Reconciliation Action Plan

WorkCover Queensland deeply acknowledges and pays respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and their Elders past and present. We thank the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia for their ongoing custodianship of land, waters, culture and community.

WorkCover Queensland acts as a support system for people, both employees and employers. Like cells in our bodies, following injury and illness, they provide structure and support during the rehabilitation process. Built on a platform of strong, authentic relationships, WorkCover Queensland is focused on expanding their existing relationships to create a broader range of genuine and diverse connections with communities throughout Queensland.

Through a strong sense of purpose, WorkCover Queensland continue to be the cells that connect and support people. With each new relationship, the cells of the network rebuild and grow, creating even stronger links throughout Queensland.

Rachael Sarra, Aboriginal artist from Goreng Goreng Country

Our vision for Reconciliation

WorkCover Queensland deeply believes that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures should be embraced with equity, dignity and respect. We share Reconciliation Australia’s vision of a just, equitable and reconciled Australia. We strive to support and contribute to a space where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples feel valued and respected, have access to opportunities and resources and can contribute their perspectives and talents to the Queensland community.

In addition to this our Executive Leadership Team and our Board of Directors endorsed our unique vision for reconciliation in early 2024. WorkCover developed a vision for reconciliation aligned with our brand, our business activity and our sphere of influence that will guide all our reconciliation efforts;

We support Reconciliation by empowering businesses and inspiring careers.

Our Reconciliation vision will be achieved through the delivery of our First Nations Strategy which is currently in development. In the spirit of self-determination this strategy will be developed in consultation with, and delivered by, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples employed in Identified positions within WorkCover specifically to advance these efforts.

Our journey

WorkCover is committed to continually contributing to Reconciliation efforts in Australia. WorkCover develops Reconciliation Action Plans not only because it is the right thing to do, but because the ability to understand the heritage and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will enable our organisation to make lasting impacts for the Queensland community.

In late 2021 we developed our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (PDF, 6.26 MB), which outlined practical actions that would help build strong relationships and enhance respect between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the wider Queensland community.

In mid-2023 we reviewed our progress against our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan and identified the key areas of focus for the development phase of our next Reconciliation Action Plan.

In early 2024 these identified areas of focus were shared with our Executive Leadership Team and our Board of Directors who endorsed the:

Creation of our bespoke Vision for Reconciliation statement
Expansion of our existing First Nations Employment Strategy into a more comprehensive First Nations Strategy that encompasses four key pillars of employment, procurement, customer and community.
Appointment of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples into Identified positions across WorkCover to inform the development, and lead the delivery, of this strategy.

Once our First Nations Strategy is launched, our Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group will facilitate the drafting of our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan to ensure our efforts are aligned.

Our journey began in 2018 and continues as we recognise we still have more to learn and do to achieve our reconciliation vision.

The image shows a timeline depicted by Indigenous styled concentric circles of various sizes and colours. The colours used are coral pink, sky blue, deep blue, burnt orange, bright orange and black. All the colours are taken from the Reconciliation artwork WorkCover commissioned in 2020. The concentric circles are joined with small dots in a soft curve in a warm grey colour.

Each circle depicts a year, and next to each circle is a rounded shape in which text appears that explains the Reconciliation actions taken in that year. The shapes are filled with the transparent colour of the outer ring of the relevant year circle.

Circle 1: 2018

(located top left corner. Deep blue, coral pink, white, burnt orange and coral pink concentric circles with adjoining transparent coral pink shape)

Executive endorsement

Our Board of Directors endorsed a Regional Strategy including a commitment to hold our Board meetings in remote Queensland communities.
Our Executive Leadership Team endorsed the commencement of our Reconciliation Action Plan.

Circle 2: 2020

(located half way down the left hand side of the page. Burnt orange, sky blue, white, coral pink, burnt orange and sky blue concentric circles with adjoining transparent sky blue shape)

Reconciliation Action Plan preparation

Our Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group launched with 50% identifying as First Nations.
Our Acknowledgement of Country protocols were established

Circle 3: 2021

(located low on the page, just left of centre. Burnt orange, white, coral pink, deep blue, burnt orange, white, black and coral pink concentric circles with adjoining transparent coral pink shape)

Reconciliation Action Plan launch

Our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan was launched in December 2021

Circle 4: 2022

(located in the centre of the page. Coral pink, white, bright orange, black, coral pink, white and bright orange concentric circles with adjoining transparent bright orange shape)

Building our foundation for Reconciliation

Our First Nations Employment Strategy was launched.
Our Acknowledgement of Country was embedded into our email signatures.
The Evolve Communities 7 Steps to Reconciliation module introduced into our online learning platform.
Our First Nations Voices Project team was established. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees were tasked with understanding First Nations experiences of WorkCover and make recommendations for improvement.
We partnered with Supply Nation certified business Ergonomic Workstations.

Circle 5: 2023

(located slightly above and to the right of centre. Bright orange, white, deep blue, coral pink, bright orange, white, black and deep blue concentric circles with adjoining transparent deep blue shape)

Reviewing our progress

Revised our Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group Terms of Reference and other governance processes.
Installed bronze Acknowledgement of Country plaque in our foyer and redesigned plaques in all meeting rooms.
First Nations Strategy and Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan review presented to our Executive Leadership Team and Board of Directors.

Circle 6: 2024

(located below centre towards the right edge of the page. Deep blue, white, burnt orange, coral pink, deep blue, white, bright orange and burnt orange concentric circles with adjoining transparent burnt orange shape)

Progressing our efforts

Significant consultation with other state government entities with Innovate RAPs in place and First Nations consultants.
Agreement to develop a First Nations Strategy and set a vision for Reconciliation and expand ownership of Reconciliation activities beyond the Working Group.
New Reconciliation Action Plan Champion and Working Group appointed and onboarded with the view of drafting our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan in 2024.