Racing Queensland will seek to strengthen its relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples after launching its latest Reconciliation Action Plan during NAIDOC Week.
Earlier today, RQ released its Innovate RAP with representatives of the Turrbal People, who are the original inhabitants of Brisbane and the traditional owners of the land at Deagon.
To commemorate the occasion, Songwoman Maroochy Barambah, a Turrbal elder, performed a Welcome to Country for representatives of the Queensland racing industry.
Charlie Chambers Jr, a member of the Jarowair people who created the artwork for the RAP, was also in attendance to officially unveil the Racing Queensland Yarning Circle which he designed and painted.
Minister Grace commended RQ on its ongoing commitment to reconciliation and said she looked forward to fostering closer ties between the Queensland racing industry and Indigenous communities.
“Reconciliation remains the responsibility of all Queenslanders and I am delighted to see Racing Queensland continue to take a leadership role in this area,” she said.
“Over the years, the racing industry has benefited immensely from the contribution of our Indigenous participants, and I look forward to seeing that continue to grow.”
Racing Queensland’s Innovate RAP seeks to embed the knowledge and learning gained from its inaugural Reflect RAP including its vision for reconciliation to create a future where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people connect with local communities through great racing events - across the breadth of the Sunshine State - and experience the thrill of racing as attendees, industry participants or employees.
Over the next two years, this vision will enable RQ to make further progress towards improving employment outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, achieving reconciliation goals and strengthening its relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Queensland.
Mr Parnell said that over the past 12 months, the Queensland racing industry has made meaningful steps forward on its journey towards reconciliation.
“As one of the Sunshine State’s largest employers, providing more than 13,500 full-time jobs and $1.9 billion to the Queensland economy, our goal from the outset was to strengthen relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for the benefit of all Australians,” he said.
“Since embarking on this journey, it is heartening to see the progress that has been made.
“As we transition to our Innovate RAP, we remain committed to building an equitable future where Australia’s First Nations peoples, communities, and cultures continue to be respected and celebrated.”
Over the coming days, the Queensland racing industry will celebrate NAIDOC Week with a showcase race across each code this week. They are:
- Saturday, July 9 – Toowoomba Turf Club;
- Sunday, July 10 – Marburg Pacing Association; and
- Monday, July 11 – Bundaberg Greyhound Racing Club.
Each showcase meeting will feature Indigenous ceremonial aspects including a Welcome to Country; Smoking Ceremony; and didgeridoo player.
Queensland racing industry participants will also be involved through specially commissioned handlers and strappers’ bibs, saddle cloths, harness helmet covers, harness colours and winners’ presentation rugs.
At the conclusion of each race, the winning connections of each code will receive a NAIDOC Week Trophy.
Click here to see Racing Queensland’s Reconciliation Action Plan.