National Reconciliation Week

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

The dates for NRW remain the same each year; 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey— the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively.

Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

Here is a look at how some of our ministries marked this significant event in our Australian calendar.

Kildare College

To celebrate National Reconciliation Week, Kildare College launched two videos during their Assembly, a student discussion panel on NRW and a powerful Acknowledgement of Country.

Acknowledgement of Country 

We launched our new Acknowledgement of Country video and are so proud of the result. It features our Nunga students, a Smoking Ceremony, Didgeridoo, and our Dance students. 

National Reconciliation Week - Student Discussion

Interviewing our Nunga Group students and Student Leaders, we asked them questions about Reconciliation - why is it important, what does it mean, how do we achieve it? 

Clonard College

This year during National Reconciliation Week, in a first for Clonard a Year 8 student welcomed us all to country in language having just been approved by the local Waddawurrung people to conduct welcome to country. After over 12 months of develop the College is about to submit its Reconciliation Action Plan to Narragunnawali. The voices of our students, families and staff in the formation of this document bring the Living Justice Living Peace to life. 

Star of the Sea College

The theme of National Reconciliation Week this year is 'Now more than ever’, which encourages all Australians to be a voice for Reconciliation. In mentor and Religious Education classes students had the opportunity to reflect on this theme and to express what actions they could take towards reconciliation 

Our Reconciliation Week program included bracelet making, a screening of the documentary Off Country, and a workshop from the Gerib Sik Torres Strait Islander Dance troupe. This is the second year in a row that we have had a visit from Gerib Sik who provided a dance, storytelling, and song workshop to our Year 7 students. Isabel (Year 11) has strong connections with Gerib Sik, with one of her Aunts a dancer in the group.

Killester College

On the 30th of May this year, the Year 7-10 Social Justice and Sustainability Leaders and the Year 11 and 12 VM students from Killester College, Springvale, attended a Now More than Ever Reconciliation Week event at the Springvale Hub. The day was filled with a variety of engaging and purposeful activities and students were left feeling uplifted and motivated to further spread important messages of reconciliation within Killester College. It was a worthwhile experience for all who attended and Killester College is very appreciative of the efforts that were made to bring the students in local schools such an incredible opportunity to learn and to celebrate our First Nations people and culture.

Throughout Reconciliation Week every homeroom participated in Indigenous meditation through Dadirri, Music and song through the words and music of Gurrumul, prayers that reflected the theme for RW as well as different Acknowledgements of Country written by Year 9 students to start each day. To culminate the week every class member participated in the art activity that incorporated the theme for this week ‘Now More Than Ever’. Students coloured the chevron pattern, added symbols and words that reflected on how we can move forward and support the reconciliation movement for a just more equitable Australia. The Social Justice students then created three installations in various areas of the school using the chevron pattern. 

Kilbreda College

The Kilbreda College community gathered on Thursday 30 May for a very special Reconciliation Week Liturgy where we paused to acknowledge and reflect on the injustices of the past, and to commit ourselves to continuing to advocate for Reconciliation through Voice, Treaty and Truth-telling.   

During the liturgy we listened to the beautiful reflection of Dr Miriam Rose Ungunmerr Baumann AM, who is a proud Ngan’giwumirri woman and Elder from Nauiyu in the Daly River region of the Northern Territory, on ‘dadirri’. The word, concept and spiritual practice that is dadirri is from the Ngan’gikurunggurr and Ngen’giwumirri languages and means inner, deep listening and quiet, still awareness. 

Miriam-Rose’s words resonated deeply, “The time for rebirth is now. If our culture is alive and strong and respected, it will grow, it will not die and our spirit will not die.” As a college community, we will continue to walk alongside Australia’s First Peoples on the journey of healing to create a just and equitable future.

Another highlight of the week was the presentation of our draft Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) to staff by the RAP Working Party which is made up of students and staff. The Working Party has been developing our RAP over the last 12 months and sought feedback from staff on the Vision for Reconciliation, which is centred upon our six core values.  We look forward to finalising and sharing our RAP with the wider school community soon. 

St. Joseph's College

St. Joseph's College gathered as a whole school for a very special Reconciliation Week Liturgy and assembly hosted by Nicholls House. The theme of our event reflected the Reconciliation Week 2024 theme of ‘Now more than ever’. Now more than ever the work continues. In treaty making, in truth-telling, in understanding our history, in education, and in tackling racism. We need connection. We need respect. We need action. And we need change. We must share and listen to the stories of hope that have flowed from the First Nations communities and through their daily lives, and the acts of courage that have brought us to this time in our history. www.reconciliation.org.au

As part of Reconciliation Week, all at St. Joseph's are delighted to share and celebrate the story of their new football jumpers. The jumpers were designed by Year 10 student Isla, who is a proud Barapa Barapa / Yorta Yorta young woman, and an exceptionally talented artist. Isla designed and created the mural on the Delany building (pictured) when she was in Year 9 and was an obvious choice to design the jumpers. The jumpers are proudly worn by both our boys and girls football teams and highlight our school’s commitment to reconciliation. Isla’s design was created with pride and respect for Indigenous traditions and embodies the spirit of unity and celebration in art and sport. The symbolism strongly interweaves our Brigidine charism with Indigenous culture.

This will be the first in an ongoing initiative to commission Indigenous designs.

The photograph is of artist Isla (centre), St Joseph’s College football team captains Solly (left) and Abbey (right) in front of the mural that Isla painted in 2023.

Brigidine College, St. Ives

To acknowledge National Reconciliation Week, the students took part in Reconciliation focused activities in their Mentor groups each morning. The students created an Indigenous installation of paper hands on the Chapel lawn. Susan Moylan-Coombs was welcomed to the College. Thanks to Susan for providing such a thought-provoking reflection in assembly for the whole College community.

Brigidine College, Indooroopilly

This year Brigidine College Indooroopilly commemorated Sorry Day with a Liturgy on Tuesday with the 2024 theme, “Now More Than Ever”.  In this year of Hope at Brigidine Indooroopilly, we invite each generation to continue to engage in ways of walking together in reconciliation whilst celebrating our deeper Australian culture. 

Our hands set out on the Holy Lawn reminded us of the common threads that intertwine within all cultures and bond our community in unity, offering a hand of welcome, a hand of support, a hand of creativity and a hand of action in solidarity together. 

During National Reconciliation Week, we have reflected on the important role of reconciliation in our journey and we recognise the need for healing and restoration. The theme ‘Now More Than Ever’ reminded us that, it is a time to reflect and continue building momentum towards reconciliation in our schools and communities. 

We presented the Colleges’ Reconciliation and Action Plan (RAP) which outlines our Vision for Reconciliation – to grow a College community that embraces the cultural diversity and inclusion and has a deep respect for our Traditional Custodians, on the Country on which Brigidine College is located, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. 

Wellsprings for Women

To commemorate National Reconciliation Week (27th May -3rd June), staff, volunteers, and participants at Wellsprings for Women were honoured to host a flag raising ceremony that began with a powerful smoking ceremony led by Jillian West from the Bunurong Land Council. This week is a time for reflection, learning, and commitment to the journey of reconciliation.

Commemorating Reconciliation Week holds deep meaning for us, as we stand in solidarity with Indigenous Australians, acknowledging their enduring connection to the land and their invaluable contributions to our community. Together, we strive to foster a future built on mutual respect, understanding, and unity.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and supported this important event. Let’s continue to walk this path of reconciliation, hand in hand. #ReconciliationWeek #WellspringsForWomen #UnityInDiversity #IndigenousAustralia

#Nowmorethanever