ABC Reconciliation Action Plan

Transcription

1 ABC Reconciliation Action Plan Third report against the Plan, January February 2016 Introduction This the third and final report against the ABC Reconciliation Action Plan It covers the period from 1 January through 31. The ABC s Plan is based on an extended version of the RAP framework developed by Reconciliation Australia. It commits the Corporation to a set of clear 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. During 2015, the ABC continued to deliver results against most elements of the RAP framework. In particular, in the important areas of employment and content, it continued to deliver strong results. Over the period, the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people employed at the ABC rose to 2.26%, in line with the Corporation s commitment to increase Indigenous employment beyond 2% in This increase was achieved at a time when staffing levels at Corporation were contracting as a result of savings measures announced in response to budget cuts in late The ABC seeks to create a positive environment for its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees, offering career planning and mentoring opportunities, and providing cultural awareness training specifically targeted towards managers of Indigenous staff. Likewise, in 2015, the Corporation continued to deliver excellent and diverse Indigenous content across television, radio and online reflecting its commitment to supporting the place of Indigenous issues and voices in the national conversation. In addition to two dedicated Indigenous radio programs, Speaking Out on Local Radio and Awaye! on Radio National, the ABC broadcast a wide array of programming about Indigenous people and matters across its national, metropolitan and regional radio networks. During the year, Awaye! celebrated 25 years on air. ABC Television commissioned and broadcast a number of high-profile television programs by Indigenous content-makers including the telemovie Redfern Now Promise Me, 8MMM Aboriginal Radio and the children s drama Ready For This. Other significant programs included the drama miniseries The Secret River, an adaptation of Kate Grenville s historical novel about the colonisation of the Hunter River by British settlers and the murder and displacement of Aboriginal people that resulted. ABC News services recorded an increase in the number of news and current affairs stories covering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, issues and perspectives. In 2015, ABC state and territory newsrooms introduced extended cross-platform special features providing in-depth coverage of specific topic issues, a number of which related to Indigenous issues. During the year, ABC finalised and adopted an Editorial Policies Guidance Note on Indigenous Content to provide its content-makers with simple, succinct advice and information on working with Australia s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culture and heritage. The guidance, especially when used in conjunction with the Screen Australia Pathways and Protocols document, effectively provides a set of Indigenous protocols for use by ABC content makers. The abolition of State and Territory Director positions at the end of June 2015 had a noticeable effect on the ABC s reportable performance in relation to a number of RAP Actions. The State and Territory Directors had had primary responsibility for implementing a number of aspects of the RAP, including engaging with local Indigenous communities in each of the states and territories, facilitating pipeline connexions with and opportunities for Indigenous students and coordinating branch-level activities to recognise events such as NAIDOC Week and National Reconciliation Week. 1

2 ABC Reconciliation Action Plan , third report against the Plan, January 2 While the ABC Executive had agreed an approach to managing the State and Territory Directors responsibilities after 1 July, in practice there appears to have been uncertainty about these new arrangements. Specifically, the division of labour between the State and Territory Executives and ABC People appears to have been understood differently by each of the parties, with the consequence that some RAP actions were not adequately supported in the second half of the year. As a result, two RAP actions creating strategic partnerships and projects with Indigenous communities and external organisations (Action 4.1) and ensuring that state and territory Indigenous Working Groups continue to meet (Action 5.4) were not achieved in These problems, and the different understandings that they flow from, came to light during the preparation of this report. The Corporation will take steps to clarify responsibilities early in This is important, as the various commitments in the RAP have been reaffirmed and, in some cases, extended in the new ABC Stretch RAP , which came into effect on 1 January The targets for two further RAP Actions remained unmet at the end of These were the development of a new framework for cultural awareness training for all staff (Action 1.3), which was delayed by developers, and the completion of a unifying Indigenous sub-site on ABC Intranet (Action 1.6), which was, in part, dependent on the agreement of appropriate editorial guidance on Indigenous content. In both cases, work towards the target was undertaken during the period, but not completed. The actions are expected to be completed early in 2016.

