The recent National Reconciliation Week, themed Be a Voice for Generations, was a moment of reflection for Anglicare Southern Queensland First Nations Engagement and Development Advisor Howard "Howie" Vandyke, a proud Bundjalung Yaegl Gumbaynngirr man who has worked in community advocacy and support for many years, on his work with the organisation.
Mr Vandyke provides a vital role at Anglicare Southern Queensland in supporting First Nations people throughout the workplace and the organisation in fulfilling its mission to be a more diverse and inclusive organisation in keeping with their 2021-2023 Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan.
Anglicare Southern Queensland is a community service organisation which employs 3,000 employees and has 400 volunteers.
"I came into the organisation about one year ago with the role of managing the Reconciliation Action Plan deliverables for Anglicare Southern Queensland. We share a RAP with the Anglican church in Southern Queensland and there are certain deliverables very specific to Anglicare and there are others which are church based," he told National Indigenous Times.
"For me the main focus is really increasing Aboriginal employment, retention and professional development. Before driving the employment aspect I saw it was important to recognise that without the culturally safe and appropriate behaviours in place, it would be self-defeating - to focus on employment without those aspects being in place."
Mr Vandyke said Anglicare Southern Queensland recently conducted a cultural audit, the feedback from which determined "where the organisation is at in terms of cultural capacity".
"The findings provided the organisation a clear understand about what areas need to be improved on an ongoing basis, prior to driving the employment aspect," he said.
"The RAP has a strong emphasis on employment. Most organisations have the three per cent (target), I have just been in Adelaide talking with other Anglicare First nations members and we were sharing our employment numbers. The Northern Territory has a higher target of 14 per cent of their staffing.
"We in Southern Queensland aim to get to five per cent which is what I am targeting over the next three years. The organisation is working hard to meet the expectations of the RAP and some extra things I may add from time to time to increase the cultural safety aspect."
Mr Vandyke noted that Anglicare Southern Queensland chief executive Sue Cook th and the board and executive leadership are "genuinely committed to the task of meeting what needs to be met in the RAP".
"This is the first time I have come across a board, CEO and management team that is genuinely committed in a non-tokenistic way," he said.
"I am gobsmacked every time I walk into the office, there's no hidden agenda, there is no tokenism, it's very clear. I am honoured to be part of an organisation that has that genuine commitment."
Anglicare said the organisations First Nations Cultural Capability Framework "creates foundations and guidance to deliver culturally proficient services in partnership with staff".
The organisation noted it is supporting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander staff through a First Nations Counsellor, which can be accessed through the Employee Assistance Program.
It said all new employees and volunteers must complete Indigenous Awareness Training within 30 days of commencing, and within Anglicare's Children, Youth & Families service, employees are required to complete cross-cultural competency training.
Anglicare has also hired a Cultural Practice Lead who is responsible for developing, implementing, and leading strategies to strengthen culturally responsive and effective practice with children, young people and families.
