In 2020, Queensland Rugby League unveiled its Reconciliation Action Plan, a key strategic document that formally recognises the game’s commitment to fostering reconciliation and inclusiveness on and off the field.
Indigenous contribution to rugby league has always been significant and vital to the game’s success, and in turn, the QRL is working to help provide better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the board.
Today is National Close the Gap Day which acknowledges the ongoing strength and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in sustaining the world's oldest living cultures.
Closing the Gap is underpinned by the belief that when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a genuine say in the design and delivery of policies, programs and services that affect them, better life outcomes are achieved. It also recognises that structural change in the way governments work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is needed to close the gap.
Using the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, which was signed in July 2020, and the Queensland Government’s implementation plan as a guide, the QRL’s RAP is ever-evolving and underpins the direction taken by the organisation to achieve positive outcomes.
The QRL have been taking a number of steps to initiate real action to achieve Indigenous health and education equality, and have identified a number of priority reforms.
Consultation, shared decision making and building better partnerships with government, Indigenous support agencies and businesses across Queensland has been a key recent focus.
The QRL have recently formed a Corporate and Social Responsibility Committee which is aligned to the QRL’s Strategic priority of leveraging the game’s unique ability to make a difference in communities.
The initial focus of the committee is to support wellbeing and education programs, Indigenous programs, diversity and inclusion engagement and socio-cultural outcomes, including respectful relationships and future partnership opportunities.
Some of the key targets and the ways the QRL are working in the community and in partnership with service providers for better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people include:
Encouraging strong economic participation and development of ATSI peoples and communities
One of the current opportunities identified in the QRL RAP is to investigate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander supplier diversity and the QRL looking into what decisions can be made to ensure First Nations people and businesses can directly benefit.
Ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people are not overrepresented in the criminal justice system
By being involved in programs being run by Youth Justice and Queensland Police Service across the state and by working with young people identified as being at risk, the QRL aims to see better future outcomes. In 2021, the QRL partnered with the QPS to run a Townsville At Risk Youth Rugby League Program to help transition some young community members into clubs.
Ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people enjoy high levels of social and emotional wellbeing
QRL wellbeing initiative Support Squad is having a beneficial impact for all of the game’s participants and by spreading the support squad across the state and getting out to work to communities more regularly, it will have a positive impact on the lives of Indigenous people as well.
Help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to enjoy long and healthy lifestyles
The QRL, in partnership with the Queensland Government and Wellbeing Queensland, have initiated and are rolling out an Active Kit Recreational RL Program in indigenous communities across Queensland including Palm Island, Wujal Wujal, Coen, Lockhart River, Woorabinda and Cherbourg. The aim of the program is to get the men, women and children in the communities up and active.
For QRL Indigenous Advisory Committee co-chair Eddie Monaei, it was a positive to see the steps being made by the governing body to fostering reconciliation and inclusiveness.
“Our game is changing and is a true reflection of cultural immersion that forms the foundations of our Reconciliation Action Plan moving forward,” Monaei said.
“We are and we will always aspire to be champions of reconciliation.
“I am proud of what we have been able to achieve and have seen significant changes in the way that we deliver our programs, develop our people, and importantly remain culturally connected to First Nations peoples and communities throughout Queensland.”