3 ABC Reconciliation Action Plan Third report against the Plan, January This report covers the period from January to. The status of each initiative has been graded into one of four categories: Achieved/continuing achievement On track/ developing p Not achieved/not on track Pending (e.g. dependent on a future event) 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 Managing Director Director Corporate Affairs, ABC Executive 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 meetings on 24 February, 1 June, 17 August and 10 November The November meeting coincided with the ABC Indigenous Staff Conference, which allowed the Committee to address and take questions from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff members who were present. The Chair of the Bonner Committee provided the Managing Director with advice on the matters considered by the Committee throughout the period. The Committee was supported by its Secretariat. Following the exit of the State and Territory Directors at the end of June, the Bonner Committee Secretariat was reconfigured to comprise the Manager Indigenous Employment and Diversity (ABC People) and the Head of Strategic Policy (Corporate Strategy and Planning). During the first half of the year, the Director NSW and Director SA conducted a review of the Bonner Committee at the invitation of the Chair. They provided a report on the outcomes of the review to the Managing Director on 1 June and an outline of the report s findings and recommendations to the Bonner Committee at its June meeting. The Bonner Committee undertook to implement the key recommendations of the report. 1.2 Provide staff with ongoing access to the Indigenous Culture in the ABC program Indigenous Employment Manager ABC People 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. January 2014 The ABC reviewed its Cultural Awareness online resource and workshops for all ABC staff and in 2014 engaged an external developer to update tool, including ensuring accessibility. During the year, the delivery of the redesigned tool was delayed several times by the developers. The tool is now expected to launch in February The roll-out of the new Cultural tool will be followed by face-toface training workshops around the country in

4 ABC Reconciliation Action Plan , third report against the Plan, January 4 ABC People also worked with Reconciliation Australia to develop and deliver unique Employer Awareness workshops for ABC staff. The workshops familiarise managers and other staff with barriers to employment for Indigenous staff and the support available within the organisation. During the year, 142 staff had attended these workshops. Further Employer Awareness workshops are planned nationally. 1.3 Use appropriate cultural protocols including Acknowledgement or Welcome to Country at events Director Corporate Affairs State and Territory, Directors, All Divisions Indigenous protocols observed at all relevant events. Indigenous protocols were observed at all relevant events, consistent with the Corporation s policy on Indigenous Cultural Protocols at ABC Events. 1.4 Adopt appropriate cultural protocols for content makers Bonner Committee Ed Pols Group, Content Divisions, IRGs/IWGs Adoption of appropriate cultural protocols. Communication to Content Divisions and content makers. Placement on Indigenous intranet site. January 2014 During the year, the ABC finalised and adopted an Editorial Policies Guidance Note on Indigenous content, which provides ABC content makers with advice and information on working with Australia s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culture and heritage. The Guidance was prepared by the Editorial Policies Group with assistance from the Bonner Committee. It is consistent with the Committee s advice that cultural protocols need to be connected to the Editorial Policies. The Guidance Note, especially when used in conjunction with Screen Australia s document Pathways and Protocols, effectively provides a set of Indigenous protocols for use by ABC content makers. 1.5 Continue to recognise and participate in NAIDOC Week State and Territory Directors and IWGs Opportunities for staff to participate in ABC NAIDOC activities and flag raisings across the country. First week in July each year The ABC recognised NAIDOC 2015 through extensive coverage and content related to Indigenous people and achievements across all of its platforms, and through activities in some ABC branches. The Managing Director launched NAIDOC Week celebrations in Ultimo, NSW, which began with a presentation on sites of significance around Sydney by Lee Davison from the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council. During the week, pictures of a rainbow serpent created by children from the local preschools were displayed in a pop-up art gallery in the Ultimo foyer. Indigenous dance workshops for the children and friends of ABC staff were also held in the foyer. In Ultimo, the News Division held a panel discussion, Scrutiny and Respect, on ABC reporting of Indigenous issues, moderated by Lorena Allam (Radio National) and featuring Malarndirri McCarthy (Executive Producer of NITV), Sally Riley (Head ABC Indigenous Unit) and Liz Jackson (former senior reporter at Four Corners).

