Our Reconciliation Action Plan

2025 Reflect RAP

Our 2025 RAP is the first formal documentation of our efforts in promoting reconciliation. However, Connected Self has always
endeavoured to act as allies and advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

By providing structure and greater opportunities to seek external insight, our Reflect RAP is an opportunity to promote accountability and ongoing growth within our organisation. To ensure Connected Self authentically and positively supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities, we need and welcome the perspectives available to us via the established RAP process and Reconciliation Australia.

The Artwork

Our RAP Artwork was created by Annangu woman Elizabeth Close (Pitjantjatjara, Yankunytjatjara).

This Artwork, "Connection” illustrates a journey line, symbolising the deep connections between Community, Family, and Culture. The four circles represent the foundational aspects of building strong families and ensuring the safety and well-being of children. The pebbles symbolise the various steps and experiences along this journey, emphasising the importance of Connection to Country and the enduring strength of Cultural Heritage.

Our RAP

A digital version of our 2025 Reflect RAP can be found here.

 

Polyvagal Practices

Polyvagal practices aim to enhance physiological regulation, restore a sense of safety, and promote engagement through autonomic nervous system regulation.

This enhances social and emotional learning, including recognising and regulating emotions (from a physiological lens) and developing empathy for others.

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PACE

Developed as part of attachment-focused family therapy, PACE is a trauma-informed approach aiming to create safe, trusting, emotionally connected relationships with children and adolescents who have experienced trauma or attachment difficulties. PACE stands for:

Playfulness

  • Approaching with an open, ready, calm, relaxed and engaged attitude.
  • Not taking yourself/situations too seriously.
  • Diffusing difficult/tense situations.

Acceptance

  • Unconditionally accepting the current state/mood/behaviour.
  • Accepting that there are things unseen that lie below behaviour.
  • Acceptance supports feeling secure, safe and loved

Curiosity

  • Understanding the child gently and without judgement.
  • Supporting child to bring awareness to their inner life.
  • Wondering statements.

Empathy

  • A sense of compassion and understanding for young person’s feelings and thoughts.

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Expression of experience when words are not enough

Art Therapy does not rely on verbal language. It is a therapeutic approach that provides many different mediums for communication. It is a useful mechanism when clients may not yet have the language to express their experiences.

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Contain difficult feelings and build tolerance

Art making holds or contains the difficult feelings allowing them to be felt and experienced gradually – building tolerance to discomfort.

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