Summary

The development of the GC2018 Commonwealth Games Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) was identified as a meaningful opportunity to embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation within GC2018 event planning and delivery. The GC2018 Commonwealth Games RAP was the first RAP developed for a major international Australian event.

The Office of the Commonwealth Games commissioned CIRCA to carry out an evaluation of the Commonwealth Games Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) to explore its achievements and lessons learned to inform similar initiatives in the future.

Our methodology

This evaluation was carried out between November 2017 and November 2018 and involved the development of an evaluation plan and framework through a collaborative approach, consultations with over 70 stakeholders involved in developing and implementing the RAP including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and business owners and a review of reporting data.

CIRCA’s highly skilled senior Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Consultants promoted Indigenous research methodologies, cultural safety, culturally responsive practice, and ensured that a diverse range of voices of community members and businesses were heard in this project.

The outcome

Our report identified key successes of the RAP which highlight the benefits that can be achieved through the implementation of a RAP for a major event and should encourage other events and organisations to also explore implementing a RAP. It also identified challenges and key learnings to be considered for the development and implementation of similar RAPs in the future. The evaluation report is available here.

In addition, our researchers presented at the 2018 AES conference, describing the process CIRCA implemented to engage successfully with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders throughout the evaluation process and how this embodied the concepts central to RAPs (respect, relationships and opportunity).