5 ABC Reconciliation Action Plan , third report against the Plan, January 5 In Victoria, the branch marked the start of NAIDOC Week with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony at the ABC Southbank offices conducted by an elder of the Wurundjeri tribe and one of the traditional land owners of present-day Melbourne. ABC Television broadcast The Redfern Story and Ivan Sen s Mystery Road during NAIDOC Week, and broadcast new mini-documentaries playing each night on ABC2. iview celebrated NAIDOC week 2015 with Blackout, an on-demand selection of Indigenous films, documentaries and previously-unseen short films selected by guest programmer Miranda Tapsell. ABC Radio celebrated NAIDOC 2015 across all of its networks and again operated a pop-up radio station, ABC NAIDOC, on digital radio in the capital cities and mobile and fixed-line streaming services around the country. ABC NAIDOC offered a comprehensive selection of content from across ABC radio services, including programming showcasing local Indigenous arts, news and culture from around the country. ABC NAIDOC was again open to external Indigenous broadcasters, and Indigenous voices and languages were heard throughout. Radio National provided extensive coverage of NAIDOC week across a wide range of programs, including Love Poems and Death Threats: the poetry of Samuel Wagan Watson on Earshot, Christine Anu performing on The Music Show, and All in the Mind paying a visit to The Glen, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre for men on the Central Coast of NSW, run by the Ngaimpe Aboriginal Corporation. Activities across other radio networks included: on 774 ABC Melbourne s Drive program, guest presenter Sally Warhaft spoke with Tanya Hosch, joint campaign director for the Recognise movement, about the Indigenous Summit with Australian leaders; 891 ABC Adelaide Mornings interviewed NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Tauto Sansbury; various programs on 702 ABC Sydney were co-hosted by Indigenous personalities; for the fourth consecutive year, triple j Unearthed and the National Indigenous Music Awards announced Australia s best unsigned Indigenous artist, who was invited to play the NIMAs on 25 July; ABC Classic FM featured the music and activities of Indigenous Children s Choirs, including the Gondwana National Indigenous Children s choir; Margaret Throsby s program featured special guests during NAIDOC Week, along with music composed for the Bangarra Dance Theatre s productions; triple j Breakfast spoke with Indigenous model Samantha Harris and Meyne Wyatt, the first Indigenous actor on Neighbours; and Double J featured a story of the 30th Anniversary of the Barunga Festival, including interviews with Indigenous elder and founder Peter Miller and musicians from the remote Indigenous community of Ngukurr, The Lost Boys and The Bad Tees. From 1 July, the 46 Local Radio services outside of the capital cities were operated by the new ABC Regional division. ABC Regional coordinated NAIDOC Week activities across regional Australia. Local stations conducted a range of outside broadcasts and feature interviews, participated in community events and encouraged public participation through online features and social-media posts. South Australian stations held an Aboriginal Music Day where only Indigenous music was played. 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 Corporate Affairs Bonner Committee, ABC People, IRGs, All Divisions 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. June 2013/ ABC People provides access to a set of unified employment information for Indigenous staff on the ABC Intranet. A collection of editorial resources relating to Indigenous content, which was dependent

6 ABC Reconciliation Action Plan , third report against the Plan, January 6 on the adoption of appropriate editorial guidance on Indigenous content (see Action 1.4), and an overall landing page will be created in 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. State and Territory Directors Facilities Managers Sites with physical recognition (e.g. signage, artwork and/or flags). January 2014 The Director NT hosted the unveiling of a recognition plaque at the ABC office in Katherine in conjunction with the traditional owners of the area, the Jawoyn People. The Director Victoria unveiled recognition plaques for the ABC s Wodonga and Shepparton offices, the two sites broadcasting the ABC Goulburn Murray radio service. Recognition plaques had been previously installed in the ABC offices in all capital cities and in Launceston (Tasmania) during 2013, and in the Albany (WA), Alice Springs (NT), Mildura-Swan Hill (Victoria), Tamworth (NSW) and Toowoomba (Queensland) offices during 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 Indigenous Employment Manager Strategy in place. Regular reporting of progress against the strategy. Annual review of the strategy to ensure its effectiveness. Strategy renewed alongside the RAP. Divisional Directors, All ABC Managers, Bonner Committee The ABC Employment Strategy operates alongside the Reconciliation Action Plan. It focuses on ABC-wide activity and underpins individual Divisional Action Plans, which have been developed by the each division in consultation with ABC People through their Business Partners. The Director People provides the ABC Executive with monthly updates on Corporation-wide and divisional progress. The ABC met all of its commitments for the three-year period. Work on the preparation on a new Indigenous Employment Strategy commenced during the reporting period and will be completed in early Undertake activities to increase the number of Indigenous employees at the ABC to 2% within two years (end 2014) and exceed that target in Indigenous Employment Manager Divisional Directors, Hiring line managers Number of employees. Number of roles advertised for and filled by Indigenous applicants. Supporting mechanisms, such as divisional plans and recruitment guidelines, in place. Each January

