Master Builders Victoria (MBV) has officially launched its first Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan, or RAP. 

While some of our members and industry stakeholders may not consider this to be the core business of MBV, as the peak body for Victoria's building and construction sector, we have a crucial role in progressing reconciliation within our industry.  

The building and construction sector is one of the top employers for working-age First Nations peoples, so we believe the onus is on MBV to lead this broader change. 

Promoting reconciliation aligns with MBV's values and purpose of driving positive change and empowering people to build a better future.  

This public document, which Reconciliation Australia accredited in late July, states MBV's practical, meaningful, and measurable steps to sustainably and strategically advance reconciliation.  

We know that real change must occur to tackle inequality and racism and to build strong relationships between First Nations peoples and non-indigenous Australians. 

MBV aims to do its bit by contributing to advancing reconciliation internally and within our broader sector.  

As an organisation, it's fair to say that we are still in the early stages of our reconciliation journey.  

Nevertheless, we have started to make real commitments toward our goals. 

We are delivering on these commitments by undertaking various initiatives to build a greater understanding, awareness, and respect for First Nations peoples and cultures. 

Some of these initiatives include cultural awareness training for team members and introducing an Acknowledgement of Country at all our meetings. 

These are just some of the small steps we have taken in the last 12 months – others will follow in the coming months and years. 

A core component of MBV's RAP is a desire to develop an industry education initiative about the importance of protecting and managing Aboriginal cultural heritage. 

Through MBV's industry education initiative, we aim to collaborate with crucial First Nations organisations and businesses to develop and disseminate appropriate learning materials  

about Aboriginal cultural heritage.   

We hope it can further increase our collective awareness of people and Country, particularly given our sector's core activities directly impact the lands under the custodianship of First Nations peoples for more than 60,000 years.  

Now that our first RAP has been launched, we plan to continue educating our organisation, our members, and the wider building and construction industry.

To view the Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan click here. 

Image artist: Adam Magennis