Indigenous Education
Reconciliation Week
Reconciliation Week is from Wednesday, 27th May to Wednesday, 3rd June. Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements and explore how we can contribute to reconciliation in Australia.
The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2026 is All In, a call for all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every single day.
All In makes clear that reconciliation is not a spectator sport and that all of us must step away from the sidelines and take action to make change.
The theme also reminds us that reconciliation and advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights isn’t a passive activity, and it is not solely the responsibility of First Nations people, who have carried the weight of championing, explaining and acting for far too long.
The artwork for this campaign is by renowned Gumbaynggirr/Bundjalung artist Otis Hope Carey, who applied his distinctive style to create a colourful and optimistic visual representation of people from all walks of life being ‘all in’ to make change.
We are looking forward to recognising this week with a few activities during the week.
Monday
- Reconciliation Week prayer and commissioning our Grade 6's as FIRE Carriers in a ceremony.
Tuesday
- Sorry Day Prayer and Commemoration
- Damper Making
Thursday
- The Theme song for Reconciliation Week this year is 'Beds are Burning'
- During Art, students will be taking the lyrics from the song and creating a piece of artwork based on them
- Their artwork will then be put together to make a music video
During the week
- Classes will be creating an Acknowledgement of Country in their class
- Pieces of artwork using clay and Indigenous cutters and stamps
- Other research and literature
We will also have a fundraiser on Thursday led by our FIRE Carrier leaders! Bring along some coins on Thursday if you would like to purchase a Milo or a chocolate cracker.
FIRE Carriers
For those who may not know, St Joseph's joined last year as a FIRE (Friends Igniting Reconciliation through Education) Carriers school. The story of FIRE Carriers began with a dream to bring Aboriginal culture, history, and spirituality to the forefront of education in Catholic schools. It was essential to teach the stories of the oldest living culture to our youngest generations to ensure the living truth, the dreams, and hopes of our Indigenous people were heard. This would be a genuine pathway to reconciliation.
The FIRE Carrier program is closely linked to the Opening the Doors Foundation. The Opening the Doors Foundation is a 24-year-old First Nations-led organisation supporting educational opportunities for First Nations children. It provides First Nations children from regional, remote and urban communities across Australia with educational opportunities within Victorian non-government schools, enabling them to participate fully and equally in education by supporting families to make their own choices about their children’s futures throughout their education journey from foundation to Year 12. It is the only First Nations organisation supporting children throughout their 13-year educational journey.
Our 2026 FIRE Carrier Leaders are Oliver Darveniza and Amelia Henskens.