7 ABC Reconciliation Action Plan , third report against the Plan, January 7 Having met its 2% employment target in 2014, the ABC worked throughout 2015 to increase Indigenous employment levels beyond the target across all divisions and the Corporation as a whole. At 31, the ABC employed 95 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff. The proportion of Indigenous staff rose from 2.16% in January 2015 to 2.26% at the end of December. The ABC has a range of mechanisms in place to support achievement of this objective. These include divisional employment strategies that reflect proposals to achieve divisional targets, a revitalised Careers Page on ABC Online, Manager Briefings and improved online and outreach promotions. In 2015, ABC News Operations developed an Indigenous traineeship program, which will recruit two entry-level Indigenous staff every second year. This is in addition to the two Indigenous editorial cadets positions made available each year. 2.3 Undertake pipeline activities to increase awareness of potential jobs and careers at the ABC among Indigenous secondary and tertiary students. Indigenous Employment Manager State/Territory Directors, ABC People State/Territory Managers, All Divisions 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). ABC People, the content divisions and ABC branches in the states and territories continued to develop strategic partnerships and working relationships with secondary and tertiary institutions. Such relationships are included among ongoing actions under the pipeline activities in Divisional Action Plans. Work on this action appears to have been at least partially disrupted by the departure of the State and Territory Directors. First, while the State and Territory Directors were asked to provide feedback on this action prior to their departure in June, not all were able to do so, and the responses received were brief compared with previous reporting periods. Further, due to the uncertain transfer of responsibilities following their departure, some established relationships appear not to have been maintained. Nonetheless, a range of pipeline activities took place during the year. These included ten workexperience placements, ABC presences at two Indigenous careers expos, two careers days held at the ABC Ultimo Centre and continued partnerships with Charles Sturt University, the University of Technology Sydney, the University of New South Wales, Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education (BIITE) and the University of Canberra. Specific pipeline activities reported during the year included: The Director NT established a relationship with NITV to host a visiting Video Journalist. The ABC Indigenous Language News Service in the Northern Territory continued to indirectly employ six Aboriginal interpreters. The Director Queensland signed an MOU with Brisbane Indigenous Media Association (BIMA), which included promoting opportunities for BIMA participants to gather work experience in ABC Radio and News. The Director Victoria met with Reservoir and Thornbury High Schools to establish a Year 10 Indigenous work experience pilot. Regrettably, the project was abandoned in light of the closure of the State Director s office. The Local Content Manager, Hobart maintained regular contact with the Riawunna Centre at the University of Tasmania.

8 ABC Reconciliation Action Plan , third report against the Plan, January 8 Through a continuing intern program with the University of Canberra, a locally-based Indigenous student interned with News Resources for two weeks. ABC News continued its partnership with Plumpton High, which has a 9% Indigenous enrolment level and began a new partnership program with Matraville Sports High School, which has 39% Indigenous enrolment. The Division provided career skills development experience, as well as providing opportunities for students to visit ABC Ultimo and gain insight into possible careers in ABC News. ABC News undertook several outreach visits to schools in Greater Western Sydney with Indigenous student representations of 3% or higher to provide insight to students about pathways to the ABC ABC Newcastle visited Toronto High School to discuss employment and training opportunities for Indigenous students ABC Newcastle is also developing an Indigenous internship program with the University of Newcastle through its Indigenous Wollatuka Institute. 2.4 Provide career development opportunities for Indigenous employees Indigenous Employment Manager 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). At the end of, 49 Career Development plans for Indigenous staff had been completed. They are supported by a range of initiatives, including cross-divisional secondments, industry-based attachments and formal training opportunities. A formal mentoring program was introduced during 2015 and 10 staff were participating at the end of the year. 2.5 Develop a framework to maximise retention of Indigenous employees Indigenous Employment Manager 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). The Career Development framework developed by ABC People (see 2.4, above) supports staff retention by creating opportunities for Indigenous employees within the Corporation. In addition, ABC People worked with divisional Directors to develop a specific exit interview procedure for Indigenous staff. During the year, three exit interviews were held with departing Indigenous staff members and the results provided to the relevant divisional Directors and the Managing Director. The mentoring program (see 2.4) also contributes to staff retention. Employer awareness workshops (see 1.2) continued across the organisation to support managers and staff.

9 ABC Reconciliation Action Plan , third report against the Plan, January Contribute to the growth of Indigenous employment opportunities in the wider media industry s Indigenous Employment Manager, Television Each January 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 2015, three Indigenous staff members left the Corporation to work in the media industry. 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 addition, the Department encourages all producers with which it works to employ Indigenous people and in so doing to provide opportunities to deepen the Indigenous skill base in the television industry. This includes hiring Indigenous designers, directors and producers, as well as production attachments. 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). During the year, the Television Indigenous Department employed 28 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers, 12 directors and seven producers. The drama miniseries The Secret River employed 70 Indigenous media professionals, including 63 cast members and seven crew members. The drama series Glitch included five Indigenous cast members, one in a leading role, and the third series of the Doctor Blake Murder Mysteries has four Indigenous cast members, one in a leading role. The Children s drama series Ready For This employed four Indigenous writers and an Indigenous executive producer and director. The cast featured five young Indigenous actors, as well as two Indigenous actors in supporting roles. The feature film Spear, commissioned by ABC Arts and funded through the Adelaide Festival s HIVE Fund, employed 44 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff. Arts Online commissioned two teams of emerging filmmakers from the Northern Territory to make short arts documentaries for iview; 60% of the crew working on those productions were Indigenous. Arts Online also engaged filmmaker Danielle McLean as a mentor on an emerging-filmmaker initiative. The studio crew for The Weekly with Charlie Pickering and Dirty Laundry Live included an Indigenous audio operator as a production attachment. The crew of the drama series Miss Fisher s Murder Mysteries included an Indigenous trainee. Two Indigenous trainees worked as crew on a range of productions, including Saturday Night Crack-up, Shaun Micallef s Mad as Hell (series 5) and The Weekly with Charlie Pickering. The Head Indigenous Employment and Diversity participates in the Media RING, a cross-industry Indigenous media network.

