Both Rip Curl and Caprice Australia are one of few apparel companies in Australia to release expanded reconciliation action plans (RAP) this year, in a bid to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the country.
This is according to Reconciliation Australia, which reveals all the companies across all sectors in Australia that have standing RAPs.
Rip Curl and Caprice join a handful of businesses in the apparel sector with standing RAPs, including David Jones, Super Retail Group (Rebel, Macpac), Spell, PVH Brands Australia, Bared Footwear, XTM Performance, Woolworths Group (Big W, MyDeal), and Wesfarmers (Kmart Group, Workwear Group).
Some of these are expanded commitments to reconciliation, including both Rip Curl and Caprice Australia, both of which are now in their second stage of RAP. There are four stages. Some of these stages run for a year, while others can run for up to two years.
There are also apparel companies that have already launched RAPs in prior years and may possibly be in the process of expanding. This includes Cotton On Group and Country Road Group.
Ragtrader has also noted that some companies which claim to have an expanded or new RAP are not listed on the Reconciliation Australia website, including Sussan Group.
Reconciliation Australia's recently released 2024 RAP Impact Report – covering the FY24 financial year – showed the RAP program is growing, with the organisation adding that many RAP organisations are deepening their impact through strong governance and accountability.
This included a significant growth in procurement driven by an increase in contracts between RAP organisations and First Nations businesses, with $4.8 billion worth of goods and services procured by RAP organisations from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-owned businesses - a 31 per cent increase on 2023 numbers.
Relationships have also been strengthened, with 21,726 formal and informal partnerships existing between RAP organisations and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations – a 17 per cent increase from 2023.
Reconciliation CEO Karen Mundine said while she was pleased with these indicators of progress, they must be sustained and built upon.
“There is always more work to be done,” Mundine said. “The continued economic and social relegation of First Nations people means it is essential that all Australians, particularly our RAP partners, commit to even greater efforts to achieve reconciliation, equity and justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“With the newly elected Albanese Government pledging its continued support for reconciliation and justice for First Nations peoples, this report better allows us to understand the real-life impact of reconciliation initiatives on the material and social well-being of our people.”
The report also showed that 733 First Nations people sat on RAP organisation boards, a 20 per cent increase. There was also a 20 per cent lift for First Nations people in RAP organisations who were in executive leadership roles, hitting 740.
Meanwhile, 25,237 contracts were entered into between RAP organisations and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander organisations, a 42 per cent increase.
Mundine said the impact of RAPs go far beyond economic and employment benefits, and add to the understanding of First Nations histories, cultures and circumstances by other Australians.
“Through our RAP program, many more Australians are participating in cultural learning and are hearing from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people themselves about the legacies of past government policies and actions.” she said.
“Nearly a million employees of RAP organisations participated in cultural immersion, online or face-to-face cultural learning activities.
“These experiences create stronger relationships built on shared knowledge and respect, and we know that such relationships are the basis for reconciliation and successful policies that improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”
Reconciliation Australia’s RAP program is now in its 19th year, and works with organisations in the corporate, cultural, educational, and sporting sectors to drive better reconciliation outcomes. The RAP Framework provides organisations with a structured approach to advancing reconciliation.
In FY24, 2,283 RAP organisations reported from across the four RAP types – Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate.
A Reflect RAP helps prepare an organisation to engage in reconciliation meaningfully.
An Innovate RAP outlines actions for achieving an organisation’s vision for reconciliation.
A Stretch RAP is best suited to organisations that demonstrate strong meaningful engagement with internal and external Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders.
Meanwhile, Elevate RAP organisations have a strong strategic relationship with Reconciliation Australia and actively champion initiatives to uphold the self-determination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and drive systemic and transformational change.
Wesfarmers is the only apparel-selling company that has hit the Elevate stage of the RAP process.