Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners

‘Our door is open; everyone is welcome, and no one gets left behind.’

Here at Mater, we are determined to make change as we embark on our reconciliation journey. Mater’s Mission is to serve together to bring God’s mercy to communities through compassionate, transforming, healing ministries. That Mission must encompass reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Our Reconciliation Action Plan

In consultation with Reconciliation Australia, Mater is proudly implementing our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan – or RAP.

Mater is committed to working towards genuine and sustainable reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and our wider communities, to deepen our understanding and genuine appreciation of First Nations peoples.

Our vision for a reconciled Australia is culturally rich and inclusive, acknowledges and understands our shared history, and aims to heal and remove barriers for the future. We are working to embed this perspective into Mater’s strategic operations through meaningful and ongoing actions that have a practical and lasting impact.

By living out Mater’s Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan, our goal is that all Mater People – our staff, students, and volunteers – become culturally aware and conscious of the efforts we can make individually to close the gap.

Our RAP will focus on:

• Strengthening our relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Building respect for their culture, histories and knowledge.
• Creating new opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander governance into Mater.

View our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan

Our RAP Steering Committee is co-chaired by our CEO Dr Peter Steer and Adrian Carson, CEO of the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health.