building relationships, respect and opportunities

Transcription

1 building relationships, respect and opportunities

2 FOXTEL RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN Message from the CEO Reconciliation with Indigenous Australians is something I have believed in for many years and it is with a sense of responsibility to our fellow Indigenous Australians that FOXTEL has developed a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) which we believe demonstrates practical support to reconciliation. In recent months we have talked to external companies who have developed RAPs already, we have sourced advice from Indigenous stakeholders and advisers on Indigenous matters, talked to our potential industry partners, and talked to some of our Senior Leaders about the potential as to how FOXTEL can contribute to reconciliation successfully. Together, we have agreed that FOXTEL will contribute to reconciliation through leading by example in the Television and Media industry, building the core TV/Media and business skills of Indigenous people, in doing so it may assist some of the participants to share their positive stories and culture with more of Australia. We have endeavoured to make our plan practical, achievable and most importantly effective. We have developed a Reconciliation Working Group that I will personally chair to monitor our progress throughout this year and beyond, ensuring we keep our plan alive and responsive to identified needs. We will continue to build relationships with Indigenous friends such as NiTV, and seek guidance from Indigenous bodies such as Reconciliation Australia. We will continue to look at ways to contribute to Indigenous communities through offering our respect and building relationships and we will work to continuously improve Indigenous employment opportunities at FOXTEL. I look forward to reporting on and sharing our progress. Kim Williams Chief Executive Officer

3 Our Business FOXTEL is Australia s leading subscription television provider. It commenced distributing its services on cable with 20 channels in 1995, expanding to 31 channels and satellite distribution in 1999 and increased it s offering to 45 channels in Since 2004 it has expanded to over 150 channels and is an all digital broadcaster. FOXTEL is now available to more than 70% of Australian homes, with more than 1.5 million homes currently connected to the FOXTEL service directly or by receipt of services provided on a wholesale basis to other providors such as Optus TV. Our Vision for Reconciliation FOXTEL is eager to play its part in affirming a better understanding of Indigenous Australians and Australian history through its role as a broadcaster and employer. FOXTEL aims to offer leadership in the Media Industry by contributing to the reconciliation of Indigenous and non-indigenous people in building the core TV/New Media and general business skills sets of Indigenous people and in doing so enable better professional possibilities and as relevant for participants to share their positive stories and culture via media channels throughout Australia. Indigenous images courtesy BaruKadal, The Dreaming Festival, QFF, copyright 2007

4 FOXTEL RECONCILIATION INITIATIVES 1 BUILDING CORE RELATIONSHIPS Built a relationship with Reconciliation Australia to help FOXTEL understand how we could contribute and develop our Reconciliation Plan. FOXTEL appointing 2 RAP Leaders who researched the possibilities for FOXTEL of an effective RAP, talked to other companies (both media and non-media), and Indigenous advisory bodies. FOXTEL then developed and publicised a Reconciliation Plan. FOXTEL CEO 2 x RAP Leads Jan 2008 Complete Establish a FOXTEL RAP working group Chair CEO RAP Lead Director, Strategic Projects RAP Lead HR Leader, Strategy Business Lead Head of Broadcast Operations Business Lead Executive Director, Engineering Community Lead Community Team HR Lead Indigenous Representative Partners Reconciliation Australia Aboriginal Employment Strategy NiTV Develop a database for Indigenous industry contacts using available tools such as Little Black Book, and our Media Contacts. Source opportunities to develop an industry network group, the vision being that together we can support the on-going and shared development of Indigenous people, to ensure sustainable employment in media beyond our individual contributions. Core purpose and goals of the group to be established by August Support Indigenous events through: School based promotion as part of our FOXTEL s school program Sponsorship or In Kind Support to relevant Indigenous events Develop a relationship with Aboriginal Employment Strategy to assist us in: Development of a cultural awareness program within FOXTEL. This will initially be delivered only where we place Indigenous employees, with a review after 12 months which will explore the possibility and benefits of rolling this out more broadly across FOXTEL. Assist us in provision of mentoring services to assist us to support any Indigenous employees/ trainees, and people managing those employees. 2 x RAP Leads to coordinate. 1 x Indigenous Rep Partner to be invited to each meetings Group established Feb 2008 Meetings: March July November HR Lead March 2008 on-going 2 x RAP Leads Meet: April August December RAP Working Group Current December 2008 From first hire.. Review December 2008 Group meets 3 times per annum to measure progress: November meeting sees the broadening of the RAP group for 2009 to include other FOXTEL departments including: TV / Marketing Corporate (IS / Finance / HR etc) Collaboration with other Indigenous people / organisations Database updated quarterly following quarterly RAP working group meeting. A strong network of Indigenous contacts Group to meet 3 times per year to discuss the potential opportunities to share resources and work together to improve reconciliation. To include NiTV in School FOXTEL distribution where appropriate / possible Evidence of at least 3 events we have sponsored, or offered in kind support to. All FOXTEL employees working with Indigenous employees have completed a cultural awareness or mentoring program to ensure our programs are successful. Complete review at end of December to assess best approach for 2009

