Reconciliation Action Plan News 

Relationships with Community – Build Relationships with Community

Yesterday members of our RAP Working Group gathered at the National Reconciliation Week Breakfast, an event held at various locations throughout the country during NRW. The nipaluna/Hobart breakfast was hosted by Reconciliation Tasmania and featured two Aboriginal speakers, author and campaigner Thomas Mayor, and singer songwriter Katlyn Johnson.

Thomas Mayor, a Torres Strait Islander man born on Larrakia Country never thought that he would become one of the first ever Torres Strait Islander authors to have a book published for mainstream audiences, even when his English teacher first suggested he should become a writer. He is the author of Finding the Heart of The Nation, Dear Son and the children’s books - Finding Our Heart and Freedom Day all of which we have in our Libraries on both campuses. These books reflect his work campaigning for the Uluru Statement from the Heart, he was entrusted to carry the sacred canvas and has spent eighteen-months journeying around the country to garner support for a constitutionally enshrined First Nations voice, and a Makarrata Commission for truth-telling and agreement-making or treaties. 

Kaytlyn Johnson is an inspiring and proud young palawa woman and the Tasmanian recipient of Young Australian of the Year for 2022. Hailing from the north-west of lutruwita/Tasmania, she is a key member of Project O – an initiative that empowers young rural women to develop new skills, connect with their communities, and use their voices to campaign for change. Kaytlyn is also a talented singer-songwriter with her music featured on triple j Unearthed. 

It is really important for our RAP Working Group to have such opportunities to come together and engage in conversations with each other and th woder community and hear and be inspired by stories of others as we continue in our truth telling journey. Below is some of their feedback from the event, and at the next RAP Working Group will be able to share even further some of the ways in which we can strengthen and deepen our reconciliation actions.

“The room was full, the speakers were deadly and the commitment to reconciliation was definitely felt very strongly.”

“Hearing the Tasmanian Young Australian of the year recipient Kaytlyn share her experience of education in Tasmania as a young Aboriginal woman confirmed we still have a way to go - but it also confirmed to me that at St Virgil’s College we are opening up that voice for our boys to be empowered through their identity”.

“Hearing Thomas Mayer Torres Strait Islander Man and writer, recite the Uluṟu statement (as he was one of the signatory’s of the statement) was powerful - he reiterated the change needed in the constitution and that can only come with a referendum in the next couple of years and we can all be that voice for change.” 

“What a wonderful experience.  I was particularly inspired when listening to Tomas Mayor, who spoke from the heart about the history and strength of the Aboriginal people, the development of the Uluru statement and then need for everyone to share their voice in support of reconciliation and changes to the Australian Constitution through referendum.”