FAQ

Yes. The RAP Working Group was established in November 2017 which included nominated traditional owners. There have been multiple meetings since November 2017 including key Aboriginal people and elders, stakeholders, elected members and City staff. Feedback from these, and the RAP Working Group Meetings, formed the Actions outlined in the Draft RAP.  

No, no-one is contemplating changing the name of Fremantle – Fremantle will always be Fremantle.

One of the actions identified through the various meetings to develop the draft RAP was: "Increase the ‘visibility’ of Aboriginal survival, culture and creativity". (Action 10)

The draft RAP does propose a deliverable to: "Identify (with Walyalup Reconciliation Reference Group, and/or Elders Group) opportunities as they present for naming/ co-naming locations, streets, parks etc, such as Booyembarra Park." (deliverable 10.3 on page 20)

Co-naming is not an uncommon practice globally, and in Australia in particular it is an opportunity to recognise a continuing connection to country.

The City is developing a RAP for many reasons but primarily to engage better with Aboriginal people and the general community to advance values of inclusiveness and equality.

It’s been almost 20 years since council committed to developing a Policy on Conciliation, Respect and Recognition and 3 years on from an Aboriginal Engagement Plan. A key learning from this is that maintaining relationships with Aboriginal people is like an investment with the more invested the better the return.

This RAP will add to this work and form an overarching framework for what is occurring now and to update and measure future deliverables. Please read the draft RAP to find out more.

This RAP was developed through community consultation starting in November 2017 with Traditional Owners nomination of two delegates to sit on the RAP working group and represent the Whadjuk People.

In 2018 we held a powerful and engaging community meeting attended by over 100 committed people including key Aboriginal people and Elders, as well as the Mayor, Elected Members and city staff. The group workshop generated organic and grass roots discussion around people, spirit and place in Fremantle and summarised into a practical plan for Reconciliation. At the meeting nominations for membership to the working group were accepted. This working group is diverse and consists of Traditional Owners (Whadjuk People), Aboriginal people both young and older, Non Aboriginal external people, Elected Members and city staff.

Officers captured all the diverse input from over 100 people at previous meetings and summarised into a practical plan for Reconciliation holding a further meeting in April 2019 to seek endorsement for the thrust of the Walyalup Reconciliation Action Plan and the 15 main ‘Actions’ in the RAP. 

The City of Fremantle Executive Team plays an important and active role in the implementation of the Walyalup RAP to ensure outcomes are delivered and that the intentions of the RAP become part of the City’s culture.

Many City staff have selected to be RAP champions who will encourage participation in our RAP activities and events, communicate our reconciliation message, and influence peers to build positive relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations. Many of the actions also rely on the community to participate and actively work towards reconciliation.

Nyoongar is an oral language made up of 14 different dialects so words are sometimes spelled differently and alternative words may be used depending on the region.