Knights and Wests launch Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan

The Newcastle Knights NRL club and Wests Group Australia have launched a new Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), reaffirming a joint commitment to reconciliation through sustained, organisation-wide action and cultural accountability.

The plan builds on the inaugural RAP launched in 2023 and seeks to embed reconciliation across operations, governance and community engagement.

Key Points

New RAP deepens reconciliation goals

The organisations described the Innovate RAP as a framework to guide meaningful and lasting change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The plan, developed through consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players, staff, Elders, advisory partners and community members, recognises reconciliation as an ongoing journey grounded in relationships and cultural learning. It emphasises creating environments where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures are visible, valued and empowered.

According to the organisations, the new plan reflects a shared commitment to cultural accountability, truth-telling, partnership and systemic change across both the nib Newcastle Knights and Wests Group Australia. It positions reconciliation not merely as a set of tasks but as a continuous process requiring leadership, accountability and engagement at every level.

“This Innovate RAP marks a deepening of that commitment and reflects our shared future — one grounded in cultural learning, partnership and accountability to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Awabakal, Worimi, Wonnarua and beyond,” Phil Gardner, Wests Group CEO said.

Priorities, governance and organisational reach

The RAP outlines initiatives intended to embed reconciliation at every level of both organisations. This includes the football field and community programs, as well as workplaces, venues and leadership structures. The plan is guided by a dedicated Reconciliation Working Group and supported by executive RAP Sponsors, establishing governance designed to keep reconciliation visible and accountable as an organisational priority.

The plan highlights three central areas of focus across both organisations:

• Strengthening cultural understanding to deepen learning and relationships
• Increasing opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership and employment
• Ensuring reconciliation remains a visible, accountable organisational priority

Mr Gardner said Wests Group Australia, as one of the largest employers and community contributors in its region, had a responsibility to lead with integrity. He emphasised the importance of leadership that demonstrates cultural awareness and applies equity and justice in operations and community connections.

The plan’s structure places responsibility across teams, staff and leadership, seeking to ensure reconciliation is embedded rather than siloed. By aligning strategy with accountability through the Reconciliation Working Group and executive Sponsors, the organisations articulated a pathway to maintain momentum and transparency over time.

Community commitment and next steps

The organisations stated that the Innovate RAP continues their commitment to listening, learning and acting with purpose. They described reconciliation as both an organisational and a personal responsibility. The approach centres on sustained action, recognising that cultural respect must be coupled with practical steps that create spaces where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures can thrive.

“It is through sustained action that we will continue to grow as organisations that not only respect First Nations cultures, but create spaces where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures can thrive,” Mr Gardner said.

Mr Gardner acknowledged the work of the Reconciliation Working Group and the Aboriginal Advisory Group, and he noted the continuing support of staff, members, partners and supporters who contribute to strengthening the organisations’ reconciliation journey. He described reconciliation as requiring collective effort, with contributions from across the organisations and communities shaping the plan’s progress.

In launching the RAP, the Knights and Wests Group Australia reaffirmed their commitment to walking alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with care, courage and integrity. According to their statement, the partnership aims to help build a stronger, more inclusive future for the communities they serve, extending across Awabakal, Worimi, Wonnarua and beyond.