Walk for Truth
Newlands Community Walk for Truth – Community Event
As part of our ongoing commitment to reconciliation, truth-telling and respectful learning, Newlands Primary School will be holding the Newlands Community Walk for Truth on Thursday, 25 June.
The walk connects to a long history of First Nations peoples in Victoria advocating for truth, justice and self-determination. In recent years, this work has been strengthened through the Uluru Statement from the Heart, the establishment of the Yoorrook Justice Commission, and Victoria’s ongoing Treaty process. Truth-telling has become an important part of these conversations, creating opportunities for First Peoples to share experiences, histories and perspectives that have often been overlooked or excluded.
The Yoorrook Justice Commission, which concluded in 2025, was Australia’s first formal truth-telling commission. Over four years, it heard thousands of stories and pieces of evidence from First Peoples across Victoria. The Commission’s work highlighted the importance of listening, learning and acknowledging historical injustices as part of building a more respectful future, while also helping inform Victoria’s ongoing Treaty process.
In 2025, Yoorrook Deputy Commissioner Travis Lovett, a proud Kerrupmara Gunditjmara man, led the statewide Walk for Truth 2025 from Portland to Parliament House in Melbourne. The walk honoured the voices and truths shared through Yoorrook and invited Victorians to walk together in support of truth-telling, healing and reconciliation.
This year, Travis Lovett has continued this work through the 2026 National Walk for Truth, expanding the conversation about truth-telling and reconciliation across Australia. Newlands Primary School is proud to support these efforts by creating opportunities for students and families to learn about First Nations histories, perspectives and ongoing journeys toward justice and healing.
Our school has already had meaningful involvement in this learning through the 2025 Darebin Schools’ NAIDOC Yarning Conference. Many of our current Year 6 students participated in workshops and learning connected to the Yoorrook Justice Commission, truth-telling and the 2025 Walk for Truth. Students proudly joined the conference Walk for Truth and explored the importance of listening to First Nations voices and understanding the histories of this Country. Earlier this term, many of these students also joined Travis Lovett on Day 2 of the 2026 National Walk for Truth. The conference learning materials described truth-telling as “the heart” of the Yarning Conference learning program and encouraged students to understand the significance of the Walk for Truth led by Travis Lovett.
Students across the school will be learning about Travis Lovett, truth-telling and the Walk for Truth movement, with a particular focus during Cultural Week.
At Newlands, we believe reconciliation is built through learning, listening and respectful action. The Newlands Community Walk for Truth is an opportunity for students, staff and families to walk together as a community while continuing to learn about the histories, cultures and experiences of First Peoples.
Newlands Community Walk for Truth
Thursday, 25 June | 9:00 am – 11:00 am
The Newlands Community Walk for Truth will take place alongside our Indigenous Perspectives Open Classroom. Families and community members are warmly invited to attend the morning and walk with us as a school community. Further details will be shared soon.
Families interested in learning more, or signing Travis Lovett’s open letter, can explore the following resources:
- Walk for Truth- www.walkfortruth.com
- Sign the Walk for Truth Open Letter- https://www.walkfortruth.com/pledge
- Yoorrook Justice Commission- https://www.yoorrook.org.au/
- First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria: Treaty Information- https://firstpeoplesvic.org/
We look forward to walking together as a community and continuing to learn from and alongside First Nations voices.