10 ABC Reconciliation Action Plan , third report against the Plan, January 10 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 s Content Divisions Each January 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. During 2015, ABC Television broadcast a total of 82 Indigenous programs and programs with segments explicitly covering Indigenous individuals, communities and /or issues. Of these, 12 were made by Indigenous filmmakers (i.e. both the writer and director were Indigenous Australians): Redfern Now Promise Me, 8MMM Aboriginal Radio, Abalone, Blackbuster, In the Air, Scar, She Say, The Chuck In, The Hunter, The Darkside, Mystery Road and the children s drama Ready For This. The remainder were programs about Indigenous themes produced by others. Television documented a significant number of Indigenous talent and guests across a number of major genres, including arts, factual, drama, comedy, entertainment and children s. They included: six Indigenous panellists on Q&A; an Indigenous host and featured performer in episodes of Comedy Up Late; several Indigenous comedians in key commentary and content roles in Sounds Like Teen Spirit; an Indigenous guest on several episodes of The Weekly with Charlie Pickering; interviews with Indigenous artists, dancers and musicians in arts news packages for The Mix; an Indigenous presenter and a guest wildlife guide on Play School; an Indigenous presenter on Bushwhacked!; an Indigenous co-host, presenter and special guest on the New Year s Eve Family Fireworks Special; and a number of local Indigenous experts in Life on the Reef. Two episodes of the regional television series Back Roads featured Indigenous perspectives from regional communities. A number of dramas and comedies featured Indigenous actors, including The Secret River (one + 24 supporting actors), The Doctor Blake Mysteries (one + three supporting actors), How Not to Behave (one), Glitch (one + four supporting actors) and Ready For This (five + two supporting actors). Rage supports emerging and established Indigenous artists wherever possible; during the reporting period, the program s playlist featured music videos from artists such as East Journey, Yothu Yindi, Jessica Mauboy and Emma Donovan and the Putbacks. In 2015, iview carried 32 programs featuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, perspectives and issues. During the reporting period, ABC News delivered a wide range of stories about Indigenous issues. The number of Indigenous stories for the local 7pm News bulletin increased in all states and territories during the year. For example, the Sydney newsroom increased from eight stories in the first six months of the year to 50 stories in the second half, while the Melbourne newsroom increased from 14 to 33, the Canberra newsroom from 10 to 35 and the Hobart newsroom from nine to 15. In the second half of the year, the Perth newsroom broadcast 63 Indigenous stories, the Brisbane newsroom 64 and the Adelaide newsroom 30. Over a one-month period between 23 May and 23 June, 25% of reports from the Northern Territory newsroom (45 of 180 stories) related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander matters, including three extended, cross-platform specials. In addition, the Western Australian 7pm News aired six extended, cross-platform specials on Indigenous issues, while Brisbane carried four special reports and the Victorian News carried one. The Adelaide News also carried two Indigenous series reports during the year: an APY Lands Special, a series of reports gathered during a week on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara

