At Tika EQ, we often hear a familiar question from leaders and teams committed to reconciliation and equity: “Do we need a RAP, or should we develop a First Nations Strategy?”

It’s a powerful question, one that goes beyond frameworks and towards the heart of what genuine, sustained reconciliation looks like in practice. While Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) have become a widely recognised framework for demonstrating commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, many organisations are now exploring broader, more long-term approaches.

For some, a RAP is the right fit. For others, a First Nations Strategy offers a deeper, more integrated path. And for an increasing number, both can work together - when the relationship between the two is intentional and clearly defined. Understanding these options and how they can complement rather than compete, helps organisations choose a pathway that reflects their purpose, maturity, and vision for reconciliation.

What a RAP Is and What It’s Designed to Do

A Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) is a structured framework developed and overseen by Reconciliation Australia, providing organisations with a clear roadmap for action. There are four RAP types, Reflect, Innovate,Stretch, and Elevate, each aligned to an organisation’s reconciliation maturity.

A RAP offers:

• A nationally endorsed, structured approach with measurable deliverables.
• Public recognition and accountability for reconciliation commitments.
• Access to guidance, resources, and networks through Reconciliation Australia.

For many organisations, especially those beginning their reconciliation journey, a RAP provides visibility, momentum, and credibility. It establishes a clear foundation for learning and engagement. However, because a RAP is often cyclical, typically spanning two to three years, it can feel limited in scope for organisations ready to make reconciliation a long-term, strategic commitment.

When a First Nations Strategy Might Be the Better Fit

A First Nations Strategy is a bespoke, organisation-wide framework designed to embed reconciliation and respect forFirst Nations peoples directly into business strategy, culture, and governance.

Unlike a RAP, a First Nations Strategy:

• Is developed independently, without external approval requirements.
• Aligns directly with the organisation’s strategic priorities and tone of voice, ensuring authenticity and alignment with purpose.
• Takes a long-term view, often over 10 years, allowing deep embedding of cultural change and community relationships.
• Adapts to local and regional contexts, grounded in ongoing dialogue with First Nations stakeholders.
• Integrates accountability into existing systems of leadership, governance, and reporting.

For many organisations, a First NationsStrategy represents the next evolution of reconciliation, moving from compliance and visibility to integration and voice. Over a decade, this approach enables reconciliation to become part of the organisation’s rhythm - reflected in language, decision-making, and leadership.

Can You Have Both? Yes - If You Know How They Interact

For some organisations, the right answer isn’t either/or - it’s both.

A RAP and a First Nations Strategy can coexist effectively when each serves a clear purpose:

• The RAP provides structure, visibility, and connection to the national reconciliation movement through Reconciliation Australia.
• The First Nations Strategy provides depth, longevity, and alignment with the organisation’s internal culture and long-term strategic direction.

When done well, the two documents complement each other. The RAP can sit within the broader context of the First Nations Strategy, acting as a short-term operational plan that delivers on the Strategy’s long-term goals. This dual approach allows organisations to demonstrate accountability externally while ensuring cultural integrity and alignment internally.

The key is ensuring both documents are not duplicative, but mutually reinforcing:

• Clear governance should define how they relate.
• Language and commitments should align.
• One should not replace the other, but rather strengthen it.

In other words, the RAP becomes the vehicle for visibility and momentum, while the First Nations Strategy provides the map for direction and legacy.

How to Decide What’s Right for Your Organisation

Whether your organisation chooses one framework or both, the decision should be grounded in intent, maturity, and readiness.

Consider these guiding questions:

• Why are we doing this? Is it about public accountability, long-term cultural change, or both?
• Who is it for? Are we focused on internal development, community outcomes, or systemic impact?
• What’s our capacity? Do we have the resources and relationships to sustain long-term engagement?
• How will the documents interact? If we have both a RAP and a Strategy, how do we ensure clarity of purpose and accountability?
• How do we define success? Is it measured in milestones or in lasting change to culture and practice?

If your organisation is new to this work, a RAP can provide structure and visibility. If you’re ready to deepen your approach, a First Nations Strategy can build on that foundation, creating a ten-year roadmap for sustainable impact. And if you choose to do both, clarity of intent and governance will ensure each strengthens the other.

Avoiding the ‘Tick-Box’ Trap

Regardless of framework, the danger lies intreating reconciliation as a set of deliverables rather than a practice of accountability. A RAP can only be as strong as the relationships that inform it. A First Nations Strategy can only succeed if it’s resourced, embedded, and lived over time. Real impact comes from aligning structure with sincerity - ensuring every plan, policy, and partnership is grounded in respect, trust, and listening.

Shared Purpose - Integrity, Longevity, and Impact

Whether through a RAP, a First NationsStrategy, or both, the goal is the same: to strengthen relationships, advance equity, and build a future grounded in respect and truth. At Tika EQ, we see reconciliation not as a document, but as a long-term cultural commitment. A RAP may set the pace, but a First Nations Strategy sustains the journey, allowing reconciliation to live through tone, leadership, and legacy.

Where to Begin

If your organisation is exploring this nextstep, start here:

1. Listen deeply.
Engage meaningfully with local Elders, community partners, and First Nations colleagues. Let their voices guide the direction.

2. Clarify intent.
Define whether you need structure (RAP), longevity (First Nations Strategy), or both and how they’ll work together.

3. Plan for the long term.
Think in decades, not projects. Cultural change takes time, consistency, and leadership continuity.

4. Align and embed.
Weave reconciliation through your governance, communications, and strategic voice so it becomes part of who you are.

5. Resource and review.
Commitment requires investment; time, funding, and accountability mechanisms that ensure actions translate into outcomes.

Our Perspective

At Tika EQ, we help organisations navigate the intersection between compliance and culture; designing reconciliation approaches that are strategic, authentic, and enduring. Whether through a Reconciliation Action Plan, a First Nations Strategy, or both, the key is understanding how each can contribute to a shared purpose: reconciliation that is not performative, but transformative. Because reconciliation isn’t about choosing a framework, it’s about choosing to act with integrity, intention, and longevity.

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