In an effort to understand the NSW Government’s actions towards closing the gap and fostering reconciliation, I reached out to various representatives within the NSW Office of Sport, including the Minister, the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Team and Martin Burney.
And the goal was to gain clarity on their commitment and practical steps taken to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
So this page / article details my correspondence and the responses received, highlighting the progress (or lack thereof) in their reconciliation efforts.
Correspondence with Martin Burney
Sent to Martin Burney:
Dear Martin,
I’m writing to seek clarification regarding the NSW Office of Sport’s commitment to reconciliation specifically in relation to the Community Access Policy mentioned in the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) for 2021-2023.
During our recent conversation, it was mentioned that there are no pro bono opportunities available for Not-for-Profit (NFP) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations due to the necessity of covering costs. This raises a few important questions:
- Implementation of Community Access Policy: How has this policy been implemented in practice considering the feedback about the inability to provide pro bono opportunities? How are NFP Indigenous organisations, which often struggle with funding, expected to take advantage of or even participate in this policy?
- Omission in RAP 2024-2026: I noticed that the 2024-2026 RAP does not mention the Community Access Policy. Could you provide insight into why this policy is no longer featured? Does this indicate a shift in focus away from supporting Indigenous organisations’ access to your facilities?
- Balancing Financial Requirements and Support: Understanding that there is a need to cover costs, what measures are being considered to balance these financial requirements with the need to support NFP Indigenous organisations? Are there any alternative support mechanisms or funding opportunities being developed to assist these organisations in accessing your facilities?
The community is keen to understand how the NSW Office of Sport will uphold its commitment to reconciliation and support for Indigenous communities, particularly in light of these concerns.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Dean Foley
Journalist
Barayamal / Community News Hub Aboriginal Corporation
Response:
Awaiting response.
Correspondence with the Reconciliation Action Plan Team
Sent to the RAP Team:
Dear NSW Office of Sport Team,
I am writing to you as a journalist (Indigenous News) seeking clarification on the NSW Office of Sport’s commitment to reconciliation, particularly regarding the Community Access Policy mentioned in your Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) for 2021-2023.
During a recent conversation with Martin Burney from the Office of Sport, I was informed that there are no pro bono opportunities available for Not-for-Profit (NFP) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations due to cost-covering requirements, which raises some critical questions:
- Implementation of Community Access Policy: How has this policy been implemented, especially considering the feedback about the inability to provide pro bono opportunities? How are struggling NFP Indigenous organisations expected to benefit from this policy if they cannot afford the associated costs?
- Omission in RAP 2024-2026: Why is this policy no longer featured in the latest RAP? Does this indicate a shift in focus away from supporting Indigenous organisations’ access to your facilities? If so, how does the NSW Office of Sport plan to ensure Indigenous organisations are not priced out of using these facilities?
- Cost-Covering Requirements: What measures are being considered to balance these financial requirements with the need to support NFP Indigenous organisations? Are there any alternative support mechanisms or funding opportunities being developed to assist these organisations in accessing your facilities?
Your detailed response will help clarify these important issues and provide a better understanding of the NSW Office of Sport’s reconciliation efforts.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Dean Foley
Journalist
Barayamal / Community News Hub Aboriginal Corporation
Response:
Awaiting response.
Correspondence with the Minister for Sport Stephen Kamper
Sent to Minister Stephen Kamper:
Dear Minister Kamper,
I’m writing to seek clarification regarding the NSW Office of Sport’s commitment to reconciliation, specifically concerning the Community Access Policy mentioned in their Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) for 2021-2023.
During a recent conversation with Martin Burney from the Office of Sport, it was brought to my attention that there are currently no pro bono opportunities available for Not-for-Profit (NFP) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations due to the necessity of covering costs. This has raised several important questions:
- Implementation of Community Access Policy: How has this policy been implemented in practice? How are NFP Indigenous organisations, which often struggle with funding, expected to take advantage of or even participate in this policy?
- Omission in RAP 2024-2026: The latest RAP does not mention the Community Access Policy. Could you provide insight into why this policy is no longer featured? Does this omission indicate a shift in focus away from supporting Indigenous organisations’ access to your facilities?
- Balancing Financial Requirements and Support: While understanding the necessity of covering costs, what measures are being considered to balance these financial requirements with the need to support NFP Indigenous organisations? Are there any alternative support mechanisms or funding opportunities being developed to assist these organisations in accessing your facilities?
The community is keen to understand how the NSW Office of Sport will uphold its commitment to reconciliation and support for Indigenous communities, particularly in light of these concerns.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Dean Foley
Journalist
Barayamal / Community News Hub Aboriginal Corporation
Response:
Awaiting response.
Analysis and Public Awareness
The NSW Office of Sport’s commitment to reconciliation is articulated through their Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) but the practical application and support mechanisms for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, especially regarding pro bono opportunities, remain unclear.
And the omission of the Community Access Policy in the latest RAP (2024-2026) raises concerns about the NSW Office of Sport’s continued support for Indigenous organisations.
So it’s essential for public awareness to hold the NSW Government accountable for their reconciliation commitments and ensure that Indigenous communities have equal access to opportunities in sports and active recreation.