The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has formalised its next phase of reconciliation work with the release of an Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan covering April 2026 to April 2028. The plan, which has received endorsement from Reconciliation Australia, follows the body’s first Reflect RAP from 2023 and sets out specific, time-bound commitments directed at improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the insurance sector.
At the core of the new plan is an acknowledgment that Indigenous Australians face compounding disadvantages when it comes to insurance. The ICA’s own documentation states that Indigenous communities are disproportionately exposed to extreme weather events and are more likely to be uninsured or underinsured than the broader population. The body also notes that existing insurance products do not consistently meet the needs of Indigenous consumers and small businesses.
These access gaps have been observed firsthand. Following the 2022 floods, senior ICA representatives travelled to affected regions and spoke directly with local community members about their recovery experiences and the difficulties facing Indigenous organisations. A similar engagement occurred after Tropical Cyclone Jasper in 2024, when the ICA convened a roundtable in Cairns that brought together Indigenous businesses, land councils, and consumer advocates to examine why obtaining affordable insurance in high-risk locations remains a persistent structural problem.
The plan organises its commitments under four areas:
Within each area, it assigns specific deliverables, timelines, and responsible officers. On relationships, the ICA has committed to mapping key Indigenous stakeholder organisations – including peak bodies, land councils, and Indigenous legal services – to identify engagement gaps. It has also committed to engaging Indigenous communities directly to understand the barriers they experience in accessing insurance, with that work targeted for completion by October 2026. Staff participation in National Reconciliation Week activities is also included under this pillar.
Under respect, the plan requires the ICA to develop a cultural learning strategy, establish cultural protocol documentation, and continue inviting Traditional Owners to provide Welcome to Country at significant events. Staff participation in NAIDOC Week is also included under this pillar. The opportunities section addresses employment and procurement. The ICA has set a target of developing an Indigenous recruitment, retention, and professional development strategy by October 2026, alongside a review of HR procedures to remove participation barriers. On procurement, the body plans to develop an Indigenous procurement strategy, investigate Supply Nation membership, and build commercial relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses.
An internal RAP Working Group (RWG) will oversee delivery of the plan, meeting at least quarterly. Its membership includes:
Sean Gordon AM participates as an external contributor, advising on reconciliation engagement with Indigenous communities. The ICA stated in the plan that the working group does not include Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander representation. It also disclosed that, as of the end of April 2026, the organisation has no Indigenous staff across its approximately 40 employees. The body said it relies on its Indigenous Engagement Working Group – comprising eight external member representatives who meet quarterly – and a broader network of Indigenous advisers and advocates to inform its work. The ICA’s General Manager of Climate, Social Policy, and International Engagement has been designated as RAP Champion.
The ICA outlined its position in the plan document, stating that its vision for reconciliation is “an Australia where Indigenous peoples have equitable access to insurance products, services, and systems that respect and reflect their unique experiences, cultures, and aspirations.” Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine pointed to the significance of the Innovate stage within the broader RAP framework. “Implementing an Innovate RAP signals the Insurance Council of Australia’s readiness to develop and strengthen relationships, engage staff and stakeholders in reconciliation, and pilot innovative strategies to ensure effective outcomes,” Mundine said in the plan document. Reconciliation Australia also noted the scale of the program nationally, with close to 3 million people now working or studying in a RAP-registered organisation, and the ICA joining a network of more than 3,000 corporate, government, and not-for-profit bodies operating under the framework since its establishment in 2006.
The governance section of the plan sets out a reporting schedule. The ICA is required to submit annual RAP Impact Survey results to Reconciliation Australia by Sept. 30 each year, report progress to internal staff and senior leaders on a quarterly basis, and publish its RAP achievements and challenges publicly each September. A traffic light report is due to Reconciliation Australia at the conclusion of the plan period, and the ICA is required to register for its next RAP by March 2028.
