Collaboration, partnerships and respect are key to Aboriginal success

Reconciliation Australia has welcomed the bi-partisan support being shown for community led, regionally based approaches to improving economic and social outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities.

The Empowered Communities Initiative presents another opportunity to improve public administration and the development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policies and programs based on what works: cooperation, community involvement, government support, leadership and good governance.

A wide body of evidence ranging from the Productivity Commission, COAG trials, and our own work at Reconciliation Australia highlights that the absence of collaboration built on genuine partnerships, respectful relationships and cultural knowledge lies at the heart of decades of policy failure.

There is much detail still to be worked out, but it is clear that the initiative’s focus on community led innovation, genuine partnership, sharing information, strong governance and improving the accountability of all parties to reform – including government – through measurement and reporting are aligned with the work of Reconciliation Australia.

While the initiative represents an exciting way forward for the eight founding communities and possibly others down the track, its development must not be seen to exclude or discount approaches adopted by other communities and leaders applying the same or similar principles. Those approaches will also require ongoing financial support and backing from both governments and the corporate sector.

Our expertise and relationships built through our Reconciliation Action Plan program and through our Indigenous governance work may be useful in complementing the objectives of this initiative and we look forward to working collaboratively with community leaders and Jawun in pursuit of genuine reconciliation.

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Paul House with gum leaves and smoke
Paul Girrawah House

Paul Girrawah House has multiple First Nation ancestries from the South-East Canberra region, including the Ngambri-Ngurmal (Walgalu), Pajong (Gundungurra), Wallabollooa (Ngunnawal) and Erambie/Brungle (Wiradyuri) family groups.

Paul acknowledges his diverse First Nation history, he particularly identifies as a descendant of Onyong aka Jindoomang from Weereewaa (Lake George) and Henry ‘Black Harry’ Williams from Namadgi who were both multilingual, essentially Walgalu-Ngunnawal-Wiradjuri speaking warriors and Ngunnawal–Wallaballooa man William Lane aka ‘Billy the Bull’ - Murrjinille.

Paul was born at the old Canberra hospital in the centre of his ancestral country and strongly acknowledges his First Nation matriarch ancestors, in particular his mother Dr Aunty Matilda House-Williams and grandmother, Ms Pearl Simpson-Wedge.

Paul completed a Bachelor of Community Management from Macquarie University, and Graduate Certificate in Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Heritage and Management from CSU.

Paul provided the Welcome to Country for the 47th Opening of Federal Parliament in 2022. Paul is Board Director, Ngambri Local Aboriginal Land Council, Member Indigenous Reference Group, National Museum of Australia and Australian Government Voice Referendum Engagement Group.  

Paul works on country with the ANU, First Nations Portfolio as a Senior Community Engagement Officer

Acknowledgement of Country

Reconciliation Australia acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing  connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website contains images or names of people who have passed away.

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