Wellbeing & Inclusion
at Willy
Reconciliation Week - All In
This week and next, we are proud to acknowledge and celebrate National Reconciliation Week. The 2026 theme, All In, sends a powerful message: reconciliation is not a spectator sport. It calls every one of us off the sidelines and into action. All In also reminds us that reconciliation, and the advancement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' rights is not a passive pursuit, nor is it the sole responsibility of First Nations people, who have already carried this weight for far too long. Reconciliation will not happen by itself. It will only happen with all of us.
Why this week matters
National Reconciliation Week is anchored by two significant dates. May 27th marks the anniversary of the 1967 referendum, when Australians voted to remove discriminatory clauses from the Australian Constitution. June 3rd commemorates the landmark 1992 Mabo decision, in which the High Court recognised that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' rights to their lands survived British colonisation. The week is also preceded by National Sorry Day on May 26th; first held in Sydney in 1998 and now observed nationally to remember and honour the Stolen Generations.
What this means for our school community
With many students at Williamstown Primary School identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people, it is essential that we stand alongside these families in genuine solidarity. We want every child and family to know that their cultural identity and emotional wellbeing matter deeply to us.
Students across every year level will explore the significance of this week through age-appropriate learning experiences and literature. We are fortunate to have a wonderful collection of picture books in our Marrung Library, and classrooms are well-resourced with stories written from First Nations perspectives; voices that deserve to be heard, celebrated, and centred.
To bring the All In theme to life, all Willy Kids will contribute to a whole-school collaborative artwork. We can't wait to see it come together. It will be a beautiful reminder that we are always stronger when we work as one.
National Reconciliation Week resources for you and your children
To find events in your area, and further information from Reconciliation Australia
The National Reconciliation Week website
Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Education hub by Reconciliation Australia is a great resource for schools and families.
For child-friendly history lessons and conversation starters
The Reconciliation Bridge Walk Anniversary - Behind the News video gives background information on the events leading up to the Reconciliation Bridge Walk in 2000
You can watch Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s 2008 National Apology to Australia’s Indigenous Peoples (ABC News)
For things to watch, read and listen to with your children
“From Little Things Big Things Grow” by Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody is an iconic Australian protest song that can help start dialogue for young listeners about reconciliation.
Young Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe. The same research that went into Pascoe’s book Dark Emu has been recast for younger readers, presenting a different view of Australia’s history prior to 1788
Welcome to Country: An Introduction to Our First Peoples for Young Australians by Marcia Langton explains the history and culture of the First Nation people for younger generations
Welcome to Country by Aunty Joy Murphy and Lisa Kennedy is an introduction to the practice of Welcome to Country (for ages 5+)
Kind regards,
Lisa Leydin Anna Swan
Assistant Principal Learning Specialist
Disability, Inclusion & Wellbeing Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader