9/03/2026

Many Australian publishers recognise their responsibility to support reconciliation and amplify First Nations voices. Hardie Grant, Penguin Random House and Allen & Unwin are among those taking part in the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) program. They shared their progress with the APA.

How did you get started on your RAP? Where are you up to in the process?

Jacinta Hardie-Grant, Head of People, Brand & Strategy at Hardie Grant, said the company began its formal reconciliation journey in 2018, when a CareerTrackers intern suggested they ‘develop a RAP to provide a structured framework for [their] existing efforts to amplify First Nations voices’. HG submitted its ‘Reflect’ RAP in 2019, ‘Innovate’ in 2021, and are currently working towards another ‘Innovate’ RAP (2026-2028). ‘This phase is about expanding our First Nations employment base, and ensuring reconciliation remains embedded in our culture,’ said Hardie-Grant.

At PRH, discussions around developing a RAP were sparked by conversations between colleagues. ‘Across the business, people were asking how we could formalise our commitment to reconciliation and ensure our actions truly reflected our intentions,’ said CEO Julie Burland. Liaising with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-owned organisation Two Point Co. and later Messenger Bird Collective, PRH began working on its ‘Reflect’ RAP in 2021, which was formally endorsed by Reconciliation Australia in 2023. Its ‘Innovate’ RAP was endorsed in 2025, ‘bringing accountability to the efforts formalised our Reflect RAP’, and will run through to mid-2027.

A&U’s decision to join the program came from a desire to support its First Nations publishing and ‘develop staff awareness and skills’, says Publisher and Digital Publishing Director Elizabeth Weiss. The publisher completed its first ‘Reflect’ RAP in 2025.

What steps have you taken to advance reconciliation through the RAP program?

Consultation with First Nations advisers was essential to each publisher’s reconciliation process. As Burland observed of PRH’s process: ‘It is important to ensure that actions within a RAP are developed and undertaken in close consultation with Indigenous communities, with their input informing the approach taken.’

A&U partnered with Voices Rising, an initiative run by Awesome Black to support and publish Indigenous authors, while Hardie-Grant included First Nations authors such as Thomas Mayo and Marcia Langton in its HGP Advisory Group to ensure the company had ‘expert guidance on commissioning and community engagement’.

The three publishers acknowledged that creating a space for First Nations employees to share their experience and knowledge – especially during NAIDOC Week and Reconciliation Week – was essential to develop a workplace that is culturally aware and respectful. Burland noted that at PRH, these weeks are marked by annual company-wide activities where ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander guest speakers are invited to speak with employees at PRH offices, and employees are encouraged to engage with relevant events in their local communities’.

In addition to NAIDOC Week and Reconciliation Week activities, Hardie Grant has introduced Cultural Awareness training for all employees to foster ‘open, meaningful dialogue regarding Australia’s history and the ongoing journey toward reconciliation’, while Allen & Unwin held a ‘very successful company-wide First Nations publishing workshop in 2025 sharing experience and knowledge’.

Hardie Grant and Allen & Unwin have also developed First Nations Style Guides as part of their RAP process – which Hardie Grant has shared with other publishers via the APA’s First Nations Publishing Resources – while PRH is currently working on a cultural protocol document ‘to guide staff in culturally respectful engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander guests and communities’.

The RAP process has led to changes in recruitment. Hardie Grant has ‘moved beyond standard internships to create permanent Trainee Programs for First Nations staff’, while PRH has developed an Indigenous recruitment strategy. ‘We also prioritise procurement from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-owned businesses where possible, including for catering services and office paper,’ said Burland.

Publishers have also updated their company policies as part of their RAP. Hardie-Grant reports: ‘We’ve updated our policies to be more culturally inclusive – broadening the definition of ‘family’ to include kinship groups for leave and allowing staff to swap public holidays for community or ceremonial events.’

Any tips for publishers thinking of starting their own RAP?

• ‘The whole RAP process has five stages and takes several years to complete … We’ve found it helpful to tackle this as a team drawn from across the company, to take the time we needed to meet the requirements, and to put particular emphasis on activities that support book publishing and promotion.’ (A&U)
• ‘As publishers, our biggest impact is in the stories we share. We will always be more effective when we align our RAP actions with our core business (e.g., commissioning First Nations authors or providing platforms for emerging First Nations creatives).’ (Hardie Grant)
• ‘Get everyone on the same page. In any organisation, understanding of reconciliation will vary, so it is important to establish a shared understanding before formalising commitments.’ (PRH)
• ‘Having high-level champions ensures the RAP is sustained through organisational changes and remains a business priority.’ (Hardie Grant)
• ‘Engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advisers to guide the process is critical.’ (PRH)
• ‘Don’t be afraid to set specific targets. For example, we have committed to a 4% First Nations employment target across our workforce by 2027. It keeps us motivated and accountable.’ (Hardie Grant)

The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2026 is All In, a call for all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every single day. Download and use the #NRW2026 resources at home, work or school and show your support 27 May - 3 June.