5 FOXTEL RECONCILIATION INITIATIVES 2 CULTURAL RESPECT Promote Indigenous Issue / success stories through: Providing links from our FOXTEL Connecting Intranet site to external sites such as Reconciliation Australia Coverage of any Indigenous programs we deliver through our internal newsletter (to continue to educate FOXTEL staff on Indigenous matters) Audit HR Policies: Ensure our policies reflect and provide for Indigenous Cultural Responsibilities Support key positive Indigenous Media issues where possible: eg support of the Governments Apology campaign, by releasing supporting education documents to all staff Implementation of Indigenous Cultural Protocols as appropriate: Inviting traditional owners to perform a Welcome to Country at appropriate FOXTEL events Acknowledging country on our website All staff to be encouraged to celebrate national Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Display Indigenous Art as suitable Develop relationships with Indigenous bodies to educate ourselves on how we can further our RAP: eg Aboriginal Employment Strategy Department of Workplace Relations Indigenous Program Integrate Indigenous focus into FOXTEL s existing Corporate Community Investment Program, FOXTEL Connecting including: FOXTEL schools program Sponsorship of grass-roots sport for major codes in Indigenous communities Support Indigenous creative talent and cultural events Provide opportunities for our staff to support Indigenous events and initiatives through our volunteering program Celebrate Reconciliation Week and use this as an opportunity to educate our staff and raise awareness of Indigenous issues Report on FOXTEL s progress through our Corporate Community Investment Report Liase with Aurora Community Channel* to promulgate content on air and online Aurora is an integrated broadcast and online destination for community involvement across Australia. It is a not for profit organisation, on-air 24/7 on Foxtel Digital, AUSTAR Digital and Optus TV featuring FOXTEL Digital. RAP Working Group March ongoing Demonstrated promotion of issues/ stories through at least 2 FOXTEL publications per annum HR April ongoing Demonstrated review / changes to be reported at each RAP meeting CEO & Dir of Corporate Affairs RAP Working Group to co-ordinate December 2008 March ongoing Demonstrated commitment to supporting at least 2 key issues At least 1 event per annum where traditional owners are invited to perform Welcome to Country Website acknowledgement by April Demonstrated support of Rec Week 2 pieces of Indigenous Art on display. March ongoing Demonstrate at least 2 new relationships that have been created to support our on-going RAP. Community Team Director Strategic Projects By December 2008 Current ongoing School program implemented by December 2008 Demonstrated support of all initiatives to be reported on at each RAP Group Meeting. Demonstrated promotion of issues / stories through Aurora

6 FOXTEL RECONCILIATION INITIATIVES 3 INDIGENOUS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES & SKILLS FOXTEL Indigenous Regional Work Experience Program: To provide a minimum of 2 Indigenous students the opportunity to participate in work experience at FOXTEL, to ensure that we are providing awareness of our industry. HR RAP Lead 2 x Business Leads November or more regional Indigenous students complete 1 week work experience by the end of 2008 Indigenous participation in our Internship Program Source a minimum of 2 TV / Media university students to participate in our 2 week internship program (currently in conjunction with Charles Sturt University) 2 X Business Leads October 2 or more Indigenous university students complete 2 week internship by end of 2008 Indigenous Skills Secondment Broadcast Operations Provide 2 opportunities for Indigenous people working for smaller production companies - these could be for one month up to six months depending on the requirements of both parties at the time. 1 x Business Lead December 2 or more Indigenous secondments completed by December 2008 Indigenous 12 month Work Program Provide 1 opportunity for an Indigenous person to work on a rotational program within Broadcast Operations, with a view to offering permanent employment subject to positive performance. 1 x Business Lead July 2008 Person hired by July 2008, cultural awareness program for team implemented, and first 6 months completed by Dec Research and prepare for Indigenous School Based Traineeship for 2009 Work with a local Sydney College to discuss potential opportunity to work together in 2009, using 2008 as an opportunity to develop program, promote program and understand best ways to work at FOXTEL. RAP Working Group July - December 2008 Report on progress of development at 4 monthly RAP Working Group meeting. Engineering Graduate / TAFE Opportunities Include specific Indigenous candidate sourcing as part of broader Engineering Grad Program review. 1 x Business Lead August Report on progress of development at 4 monthly RAP Working Group meeting to include 1 Indigenous Graduate Develop a report on Indigenous Opportunities for long-term success Utilising the learnings from each of the above employment strategies, develop a report with recommendations for 2009 on the most appropriate way to move forward to ensure longevity of employment for Indigenous people in our industry. RAP Lead / HR Business Partner December 2008 To create longer-term employment strategies (permanent work) for Indigenous employees. 4 TRACKING OUR PROGRESS Ensure we publicly report on and refresh our FOXTEL RAP annually. RAP Working Group In line with Annual Report Present RAP outcomes in: Annual Report Website announcement Reconciliation Australia

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