Initiatives

In a historic decision in 2002, Council amended a 100-year-old tradition and introduced a Kaurna acknowledgment as the first item of business at each Council meeting. Read by the Lord Mayor, the acknowledgment honours the Kaurna people as the traditional owners of the Adelaide Plains area:

Adelaide City Council acknowledges that we are meeting on the traditional country of the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains.

We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with the land. We acknowledge that they are of continuing importance to the Kaurna people living today.

Aboriginal Attractions Guide

Council's Aboriginal Attractions Guide was developed to provide visitors to the City with an easy to use guide to Aboriginal art works and places of interest in the City.

A detailed Aboriginal Attractions Guide brochure is also available from the Adelaide City Council Customer Service Centre (25 Pirie Street, Adelaide), the SA Museum, Tandanya (National Aboriginal Cultural Institute), the Rundle Mall Visitor Centre, Central Market and from Council's Library and Community Centres.

Aboriginal Employment Policy and Action Plan

Council's Aboriginal Employment Policy and Action Plan builds on Council's commitment to the employment of Aboriginal people. Adelaide City Council is strongly committed to increasing the number of Aboriginal people employed across the organisation.

The Reconciliation Vision Statement of Council, its many reconciliation initiatives, and this Policy and associated Action Plan, recognise the richness of Aboriginal cultures and the unique skills and knowledge that Aboriginal staff bring to Adelaide City Council and to the City. Through this Policy, Council demonstrates its commitment to the improvement of social and economic opportunities for Aboriginal people through employment and development opportunities

Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)

In July 2011 Adelaide City Council endorsed its Reconciliation Action Plan 2011-2012. The plan consolidates the Council's long-standing commitment to reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The Council's reconciliation initiatives have been combined into a single plan using Reconciliation Australia's RAP template. The Plan is registered with Reconciliation Australia.

» Download the 2010-2011 Reconciliation Action Plan Annual Progress Report

Doris Graham Commemorative Plaque Artwork

Located in Elder Park near the Festival Centre Amphitheatre, the Doris Graham Commemorative Artwork honours the late Mrs Doris Graham, a significant Kaurna elder who worked tirelessly to promote reconciliation between Aboriginal and wider Australian communities. Mrs Graham is a signatory to Council's Reconciliation Vision Statement signed in 1997.

Reconciliation Grants Program

Council's Reconciliation Grants Program provides funding support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and other groups and communities to convene reconciliation events and activities in the City. These include key celebrations like National Sorry Day, Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC, however funding is also aimed at initiating new and innovative reconciliation events in the City.

Aboriginal And Australian Flags - Interpretive Information

In May 2002, Council endorsed the permanent flying of the Aboriginal and Australian flags in Victoria Square / Tarndanyangga.  Now, the Aboriginal flag and the Australian flag fly permanently in the Square. Interpretive audio information has been installed on each flag pole to provide information about each of the flag's origins and their place in the history of Australia