11 ABC Reconciliation Action Plan , third report against the Plan, January 11 lands, and an Indigenous Art festival special, which comprised a series of stories on and live crosses to the inaugural South Australian festival. Figures for the inclusion of Indigenous issues in local state and territory radio news are only available for the second half of the year. In the six-month period from July to December, radio news aired between 93 and 384 Indigenous stories, comprising a mix of local and network content in both headlines and bulletins. In a three-month sample period from October to December, ABC News 24 aired 86 Indigenous stories. ABC News 24 also continued to broadcast The Indigenous Quarter, one of The Quarters, a series of 15-minute specialist news and current programs throughout Behind the News included 15 Indigenous stories (8.6%) out of 175 broadcast during the period, including two extended specials. Of the 40 episodes of Australia Wide broadcast since the program s launch in April 2015, 26 (65%) included Indigenous topics and talent. The Drum covered 17 separate Indigenous issues and had 11 Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander panellists during the year. A sample of the stories on Landline in the second quarter of the 2015 showed that 7% related to Indigenous matters; a number included interviews with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people. The ABC Indigenous Language News Service in the Northern Territory continued to operate and was extended to include an additional language. The service features Aboriginal news presenters from the NT Aboriginal Interpreter Service reading in the Warlpiri, Yolngu Matha and Kriol languages and is made freely available for rebroadcast by Indigenous radio stations. During 2015, ABC News Online posted 1,525 Indigenous articles, as well as 141 videos, 232 audio clips and seven photo galleries. The social media highlight of the year, a story about an ABorigina man who travelled 3,000 kilometres to be at his granddaughter s Year 10 graduation, generated 637,900 impressions and 34,000 likes on Facebook. NewsRadio continued to air Indigenous news and current affairs stories. ABC Radio broadcasts two weekly dedicated Indigenous programs, Speaking Out (Local Radio) and Awaye! (Radio National). Speaking Out celebrated its 25th anniversary on air in July 2015 with a Welcome to Country performance by Maroochy Barambah, musical guests Black Indie and guest speeches from current and past presenters. The various ABC radio networks, including the network of regional services within ABC Regional, broadcast numerous stories about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, perspectives and/or issues. Examples included: the broadcast of the State Funeral service for Tracker Tilmouth in the Northern Territory (as a courtesy, the broadcast was offered to the major NT Indigenous broadcasters, TEABBA and CAAMA); a four-part series, Behind the Gap, on RN Drive that explored some of the reasons behind the gap between Indigenous and non-indigenous Australians; an interview with the Chairman of the Aboriginal Land Council in Tasmania about a meeting arranged by the Premier to discuss land hand-backs; a range of stories on Indigenous Australians who have served in the nation s armed forces during the 100 years since the Gallipoli campaign; coverage of the Guali bula ŋina Queensland Indigenous Languages Forum 2015; Big Backyard, a month-long outsidebroadcast series from Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory (Daly River, Tiwi Islands, Nauiyu, Wadeye and Tennant Creek) in May on ABC Darwin; a program on 19 Indigenous rangers from the Ngadju nation beginning their first training program to help conserve country on ABC Rural WA; a retrospective on the Condoman Indigenous HIV-AIDS health campaigns from the 1980s on 666 ABC Canberra; coverage of a community debate in Bundaberg about a request from a local Indigenous corporation that the Bundaberg Regional Council fly the Aboriginal flag on National Sorry Day; a story on the challenge faced by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) to digitise its archives in the face of deteriorating media formats; in-depth stories on Background Briefing and The Law Report on the Northern Territory s paperless arrest

12 ABC Reconciliation Action Plan , third report against the Plan, January 12 laws; the monthly Men s Hour on Local Radio in the Northern Territory; a regular weekly segment on ABC North and West in South Australia introducing listeners to the Aboriginal Community Engagement group in Port Augusta; and various interviews with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, including a Barkinji Elder, who spoke about the pain that is still associated with Australia Day for Indigenous people, the inaugural chair of the AFL s Indigenous Advisory Group, one of the members of the original members of The Sapphires; a participant in the Indigenous Marathon Project before his run in the New York Marathon, and a man who claimed to have cut the safety chains at Uluru in the hope of stopping people from climbing against the wishes of Indigenous Australians and the local community. Meet the Mob, a regular segment and podcast on 1233 Newcastle Mornings that focuses on the stories of Indigenous people in the Hunter Valley, celebrated its 100th interview on 15 October 2015 with a live outside broadcast featuring a range of local guests. ABC Rural s annual Heywire program included Indigenous voices from across Australia. 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. During the year, those proportions were: RN 1.0%, Local Radio 3.6%, triple j 0.5%, triple j Unearthed 1.6%, Double J 1.9% and ABC Country 4.5%. At 31 December, the triple j Unearthed website had 573 Indigenous artists and 1,023 tracks. The ABC s international media services carried a range of programs featuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, perspectives and/or issues throughout the reporting period. Australia Plus Television broadcast 21 programs specifically focused on Indigenous individuals and subjects, as well as regularly covering Indigenous stories in its news and current affairs programs. Australia Plus commissioned three short stories about a visit to China by the AFL Indigenous Academy. Radio Australia, broadcasts Awaye! and Speaking Out, as well as a range of other programs from Radio National, Local Radio and the ABC s music networks, which have included Indigenous stories. In addition, its Khmer-language service runs a bimonthly quiz about Indigenous Australia and its Pacific-focused radio programs (in French and Tok Pisin) run up to three stories a month about Indigenous issues. The A+ Indonesia team includes weekly updates on Indigenous affairs. The Australia Plus language teams, which publish content in English, Chinese, Indonesian, French, Vietnamese, Tok Pisin, Khmer and Burmese, published a range of online stories from the broader ABC, including many news stories featuring Indigenous content. Issues covered on international platforms during the reporting period included the Prime Minister's 2015 Closing the Gap Report, the debate about an Indigenous recognition referendum, funding for Western Australian Indigenous communities and the role of Indigenous soldiers in Australia s armed forces during the First World War. Other coverage included the a new tourism campaign featuring Indigenous culture. Online platforms and social media platforms also included special coverage of arts, culture and community during Reconciliation Week and National Sorry Day and NAIDOC Week. 3.2 Improved integration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people into the contentmaking process, including new projects s Content divisions Each January 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 have Indigenous Australians in at least two creative roles (writer, director and/or producer). The Department had a number of projects in development and/or production during the year: Black Comedy Series 2, The Sydney Project, The

