Melbourne Storm has launched its second Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) this morning as part of its acknowledgment to National Reconciliation Week.
Storm was the first NRL club to launch a RAP in 2011 and since then has been committed to creating an environment at the Club for players and staff that demonstrates an authentic respect and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures
and their communities.
The Club's overarching vision for its RAP is aimed to set actions for an Australia where there is no gap between the life opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and other Australians.
Storm Wellbeing Officer Peter Robinson played an integral role in leading the Club's RAP working committee that also included Premiership player Josh Addo-Carr.
Storm CEO Dave Donaghy said, "Melbourne Storm has a proud history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players at our Club and with our existing connections to the community we are committed to supporting reconciliation.
"As a sports organisation we understand our role extends beyond the field and we have a responsibility to provide and opportunity to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to continue to develop professionally and personally.
"We see our RAP as an extension of our Club values, a strong connection to culture is something that has shaped our Club over 20 years and feel that such a mutual understanding of cultural importance will help to be a key driver of our RAP both now and into the future."
In addition to the RAP, Storm is one of nine clubs to partner with the NRL for the School to Work Program, an education and employment program that utilises NRL to support and encourage young Indigenous Australians with career paths and choices and has a full-time project officer in the Club's AAMI Park offices.
Storm also earlier this month, held its fourth annual Victorian Aboriginal Men's Gathering – an event attended by over 300 men and centred around discussing important issues such as mental health, family violence and alcohol and drugs in the community.
This Victorian Men's Gathering has been an initiative supported by Melbourne Storm in partnership with Dardi Munwurro, an organisation aimed at delivering a range of healing, behaviour change and family violence programs for Aboriginal families and communities.
