Mick Kinley
Chief Executive Officer

I am proud to release AMSA’s Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Our Innovate RAP is a major step forward in our reconciliation journey, and one which all employees will have an opportunity to be part of.

At AMSA, we recognise that caring for Country includes the marine environment. Our vision of ‘safe and clean seas, saving lives’ aligns with the important roles that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples already undertake in caring for our seas, coasts, and air. Our vision is to be effective co-custodians in safeguarding Sea Country, while also working together to improve the safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander seafarers.

From a diversity and inclusion perspective, we are committed to ensuring AMSA is a welcoming, respectful, and engaging workplace for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to contribute, achieve, grow, and feel they truly belong. 

Our Reflect RAP yielded significant outcomes and insights. It allowed us to deepen our relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations. We appointed a dedicated Safety Liaison Advisor for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander matters and continue our maritime safety commitments through the Torres Strait Marine Safety Program and engagement with the National Indigenous Australians Agency.  

We have implemented cultural awareness training throughout our organisation, including immersive cultural awareness programs such as Jawun. Our people enthusiastically take part in National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week celebrations and play a key role in furthering our reconciliation journey.

The use of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artwork in our national and international engagement depicts the importance we place on reconciliation in our role as Australia’s maritime regulator and national authority for search and rescue. For example, our Cairns-based Challenger jet is emblazoned with Torres Strait artist Michael Nona’s depiction of Baydham, a shark. We also gifted a series of Yawkyawk sculptures (that is. fish-woman sculptures), crafted by Kuninjku artists, Louwa Bardaluna and Jocelyn Koyole, from Maningrida in Western Arnhem Land to the International Maritime Organization in London. There is also the artwork adorning our RAP, Navigating Tides of Progress, by Samsep artist Alysha Menzel. This artwork has been incorporated into AMSA corporate polo shirts which are worn proudly by our people.

Our RAP is more than just our reconciliation commitment. It involves cultural change, as we learn to collaborate on organisation-wide initiatives and plans in innovative and integrated ways. I congratulate our employees who are members of the Reconciliation Working Group for their work to date, and for their collaboration in developing the robust and innovative approach contained in this next RAP. 

As I finalise my term as CEO with AMSA, I reflect on the proud legacy we have achieved in terms of reconciliation as well as diversity and inclusion. I confidently pass this baton on to our incoming CEO and look forward to AMSA’s continuing reconciliation journey.