Sue Hodges excited to work with allies in new RAP leadership role

Sue Hodges (left) with Shirli Congoo and Lucy Davis at the recent Yakila Conference. Image: File

BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE

The Salvation Army’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and Projects Manager, Lucy Davis, has recently begun a 12-month secondment outside The Salvation Army.

Lucy, a proud Cobble Cobble woman from the Burrungum Nation Western Downs area of Queensland, has led TSA through the Innovate RAP begun in 2020, and now the recent launch of the Stretch RAP.

While Lucy’s secondment will enable her to deepen her knowledge of policy and advocacy, an area about which she is very passionate, Sue Hodges, who has been TSA’s NSW/ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement Coordinator, is stepping into Lucy’s role as Acting RAP and Projects Manager for the period of Lucy’s leave.

Sue Hodges has been a part of the RAP from its inception and was an artist on both the Innovate and Stretch RAPs, as well as involved in the yarning circles for each one.

She said she is excited to take on the new responsibility and is most looking forward to being able to focus on the RAP.

“[Until now], all of the other things have been front and centre, and the RAP has been on the periphery, but now it’s shifted,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to working with the allies, and definitely keen to look at how we can strengthen what people are doing and maybe look at areas where we can support.”

Sue said she is excited that the number of people signing up for the Reconciliation Ally ‘Guuyungs’ (camps/circles) is steadily growing.

“This is what reconciliation is about, black fullas and white fullas’ business, ‘us’ working together,” she said.

“I won’t be doing this alone, I will have allies who will be able to help.”

The Salvation Army is very thankful to Lucy for her contributions and is excited to welcome Sue’s leadership during the next year.

The NSW/ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement Coordinator role will be filled internally, with First Nations peoples across the Salvation Army encouraged to apply for this fixed term role. The role will be advertised internally in due course. ​

For questions regarding the RAP, please email RAP@salvationarmy.org.au or visit the RAP Toolkit.