Our commitment

Council has adopted the inaugural Aboriginal Commitment Strategy on Wednesday 17 August 2022.

Bathurst Regional Council has successfully delivered two Reconciliation Action Plan’s (RAP); for the years 2015-2017 and 2019-2021. The Aboriginal Commitment Strategy has been developed in lieu of the RAP; to guide Council in working effectively and collaboratively on a local level with the Aboriginal community.

Through extensive community consultation (early 2022) with local Aboriginal people, the wider community and stakeholders, Council has developed 10 key commitments and 32 actions to achieve reconciliation, support cultural protection and increase community and stakeholder relationships.

Bathurst Regional Council departments will work collaboratively to ensure the 32 actions are components to be addressed in all Council operations and are delivered in a culturally appropriate and inclusive manner.

Bathurst Regional Council's Aboriginal Commitment Strategy can be downloaded here...(PDF, 14MB)

On 13 February 2008, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivered a formal apology to Indigenous Australians for forced removals of Indigenous children (Stolen Generations) from their families by Australian federal and state government agencies.

Bathurst Regional Council held an acknowledgement of the Parliamentary Apology on Thursday 14 February 2008. Many people in Bathurst and surrounds attended the gathering to reflect on those who were taken from their families by past government policies. On the occasion, Laurie Crawford addressed the gathering.

Bathurst Regional Council have established protocols for communication with and engagement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community representatives. Any queries in relation to this matter may be referred to Council’s Manger Community Services.

Download Communications Protocol(PDF, 51KB)