Reconciliation Action Plan working group to help drive new programs, pathways and initiatives for Commonwealth Games Australia.
Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) continues its commitment to being an active participant in Australia’s reconciliation journey, with the announcement of the CGA Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) working group.
The RAP working group consists of members of the CGA Alumni including Indigenous members Taliqua Clancy (Beach Volleyball – 2018), Katie Mitchell Sigsworth (Rhythmic Gymnastics – 1994), Kyle Vander-Kuyp (Athletics – 1990, 1994, 1998, 2006), along with fellow CGA alumni Matthew Haanappel OAM (Swimming – 2018) and Cassie Woods (nee McCall, Archery – 2010).
They will be joined by former Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Manager Executive Operations Travis Couch and Gunaikurnai Traditional Owner Brian Stevens.
The group will be chaired by four-time Commonwealth Games representative, three-time Australian team Chef de Mission, Melbourne 2006 Athletes Village Mayor and CGA Board member Steve Moneghetti AM, with the support of fellow Board member Jayne Ferguson.
The project will be guided by experienced RAP consultant Karen Milward Consulting in conjunction with Commonwealth Games Australia’s Community Engagement Manager and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Natalie Medhurst (Netball – 2010, 2014). The Project is being led by CGA’s General Manager Marketing, Communications & Community David Culbert (Athletics (1986, 1990, 1994).
Karen Millward, who is a Yorta Yorta woman, was appointed in November to help CGA and the working group with the purpose of establishing a RAP plan, which will create new programs, pathways and initiatives to assist in making a meaningful contribution to reconciliation and the way in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders connect with Commonwealth Games Australia at all levels.
RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN PROJECT UNDERWAY
Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) is committed to the development and implementation of a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) for the organisation.
READ MORECommonwealth Games Australia Chief Executive Officer Craig Phillips said the establishment and meeting of the RAP working group is an important step in the process of having the organisation use
“The establishment of the RAP working group is an important milestone in Commonwealth Games Australia’s commitment to reconciliation,” Phillips said.
“We are proud to have representatives of CGA’s Alumni and external experts in RAP development come together, under Steve Moneghetti’s chairmanship, with a common goal of developing our RAP to make meaningful contributions in the community.
“Everyone in our organisation, from the Board through to our team members, officials and staff, are committed to the develop of our RAP plan and how our organisation can use our unique position in the Australian sport landscape to make a difference.”
CGA’s initial RAP process has included the delivery of cultural awareness training for staff, Board and Birmingham 2022 Team Executive.
Commonwealth Games Australia’s Reconciliation Action Plan received a grant from the Commonwealth Sport Foundation’s Game Changers program.
The Commonwealth Sport Movement continually strives to demonstrate the power of sport; to unlock our human potential and transform lives.
Commonwealth Games Australia Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group
A proud Wulli Wulli and Goreng Goreng, Taliqua Clancy won the silver medal in beach volleyball at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games where the sport made its Games debut. Taliqua is a member of the Commonwealth Games Australia athlete advisory group.
A proud Worimi woman, Katie Mitchell Sigsworth won the silver medal as part of Australia’s rhythmic gymnastics team at the Victoria 1994 Commonwealth Games. Katie is currently the High-Performance project coordinator on the Gymnastics Australia RG Commission.
A proud Worimi and Yuin man, Vander-Kuyp is one of Australia’s greatest male hurdlers who competed at four Commonwealth Games (Auckland 1990, Victoria 1994, Kuala Lumpur 1998 and Melbourne 2006) winning a silver medal in the men’s 4x100m relay at the 1994 Games. Kyle still holds the Australian 110m hurdles record of 13.29, which he set in Goteborg, Sweden in 1995.
Para-swimming star Matthew Haanappel OAM won a gold and bronze medal at the London 2012 Paralympics, returning at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, before making his Commonwealth Games debut at the 2018 Games on the Gold Coast. Haanappel was recently appointed Chair of Swimming Victoria’s Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Committee.
Cassie Woods holds a distinct place in Australia’s Commonwealth Games history as the nation’s sole female archery medallist, after winning bronze in the compound bow (individual) event at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games.
A four-time Commonwealth Games medallist and legend of Australian athletics. Post his athletic career, Moneghetti was named mayor of the Commonwealth Games Village in 2006, a popular appointment, before being appointed as the Australian team’s Chef de Mission at the Delhi, Glasgow and the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Moneghetti has served on numerous boards including Commonwealth Games Australia and Sport Australia and was chair of the Victorian Institute of Sport.
Jayne Ferguson
Jayne’s business career spans over 30 years with extensive experience as a General Manager, Marketing Director and Digital Director. She was previously the General Manager Women’s Lifestyle and Entertainment at Bauer Media for six years and led brands such as the Australian Women’s Weekly. She is currently a Partner in a consultancy practice Edit’d, providing specialist advice in brand strategy and development, content planning, website review and development, social media planning and marketing plans. Jayne is a member of the Commonwealth Games Australia Board and Brand and Marketing Committee.
Travis Couch
Travis Couch was the Manager Executive Operations for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation. Travis provided direct advice to the CEO and the executive management team on a variety of matters relating to the delivery of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018). A key focus area was the creation and implementation of the GC2018 Reconciliation Action Plan, a first for any multi-sport Games.
Brian Stevens
Brian Stevens is a proud Gunai man who has a deep understanding of cultural knowledge and Aboriginal community protocols which is supported by a career that spans over three decades.