13 ABC Reconciliation Action Plan , third report against the Plan, January 13 Athletes, Mystery Road the Series, The Torres Straits, Black As, Destination Arnold, White Noise, Cleverman and 8MMM Aboriginal Radio. ABC Children s had the children s drama series Ready For This in production during the first half of the year. At the end of the reporting period, Television had six Indigenous employees. ABC Radio had 12 Indigenous staff, or 2.11% of total staff numbers in the Division, of whom seven were content makers. (The number of staff is lower than in previous reports as a result of the regionally-located Radio staff to ABC Regional on 1 July 2015.) News employs 26 Indigenous staff, or 2% of total staff numbers in the Division. Additionally, News supported two Indigenous Cadetship Support (ICS) program interns in Canberra and Sydney. Thirteen Indigenous staff were in employed in editorial positions directly contributing to News content that went to air and another 11 were in News Operations involved in the recording of content. The ABC continues to broadcast Indigenous Language News Radio in the Northern Territory, which provides opportunities for Warlpiri and Yolngu Matha people to participate in the newsmaking process. During the reporting period, Behind the News did a feature story on what it is like to live in the underground town of Coober Pedy. The story was filmed by two Indigenous school students. The program worked with these students throughout the process and in the end the students became the reporters on the story. International has one Indigenous staff member whose role includes digital content-making and social media posting for Australia Plus television. 3.3 Target and develop Indigenous on-air presenters s Content divisions Numbers of Indigenous staff who have performed in on-air roles. Development plans for key Indigenous presenters. Each January Ten of ABC Radio s Indigenous content makers appear on-air or publish online regularly. The Division oversaw development plans for three Indigenous interns whose terms will cease in 2016 or News has 13 Indigenous on-air presenters/reporters across all states and territories. During the year, the division undertook succession and leadership planning for its staff, which included consideration of the development needs of key Indigenous staff. Several episodes of the television program Comedy Up Late were hosted by an Indigenous presenter. The children s television series Bushwhacked! on ABC3 has an Indigenous host. Play School and Gardening Australia have Indigenous presenters. The New Year s Eve Family Fireworks Special included an Indigenous co-host and Indigenous presenter. Six Aboriginal interpreters received coaching in radio newsreading in the Corporation s Alice Springs and Darwin newsrooms as part of the Indigenous Language News Service. ABC Regional is investigating ways to actively recruit and develop Indigenous on-air presenters.

14 ABC Reconciliation Action Plan , third report against the Plan, January Develop internal and external communication to improve awareness of Indigenous achievement and activity in the ABC s Content Divisions and Corporate Affairs Details of internal and external promotional activity. Each January All of ABC Television s Indigenous content is promoted and communicated through social networking channels to attract audiences to programs and promote the ABC. The Department also promotes and communicates content from the News, Radio and Regional Divisions. In 2015, the Indigenous Department recorded 3.5 million YouTube views (up from 2.6 million in 2014) and 5,988 subscribers. It doubled its Facebook followers to 60,000 over the course of the year. Content on the ABC Indigenous page was viewed by 15.6 million people, of whom 1.28 million engaged with the content in the form of likes, comments and shares. Likewise, ABC Arts used Book Club social media channels to provide links to a range of articles and interviews in relation to Indigenous literary content. ABC Radio promoted its Indigenous content on-air and online, as well as through its regular contentmarketing channels and relationships. The division Radio promotes Indigenous activity internally through its divisional newsletter. The News Division s staff blog Back Story, which talks about the process of covering news and is available to internal and external audiences, regularly highlights the work and achievements of Indigenous News staff. The Division introduced an internal News monthly newsletter in September 2015 to shared activities within ABC News, including activities relating to the Partner Schools program. ABC Regional produces fortnightly staff newsletter called the Regional Report, which includes regularly content from the division s Diversity Action Group. In, the Report began featuring the division s four Diversity Champions, one of whom represents Indigenous activities and is responsible for increasing awareness about Indigenous achievement and activity within the Division. Six articles relating to Indigenous achievement and activity in the ABC were published on the Intranet during the year. 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. p State and Territory Directors, Bonner Committee Range of partnerships and projects. Each January Work on this action was disrupted by the departure of the State and Territory Directors, and a relatively small body of work on relationships and projects was reported. While the State and Territory Directors were asked to provide feedback on this action prior to their departure in June, not

