National Reconciliation Week

Wominjeka! 

The 2022 theme for National Reconciliation Week is “Be Brave. Make Change.” The theme is a challenge to all Australians; individuals, families, communities, early childhood educators and government- to Be Brave and tackle the unfinished business of Reconciliation so we can Make Change for the benefit of all Australians.

Why celebrate on these dates?

The national celebration for Reconciliation Week is held from the 27th May–3rd June each year. These dates are significant with the 27th May being the anniversary of the 1967 referendum and the 3rd of June being acknowledged as Mabo Day.

On 27 May 1967, Australians voted to change the Constitution so that like all other Australians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples would be counted as part of the population and the Commonwealth would be able to make laws for them. A resounding 90.77 percent said ‘Yes’ and every single state and territory had a majority result for the ‘Yes’ vote. It was one of the most successful national campaigns in Australia’s history.

How are we commemorating Reconciliation Week during Cultural Studies at Doncaster Primary School?

Our Prep to Grade Three students have been learning about Indigenous Australian Culture all term. We have investigated, discussed and learnt about many aspects of the Indigenous cultures, and will continue this throughout Reconciliation Week. All students know who the Indigenous groups are, that they are the first people of Australia and we are on Wurundjeri land.

* At the start of each lesson we do an 'Acknowledgement of Country' to show our respect to the traditional owners, the Wurundjeri People.

In Prep we sing a song for our Acknowledgement:

Ask your Prep student to sing it to you - they do a great job!

In Grade One, Two and Three we read our Acknowledgement:

Each student has a chance to read part of it to the class throughout the year. I am always impressed with their ability to read such a challenging statement with confidence. 

Ask your child to read it to you, it will make you so proud!

*We learn the language, stories and traditions of the custodians of the land we are on - the Wurundjeri people. 

Ask your child for a word in Woiwurrung (the language of the Wurundjeri people) - they will answer with 'Wominjeka!' This means 'Welcome!'

* We have also learnt about the Dreaming (Grade 1 and 2) and important events in Aboriginal History (Grade 3). The Grade 3 students were excited to hear that the topic we learnt about the week before - The Uluru statement from the Heart - was mentioned in the incoming Prime Ministers acceptance speech. It made their learning even more authentic and relevant!

I am incredibly proud each day with the empathy, maturity and open-mindedness that is shown by our Junior students when learning about such an important topic. The biggest step towards reconciliation is education and knowledge, and we are making amazing progress in this area. I hope you get a chance to discuss what they have learnt this term with your children at some point over the next few week.

Thank you!

Lisa Foster

Cultural Studies Specialist