mecu’s Reconciliation Action Plan
17 February 2011 at 12:22 pm
mecu has become the first credit union in Australia to sign a Reconciliation Action Plan – confirming its strong commitment towards closing the gap that exists between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.
The Reconciliation Action Plan was developed in collaboration with Reconciliation Australia, and features a number of commitments under three key areas of Relationships, Respect and Opportunities.
As a part of signing the Reconciliation Action Plan mecu has also announced its support of the SchoolAid Indigenous Literacy Campaign www.schoolaid.org.au
SchoolAid's Indigenous Literacy Campaign, in support of the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation (ALNF), asks Aussie kids right across the nation to reflect on the unacceptable fact that only 1 in 5 school-aged indigenous children can read to the minimum standard.
Students are encouraged to lend a hand to close this gap by getting involved in the campaign.
With the help of a $25,000 investment from mecu, SchoolAid enables and empowers primary school kids to make a tangible difference to the lives of other children – kids helping kids – through commitment and action, thereby nurturing the next generation of caring Australians.
SchoolAid has chosen to partner with ALNF to support two of their most significant events – Share-A-Book Day and the Wall of Hands. In addition, ALNF delivers literacy initiatives to indigenous students in regional and remote communities such as Palm Island, Groote Eylandt, Tennant Creek, Port Lincoln, Wagga Wagga and many more.
Improved literacy levels have been directly linked to increased academic and occupational success, improved self esteem, participation in and commitment to education and higher levels of socially accepted behaviour. The benefits to improved literacy have a positive impact on not only the students, but their families and the wider community.
Lend a hand to ALNF by encouraging your local school to participate in ALNF’s Share-A-Book Day in 2011. Click here to check out all the details.
mecu's involvement in this program is only made possible because of the number of NGO’s and individuals involved in NGO’s who choose to bank with mecu.
Read mecu’s Reconciliation Action Plan online at mecu.com.au/rap