On Wednesday 23 July, Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) proudly unveiled its second Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), the Innovate RAP 2025–2027 at The Colebee Centre, Doonside.
The event brought together community leaders including Edmond Atalla MP, state member for Mount Druitt; Sharon Cooke, State Manager of Aboriginal Education at Catholic Schools NSW; Aunty Carol Cooper as well as school principals and staff representatives from CSPD.
A Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) is a strategic commitment made to support reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. It offers a framework for building respectful partnerships, embedding cultural knowledge, and generating opportunities that promote a culturally safe and welcoming environment.
For Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese, this commitment to reconciliation also supports the Australian Catholic Bishops Social Justice Statement 2023-2024 Listen, Learn, Love: A New Engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Bishop Vincent’s call to strengthen our relationship with First Nations Australians.
Building on the foundations of the Reflect RAP launched in 2021, the Innovate RAP 2025–2027 reflects CSPD’s formal commitment to listening, learning, and embedding First Nations histories and cultures into daily practices, policies, and decision-making.
The Reconciliation artwork, ‘Faith, Hope, Love’, was created in collaboration with artist Amy Allerton and First Nations students and staff from CSPD. Image: Gene Ramirez/CSPD
Closely aligned with their new system strategy to represent the diverse communities served in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains, this next stage in the Reconciliation Action Plan focuses on:
- Deepening relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Embedding cultural learning into all aspects of work
- Creating equitable opportunities through employment and procurement
- Strengthening respect through meaningful, two-way engagement
CSPD’s Chief Executive Officer Jack de Groot thanked RAP Project Manager Amanda Fotheringham, RAP Officer Yvette King, the Jarara team, the RAP Advisory Committee and Working Group for leading the process with Reconciliation Australia.
“This is a practical, deliberate step forward in our reconciliation journey,” Mr De Groot said. “It is Christ’s love that calls us to recognise the dignity of every person. As followers of Jesus, we are called to walk in solidarity and work for justice alongside our First Nations colleagues, students, families and communities.”
The Innovate RAP artwork was created by artist Amy Allerton, a Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung woman, in collaboration with 90 First Nations students and staff from Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese.
Olivia O’Connor is the Communications Manager at Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese.
This article was originally published in the 2025 Season of Creation | Spring edition of the Catholic Outlook Magazine. You can read the digital version here or pick up a copy in your local parish.