15 ABC Reconciliation Action Plan , third report against the Plan, January 15 all were able to do so, and the responses received were brief compared with previous reporting periods. Due to the uncertain transfer of responsibilities following their departure, relatively little work on maintaining relationships appears to have been undertaken in the second half of the year. The activities reported were: The Director NT pursued continued funding for the Indigenous Language News Service with the Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs and the Department Prime Minister and Cabinet, as well as managing the ongoing partnership with NT Government s Aboriginal Interpreter Service, which provides the interpreters for the service. The Director Queensland signed an MOU with Brisbane Indigenous Media Association (BIMA), which includes encouraging use of ABC expertise particularly studio, lighting and camera work to help develop BIMA s television capacity. The News division s Diversity Action Group, with the assistance of the Director NSW, developed a continuing relationship with Plumpton High School, which has a 9% Indigenous student cohort. ABC Canberra continued to maintain cordial relations with AIATSIS and with the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, although no projects involving those bodies were organised in The Local Content Manager, Hobart maintained regular contact with the Weetapoona Aboriginal Corporation and met with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre and Reconciliation Australia. ABC Melbourne held a stakeholder event after a special broadcast celebrating the 25th anniversary of Archie Roach s debut album 774 ABC Melbourne and ABC Victoria. 4.2 Develop opportunities with Indigenous suppliers Business Services All Divisions Review of opportunities for procurement from Indigenous suppliers. Development of policy on use of Indigenous suppliers. January 2014 The Corporation 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 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. All ABC tenders include a clause stating that preference will be given to respondents having 50% Indigenous ownership and /or those that promote employment and training opportunities for Indigenous Australians in regions where significant Indigenous populations exist. A review of the ABC s supplier arrangements conducted in 2013 by Business Services noted that in regional areas and for supplies/services less than the $400,000 threshold at which tendering becomes mandatory under ABC policies, 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, it may not be possible to identify Indigenous suppliers able to provide such services. ABC People utilised a range of facilitation, design, catering and performance services from Indigenous suppliers. The Northern Territory Branch utilised Indigenous caterers for all events and functions, where practical, including Bonner Committee meetings. An Indigenous business manufactured the recognition plaques installed the offices.

16 ABC Reconciliation Action Plan , third report against the Plan, January 16 The ABC commenced discussions with Supply Nation in the second half of the year about the potential for establishing a formal partnership. The ABC has adopted the Commonwealth target, announced during 2015 by the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, of 3% procurement from Indigenous suppliers by 2020 in the new ABC RAP Work on an updated procurement policy framework commenced to assist in meeting this target. 4.3 Recognise and participate in Reconciliation Week State and Territory Directors and IWGs Activities/events to recognise Reconciliation Week. 27 May 3 June As a result of the departure of the State and Territory Directors and uncertainties surrounding the transfer of responsibilities to the State and Territory Executives, fewer National Reconciliation Week activities were held in ABC branches than in previous years. The Director NT hosted the official unveiling of the acknowledgement-of-country plaque in the foyer of the ABC Katherine office in partnership with the traditional owners, the Jawoyn People. The New South Wales branch held a morning tea at ABC Ultimo that was addressed by the General Manager of the Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Schools Program. The Director Queensland sponsored a Local Radio morning tea recognising Reconciliation Week and introduced a new Indigenous intern to Radio staff. The Director SA purchased a table of ten seats at the Reconciliation Week breakfast at the Adelaide Convention Centre; however, no on-site event was held at the Adelaide office. The ABC s recognition of and participation in National Reconciliation Week is more inwardly-focused than NAIDOC Week (see Action 1.5, above). Nonetheless, Reconciliation Week was covered on a range of ABC platforms. Speaking Out on Local Radio ran a half-hour program during the week that included interviews with Reconciliation Australia Co-Chair Dr Tom Calma AO and Sam Watson, as well as coverage of the Indigenous Languages Forum held in Bundaberg. 936 ABC Hobart Drive interviewed Greg Lehman from the Australian National University s Indigenous Centre. The Tasmanian Statewide Mornings program interviewed Father Frank Brennan on the path of recognition of Indigenous people in the Australian Constitution. Local Radio Queensland and 612 ABC Brisbane were media partners for the 2015 Queensland Government Reconciliation Awards. Local Radio Afternoons presenter Kelly Higgins-Devine was the MC for the Reconciliation Awards Presentation ceremony. The awards were promoted and covered on 612 ABC Brisbane and Local Radio stations across the state. Behind the News did a special feature on Reconciliation Week. As part of this story, the program visited Cowandilla Primary School in South Australia, which has a high proportion of Indigenous students and at which an Indigenous language is taught. The students helped to tell this story. Tracking Progress and Reporting 5.1 The Bonner Committee will monitor and report on RAP actions Director Corporate Affairs Biannual internal report of progress against RAP targets. Annual publication of report of progress against RAP targets. Each January