in programming from Indigenous production businesses.

4.3 Recognise and participate in Reconciliation Week



Action leader

State and Territory Directors and IWGs

Timeframe 27 May – 3 June Performance indicators

• Activities/events to recognise Reconciliation Week.

ABC Local Radio covered Reconciliation Week within its normal day-to-day editorial coverage. In addition, Local stations provided a range of special programming including outside broadcasts, interviews, documentaries and coverage of exhibitions and official events. ABC Grandstand covered every game of the AFL Indigenous Round. RN’s Weekend Arts broadcast live from the opening of the

“My Country, I Still Call Australia Home: Contemporary Art from Black Australia” exhibition at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane. triple j’s Breakfast with Tom and Alex featured an interview with actress Miranda Tapsell.

News reported on Reconciliation Week activities around the country.

Unveiling ceremonies for Acknowledgement of Country plaques (see 1.7, above) were held in all ABC capital-city offices.

During Reconciliation Week, ABC Television’s Indigenous Department gave a presentation to staff at the ABC Ultimo Centre on the its current projects and upcoming programs, including showing a short clip from upcoming series The Gods of Wheat Street.

Tracking Progress and Reporting

5.1 The Bonner Committee will monitor and report on RAP actions



Action leader

Director Corporate Affairs

• Biannual internal report of progress against RAP targets.

• Annual publication of report of progress against RAP targets.

The final report on the inaugural ABC RAP (2009–12) was completed in February 2013 and published online internally and externally.

(14)

5.2 Contribute to Reconciliation Australia’s RAP Impact Measurement Questionnaire



Timeframe Each September Performance indicators

• Questionnaire responses provided to Reconciliation Australia in a timely fashion.

The ABC contributed to the 2013 RAP Impact Measurement Questionnaire and provided feedback about the Questionnaire to Reconciliation Australia.

5.3 Divisional Indigenous Reference Groups (IRGs) will continue to meet



Action leader

All participating Divisions

• Specific Divisional achievements for Indigenous targets.

Divisional Indigenous Reference Groups met throughout the reporting period. The Television IRG, which had been dormant, was re-established in the second half of 2013. Divisional achievements are reflected in responses to Actions above.

5.4 State and Territory Indigenous Working Groups (IWGs) continue to operate



Action leader

State and Territory Directors

• Local opportunities to improve Indigenous activity identified—both internally and externally.

Indigenous Working Groups met in all States and Territories. The Western Australian IWG was refreshed with new members recruited to ensure broad divisional representation. State and Territory achievements are reflected in responses to Actions above.

5.5 The ABC will refresh the RAP



• RAP renewed.

The RAP 2013–15 will be reviewed and refreshed in 2015.