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PLANNERS PUT RECONCILIATION IN ACTION Chairperson Evelyn Scott today congratulated the Royal Australian Institute of Planners (RAPI) for putting in practice the aims of the Council�s Draft Document for Reconciliation. Following a meeting between Ms Scott and RAPI National President, Barbara Norman in Canberra yesterday, Ms Scott said RAPI has taken a practical and sensitive approach to reconciliation. "RAPI has shown that it is serious about improving communication between planners and Indigenous people, and that it wants planners to respect Indigenous rights and values in the decision making process," Ms Scott said. "A more community-oriented, participatory approach is most productive when dealing with complex issues such as land use and ownership. "These are the kinds of commitments the Council wants to see from all sectors and institutions to implement the Council�s Strategies to Advance Reconciliation, which will be launched on May 27 at Corroboree 2000," Ms Scott said. Ms Norman said RAPI, as the peak body representing 3500 town and regional planners, aims to implement a number of practical steps to advance reconciliation. "We hope to hold joint workshops involving planners and Aboriginal communities to increase Aboriginal understanding of and participation in the planning process in their communities and to help planners to better understand local Aboriginal issues such as sacred sites and social needs," Ms Norman said. "RAPI is also interested in encouraging more Indigenous people to enter the planning profession, and we will be exploring ways to do that." RAPI will also lobby the Building Design Professions Council, representing 80,000 planners, architects, engineers, surveyors and landscape architects to support reconciliation. CANBERRA 17 February 2000 |
