b'BACK TO NAVIGATIONassistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Centresdirect pro bono services for individuals and groupssecondments of staff to and from firms such as legal centres, land councils and other NGOsmutually beneficial strategic partnerships including coordinating pro bono sponsorships, corporate giving and volunteering Reconciliation Action Plans through Reconciliation Australiadevelopment of Indigenous lawyers through traineeships, scholarships and mentoring National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week activitiesa more diversified supply chain through procurement from Indigenous-owned businessesfacilitating structured collaboration programs for reconciliationThe most substantial programs are formal Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) which follow a framework developed and supported by Reconciliation Australia. RAPs embed the principles and purpose of reconciliation in the way organisations function, engage their staff and interact with the community and other organisations. Tailored RAPs are in place at almost 2,000organisations which reach over three million employees or students. A further three million belong to clubs or similar groups that also have RAPs. Career Trackers, supported by eight AusLSA members, and Tarwirri, the Indigenous Law Students and Lawyers Association of Victoria are two examples of programs aimed at increasing the number and inclusion of First Australians in the legal sector.2021 AusLSA Member PerformanceThe last three years have seen a significant increase in reconciliation commitments and activities by AusLSA members. This year, eighty-seven percent of reporting firms either have a reconciliation strategy or have one in preparation. This is an increase from sixty-six percent over the last four years with all but one sharing their policies publicly. Eighty-nine percent of these firms had formal management structures in place to implement their policies and report progress. This is an increase from sevetnty-seven percent in 2019 with the management mechanisms in place including, partners, directors and with eighty percent involving in house committees. Fifty-four percent of firms had developed a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in 2021 that had been accredited by Reconciliation Australia, which has increased from forty-five percent in the last three years.While there is a high level of participation in these programs by firms that are implementing Reconciliation Action Plans, many other law firms are still showing their commitments through a focus on specific programs and initiatives. The greatest change observed this year was the increase in firms providing pro bono services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait. In one year, this number of firms providing services increased from 17 to 29 (or from fifty-five percent to seventy-eight percent of firms). This growth in pro bono support from firms and their lawyers shows a spiralling level of understanding and compassion for the needs of Indigenous groups and persons which has been boosted by global Black Lives Matter exposures, triggered by police killings in both the US and Brazil, and also local exposure of the enduring Australian deaths in custody crisis. INITIATIVES RAP LEVELStructured collaborationfor reconciliation ElevateScholarships and/or student mentoringNon Legal volunteeringand secondmentsNational Reconciliation Weekactivities StretchAf\x1frmative procurement programsIndigenous employmentand/or internship programsReconciliation Action Plan InnovateCultural awareness training NAIDOC Week activities Pro bono support Re\x1fect0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 0% 10% 20%Perecentage of firms Perecentage of firmsAverage number of initiatives per firm: 561'