RAPs, Indigenous strategies and reports

The University's formal reconciliation journey began in 2008 with our Vice-Chancellor’s 'Apology to Indigenous Australians', in which he committed to using the University’s wealth of expertise and resources to make a sustained contribution to lifting the health, educational and living standards of Indigenous Australians.

Our past Reconciliation Action Plans

Our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011–2013 was structured around six action areas

• Partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
• Cultural recognition
• Indigenous student recruitment and retention
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff employment
• Teaching and learning strategies
• Research opportunities.

Our Reconciliation Action Plan 2015–2017 reinforced our commitment and extended our vision for reconciliation to incorporate a holistic, inclusive, two-way relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, based on mutual responsibility and respect. It also articulated hard targets for both Indigenous student recruitment and retention, and for growing our cohort of Indigenous Australian staff.

Our third RAP, Reconciliation Action Plan April 2018 - December 2022, classified by Reconciliation Australia as an Elevate RAP, saw a shift in focus to the development of 14 Signature Projects. The University believes that the outcomes of these substantial projects will have a transformational impact well beyond the University, and signal our intention to invest in reconciliation at a deeper level.

RAP 3 Performance

In 2023, the University of Melbourne engaged Think Change Resolve consultancy to conduct an independent limited assurance review of RAP 3.   This is the final report on RAP 3.

The 2022 Limited Assurance Audit conducted by Think Change Resolve can be found at:

2022 University of Melbourne RAP - TCR Limited Assurance Report